https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_007#So...
> It's actually astonishing that anyone who's been on this planet for more than a couple decades can take any of these narratives seriously.
The only astonishing thing is that you reflexively rushed to Russia's defense instead of looking up the facts.
We don't know how the US military would've reacted if Iran Air 655 would've overflown restricted airspace above the US.
For sure the Soviets fucked up by not trying to call on 121.5 MHz, but is that worse than the US fucking up by being so close (arguably intruding) another country space, and yet not having equipment to monitor civilian air traffic control in the area? I'm not sure.
Did you not read the linked article in the thread you’re replying to? The US did have an IFF detection system, it was a core part of how it worked. The issue was a UI failure which confused identification by mixing up two different (real) IFF indicators one from military and one from civilian and made it seem to the captain that the military one was flying towards them. That’s a legit honest mistake.
They had 4 minutes from the “take off” to when it was almost overhead. Navigating Iranian air traffic control radio isn’t exactly a solution in tense situations.
> We don't know how the US military would've reacted if Iran Air 655 would've overflown restricted airspace above the US.
Restricted US airspace has been violated many times in history. As have Russians. And many other countries.
We have to deal with the facts and reality as it exists, not as it "could have been" in a reality that does not exist.
And in the reality that exists, the US acted with infinite more grace and compassion than the Soviet Union. They found the wrecking and kept it a secret for years. I find it extremely unlikely the US would do anything like that in any circumstances even remotely similar.
> is that worse than the US fucking up by being so close (arguably intruding) another country space
It's not so much about that they messed up, but how they dealt with it. Do you accept responsibility and take action to prevent it in the future, or do you lie and cheat and do everything you can to weasel your way out of responsibility?