Fri, May 20, 2005
Is This The Start Of Real Star Wars?
A battle now looming in Washington
could be felt far out in Earth orbit. It's a battle over whether
the US should weaponize or otherwise protect its vital satellites
from attack.
"The policy that we're talking about is not looking at
weaponizing space," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told
reporters. "Now we do have space systems, obviously, and we want to
make sure that those space systems are protected." McClellan was
quoted by CNN.
He was responding to a question about DoD plans to protect US
satellites from attack. The plan is still in its formative stages
and hasn't yet reached the president's desk, McClellan said.
But there are those in Washington who insist the plan is a
Pandora's box -- one that could lead to the full-blown
weaponization of space.
"No one should be fooled," said Theresa Hitchens, an expert on
the militarization of space at a think tank called the Center for
Defense Information. "What you're seeing is a reversal of the
traditional U.S. reluctance to be space warriors. And that's the
meaning of this new policy." She, too, was quoted by CNN.
But as more and more of the military's vital assets are based in
orbit, Pentagon officials say it's vital to devise ways to protect
them from attack from a potential enemy.
The plan is expected to be presented to President Bush sometime
next month. Some of these protective systems, including
micro-satellites and sat-jamming systems, could be operational in
as little as 18 months.
"I expect it's likely to continue to emphasize the sovereignty
of space systems and the right of free passage of those space
systems. We believe in the peaceful exploration of space, and there
are treaties in place and we continue to abide by those treaties,"
McClellan told CNN.
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