Reports: Russia building anti-satellite weapons

SF Gate ^ | 3/5/09 | VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

[pissant]

Russia is working on anti-satellite weapons to match technologies developed by other nations and will speed up modernization of its nuclear forces, a deputy defense minister was quoted as saying Thursday.

[pissant]

Of course they are, and have been for some time. So have the Chicoms.

What is Obama's position:

Obama Space-Weapon Ban Draws Mixed Response

Thursday, February 05, 2009

U.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.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488127,00.html

We have a frickin MORONIC CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER in the oval office

[b4its2late]

Yes, we are in deep do dah.

[mgc1122]

ROTFL ... space junk as anti satellite. Not much of a step for our Russkie friends.

[silverleaf]

ah, so that’s why they hinted that the US “shot down” their satellite that recently collided

[pissant]

WWDHD????

Representative Duncan Hunter, the Republican from California who is exploring a run for the Presidency, urged Bush in a January 31 letter to prepare for a "new era of military competition in space" in the wake of the Chinese test.

Another reason we desperately need DH to save our republic.

[IrishCatholic]

I recall after the collapse of the Soviet Union one of the former satellite countries was offering satellite launches from their version of the F-15.
It seems we had developed a similar capability to launch anti satellite weapons from a fighter but were stopped cold by Congress who declared such efforts a violation of treaties with the Soviets. So we dismantled our program. The Soviets did no such thing and didn't admit they had the capability until after the collapse.
Same clueless self destructive libs are now in charge again.
Meanwhile the bad guys laugh.

[Perdogg]

ping

[Terry Mross]

Reagan won the cold war. Not it looks like we’re going to lose a “hot” war. Sad, sad, sad.

[ETL]

New Pentagon Report (March 2008): China's Growing Military Space Power
By Leonard David
Special Correspondent, SPACE.com
March 6, 2008

GOLDEN, Colorado — A just-released Pentagon report spotlights a growing U.S. military concern that China is developing a multi- dimensional program to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its potential adversaries during times of crisis or conflict.

Furthermore, last year's successful test by China of a direct-ascent, anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon to destroy its own defunct weather satellite, the report adds, underscores that country's expansion from the land, air, and sea dimensions of the traditional battlefield into the space and cyber-space domains.

Although China's commercial space program has utility for non- military research, that capability demonstrates space launch and control know-how that have direct military application. Even the Chang'e 1 — the Chinese lunar probe now circling the Moon — is flagged in the report as showcasing China's ability "to conduct complicated space maneuvers — a capability which has broad implications for military counterspace operations."

To read the entire publication [29.67MB/pdf], see U.S. Dept of Defense:
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/China_Military_Report_08.pdf
_______________________________________________________

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
_______________________________________________________

From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
_______________________________________________________

Russia, China flex muscles in joint war games
Reuters: Aug 17, 2007

CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and China staged their biggest joint exercises on Friday but denied this show of military prowess could lead to the formation of a counterweight to NATO.

"Today's exercises are another step towards strengthening the relations between our countries, a step towards strengthening international peace and security, and first and foremost, the security of our peoples," Putin said.

Fighter jets swooped overhead, commandos jumped from helicopters on to rooftops and the boom of artillery shells shook the firing range in Russia's Ural mountains as two of the largest armies in the world were put through their paces.

The exercises take place against a backdrop of mounting rivalry between the West, and Russia and China for influence over Central Asia, a strategic region that has huge oil, gas and mineral resources.

Russia's growing assertiveness is also causing jitters in the West. Putin announced at the firing range that Russia was resuming Soviet-era sorties by its strategic bomber aircraft near NATO airspace.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29030120070817?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

[pissant]

BUMP

[ETL]

"the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the [20th] century" -Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the collapse of the Soviet Union...
"World democratic opinion has yet to realize the alarming implications of President Vladimir Putin's State of the Union speech on April 25, 2005, in which he said that the collapse of the Soviet Union represented the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.'
http://www.hooverdigest.org/053/beichman.html

[varmintman]

Anybody saying how Russians plan on doing all this military building with oil at ten cents a barrel??

[dadgum]

Good God, I despise that “man’s” thinking.

Mr Zero will be the death of all of us.

[SJSAMPLE]

Exactly.
They’re doing the SMART thing.
How can I begrudge an adversary for doing the prudent thing?

Meanwhile, the US is taking steps backward.

[Joe Boucher]

For years I’ve seen wars between countries using either American or Russian weapons.
Seem U.S weapons are nearly always superior.
Is that so in space also?
Russian stuff seems less complicated yet accomplishes the same task.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We have a frickin MORONIC CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER in the oval office

And we knew it before he was elected.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping.

[Thunder90]

Russia/Soviet/Coldwar2 PING!!!

To be added to or removed from this list, please FReepmail me!!!

[Thunder90]

Military spending is stimulating to the economy. The Russians realize this. Russia is a net exporter and a major lender to Europe, thus doesn’t have deficits. Furthermore, weapons sales and other raw materials can serve as cash cows. Finally, Iran is planning something to drive up the cost of oil back over $100/bbl.

[PapaBear3625]

Our military have grown to depend on GPS satellites for locating where we are and for targeting bombs and missiles, communications satellites, weather satellites, surveillance satellites, etc.

We have not yet dealt with an opponent who could shoot it all down in the first hour of a conflict.