Weinberger Concern About Intercepting Egyptian Jet Told
NEW YORK — Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger had reservations about plans to force down an Egyptian plane carrying the Palestinians accused of hijacking the Achille Lauro, according to a report published Sunday.
Newsweek magazine said Weinberger repeatedly called President Reagan to express doubts about the plan, telling him: “This will destroy our relations with Egypt.”
Four Palestinians accused of hijacking the Italian cruise ship off Egypt were taken into custody after American fighter jets forced the Egyptian plane to land in Italy.
Newsweek said that Reagan, aboard Air Force One, was forced to use unsecure radio channels to order Weinberger to proceed with the interception because the scrambler aboard the presidential jet was broken.
As a result, the magazine said, Reagan’s conversation with Weinberger was overheard by an unidentified amateur radio operator.
The operator said Weinberger specifically expressed reservations about an operation that might require Navy pilots to fire across the nose of an unarmed civilian plane.
Pentagon press duty officer Maj. Fred Lash said he had no information on the Newsweek report.
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