Miscellaneous

ANCHO RAGE Tl ttES - DATE;.,_____--:-------
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The Russian bear
AMID SOME indications
that the United States and
the Soviet Union may be
nearing an agreement on the
reduction of medium-range.
missiles in Europe, let's not
forget that Alaska still
stands face-t~face with
powerful Russian military
forces. ·
Reminders are easy to
come by, quite apart from
just a simple look at the
map. For those who doubt
the potential threat, be ad-
vised that it was just last
week that the two Air Force
F-15s from King Salmon in-
tercepted and turned back
two Soviet Bear-H bombers
which had flown to within
190 miles of Adak.
And it was nothing spe-
cial. Intercepts of the Bear-
H, a flying platform from
which to launch cruise mis-
siles, are not uncommon in
the Aleutian area, Air Force
spokesmen say.
So far this year, Air Force
fighters have intercepted 14
Soviet planes on approaches
to the Alaska coast. Last
year, there were 34 inter- 1
cepts.
THIS SORT of activity
demonstrates the high level
of operational Soviet mili-
tary missions in our part of
the world.
Such flights clearly are
not isolated training mis-
sions, although they cer-
tainly fulfill such a function.
Rather, it is safe to as- .
sume that this sort of prob-
ing at the defense perimiter
of the United States - and
Alaska - represents part of
the day-to-day readiness ac-
tivities by Soviet forces.
And such flights provide
continual proof that Amer-
ica cannot lower its guard.
The ·Russian bear is just
over the horiwn.
And in the sky, as well, on
the Alaskan frontier.
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