U.S. moves to create a beachhead in space

[struggle4progress]

By Mark Sappenfield

WASHINGTON <snip>

Today, however, as more nations gain access to space - and as success in war becomes far more dependent on satellite surveillance and communication - the United States is reassessing its space policy.

The new position, emerging in documents and congressional testimony, in many respects mirrors President Bush's military policy on the ground - expanding preemption and prevention into the ether, both to strike enemy lands and satellites during times of conflict and to keep America's satellites safe. <snip>

Yet this trend brings both benefits and concerns. On one hand, America enjoys virtually total control of space, giving it an advantage that no other nation can match. Yet as America's military might becomes increasingly reliant on satellite technology, it becomes more vulnerable if those satellites are destroyed.

For decades, the list of nations capable of sustained access to space other than the US began and ended with Russia. Yet other countries are gaining a toehold in orbit. The European Union, for one, is developing the first non-American network of global-positioning system (GPS) satellites - and has invited China to participate. <snip>

http://abcnews.go.com/International/CSM/story?id=644490

[whistle]

1. Uhmmm, future budgets will include a trillion dollars for conventional

...military and $10 trillion for space military.

[NEOBuckeye]

2. The Chinese aready can beat this.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/4/22/141829.shtml