Posted on 02/02/2007 9:11:30 AM PST by Jerry Reynolds
U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control Robert Joseph said yesterday that China’s January 11, 2007 test of an anti-satellite weapon that left orbiting debris threatening U.S. and foreign satellites proving that space is a “contested environment.”
Mr. Joseph said that “countries are developing capabilities to put at risk our assets for which we are dependent,” he said.
The U.S. military is heavily dependant upon satellites for intelligence gathering, missile attack warning, navigation, communications and scores of other uses. U.S. commerce and communications are also heavily reliant upon satellites.
China’s January 11 test used a rocket launched from earth to ram into an old Chinese communications satellite. The demonstration showed a never before seen Chinese capability indicating both that China felt a need to test the capability and China wanted to know it had this capacity.
“The U.S. believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area,” National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. “We and other countries have expressed our concern regarding this action to the Chinese.”
“This is a wake-up call,” Mr. Joseph said, noting that the United States needs “to ensure that we take the steps necessary to protect the space assets and the right to unfettered access to space.”
(Excerpt) Read more at johnib.wordpress.com ...
Where was Bill Clinton during that particular week?
Go ahead and leave the Treaty in place so as to deny the USA use of its greatest power--private enterprise.
Clinton Legacy
United States Space Command bump
"Clinton Legacy"
Sounds more like the BUSH legacy to me ... straight from the article: "The test may have violated an understanding struck last April between President Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao."
Can anyone point me toward more info on this "understanding" ??
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