The moon actually is of military importance, especially if you look at how the 21st century is shaping up. The moon is beyond the range of any existing terrestrial anti-satellite weapons, but a railgun or linear accelerator on the moon has a practically unlimited ammunition supply and can hit any spot on the planet Earth.
I absolutely agree with you. Are we really going to tell ourselves that the Russians and the Chineese are going there JUST for the sake of ego? That's a pretty big risk to take.
Well if we’re not going to weaponize the moon, we should at least blow it up.
See "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress"
Robert A Heinlein "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" 1966 - has exiled convicts (think Australia) and forced evacuees revolting against an overbearing UN-Governed Earth by sending rocks against the Earth (What is now called KEW - Kinetic Energy Weapons).
It'll never be used that way (by us). It'll just be an expensive location for a space toilet.
“The moon actually is of military importance, especially if you look at how the 21st century is shaping up. The moon is beyond the range of any existing terrestrial anti-satellite weapons, but a railgun or linear accelerator on the moon has a practically unlimited ammunition supply and can hit any spot on the planet Earth.”
The Chinese, Russians, Indians and Japanese know this fact. US citizens and their so-called political leaders are not interested because it would cost too much, and besides a US miltiary outpost on the moon would be contrary to their ideals and conflict with the coming fire sale of US military equipment.
Obots would rather follw than lead, and submission to the Chinese and Islmists will assage their shop-worn consciences.