Toad, if you flew NSA missions - then I understand why you have to post all this stuff here

Again, last year US/NATO military planes violated the airspace of Russian Federation at least 100 times. Any of that "doves of peace" was a legal target for PVO.
It's a weel-known fact that US used civilian planes as recon-drones for provocations to reveal Soviet air-defence system. Also they used this planes as shields for spy-planes.
Sept. 1983 provocation ended up in at least 3 "blue" side planes shot, and maybe up to 2 Soviet interceptors lost. Various evidence is availible, including Japanese radar tapes and other radio-interception material.
It is a fact that a plane shot by Osipovich over Moneron island didn't have passengers on board. Only brand-new stuff from supermarkets, like shoes with laces tied together in pairs, shirts with cardboard inside and cellophane wraps, etc.
If the real KAL-007 full of people was shot down - then it's still a big question, what side shot it down and where. Japanese tracking station (sorry I don't know proper English terms, you can ask Estel for corrections) logs contradict official version. Many Western researchers think that it was "blue" side responsible, not "red". At the time KAL007 was shot - it was out of reach for Soviet PVO aviation according to some sources.
Toad, when I hear about "Soviets violating US airspace" - I always see the same photo of Tu-95s escorted by F-14s OTW to Cuba IIRC. If Soviet planes violated American airspace - you had all the rights to shoot them down. Knowing American attitude to such affairs and their urge for at least
some truth in their propaganda agenda - your side never could afford to miss such a chance.
OTOH - if any Soviet plane on a recon mission at US border was shot down - Soviet side had to conceal such an accident by all means. This was just how the things worked here.
Also you are welcome to comment on American planes attacks on Soviet airfields and other objects, like on the Sukhaya Rechka airfield in Summer 1950. Your aerial pirates burned several Soviet planes on the ground, fortunately noone was killed. Also I want to hear your opinion on US carrier-based planes attacks on Soviet interceptors in international airspace in Far East, when Soviet pilots were shot down before even getting a permission to open fire and fight back.
Toad, you have to admit that you were a disposable pawn in what can be called a most dirty game of provocations in human history. Sorry.