Posted on 02/06/2009 2:05:22 PM PST by presidio9
.S. President Barack Obama's recent pledge to seek a ban on space weapons drew a mixed reaction from experts in the field, with some saying the president might be better off pursuing something more modest and less complex, such as a set of international rules governing space operations.
Arms control advocates nonetheless applauded the statement as a welcome departure from the space policy stance of former President George W. Bush, who rejected the notion of banning or limiting space weapons via treaty arrangements.
"The Bush administration rejected space diplomacy," said Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center, a think tank here. "We refused to negotiate on any subject that could limit U.S. military options. We have a shift from an administration that was very dismissive of multilateral negotiations [as a whole], to an administration that is open to that possibility if it improves U.S. national security."
Soon after Obama was sworn in Jan. 20, the official White House Web site was updated with a set of policy guidelines including one on restoring U.S. leadership in space. Under the heading "Ensure Freedom of Space," the statement said the White House would seek a ban on weapons that "interfere with military and commercial satellites"; assess possible threats to U.S. space assets and the best military and diplomatic means for countering them; and seek to assure U.S. access to space-based capabilities, in part by "accelerating programs to harden U.S. satellites against attack."
Obama's campaign in 2008 outlined similar goals, saying an Obama administration would oppose putting weapons in space, seek rules of behavior for spacefaring nations and reduce the vulnerability of U.S. space capabilities.
The Bush administration generally opposed international accords that might tie the nation's hands in space. The National Space Policy issued by
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Has anyone ever seen Obama and Jimma Carter in the same place, at the same time?
Just askin’
He wants there to be enough room for Chinese space weapons.
It’s a freaking soap opera with this guy.
He must expect to be out of office in 6 months- he sure is in a hurry to dismantle America’s defensive options in every arena.
Obama is working on a Guiness Book of World Records entry for:
Most Stupid Proposals in a Month
It is a decision that will get us all killed! Very dumbass move.
Realistically, any treaty will only be binding on the US and by the time we catch someone else in a violation, their answer (from the high ground) will be “so what?”
You can’t verify compliance unless China and russia allow a swarm of UN inspectors into their facilities. I know Iran won’t, or they’ll pull the old Saddam trick of saying you can only go here and here, but not there.
Noce going though, you’ll effectively tie our hands on missile defense just when Iran attains nukes and a means to launch them at US cities.
No space weapons BUT not makeing illegal weapons in Detroit, illegal ..
Well I live in the 140th largest metropolitan area, likely I’m OK.
That SOB! I want my Second Amendment rights preserved, whether on Earth or in outer space! I might live long enough to be able to tote a blaster, and if so I want one! When blasters are outlawed only bounty hunters and Imperial Stormtroopers will have blasters!
I wonder how many times this guy has committed treason and gotten away with it becuase RINO's have shirked their duty to prosecute and execute for decades....Instead, now guys like this have "Centers" and "Associations" and the MSM and the universities, and the house, and the senate, and the oval office.
The consequences we have only begun to face are consequences of inaction.
Evil has triumphed because good men did nothing.
I’m sure Iran will agree to a treaty. Gee, didn’t they just launch a satellite?
Space weapons have already been deployed.
Goah. We have a liberal nimrod for President. I’m sure China will agree not to weaponize space. I think I’m going to start selling shares to my liberal friends for an interest I have in a bridge in Brooklyn.
Makes total sense. Spend a trillion on dumb make work projects and then lay off thousands of people who produce the technology for this worthwhile effort.
Do an internet search for "space machines", and then follow the links to YouTube movies made by a fellow who video taped very large objects in earth orbit. He originally set out to record the International Space Station, which he did. He also spotted other machine out there that are much larger, but farther out than the ISS.
He has also told the Military to cut their budget by at least 10%.
Is this kookburger TRYING to make his the shortest Presidency in history?!
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