Bush Sets Defense as Space Priority

The US might be the most powerful nation on the face of the earth, but much of that power depends on a vast array of satellites orbiting high above the planet. Now, President Bush has signed a new National Space Policy declaring that control of the interplanetary void is “as important to the United States as air power and sea power.” Supporters hail the policy as a necessary step toward defending US satellites from enemy attack, while critics charge the policy could result in the militarization of space. While the new policy stops short of actually “developing or deploying weapons in space,” the rest of the world wonders whether hegemony in orbit is the ultimate goal for the US. Meanwhile, the US stakes out its position as the only nation against negotiations on banning space weapons, explaining ”that no new arms-control agreements are needed because there is no space arms race.” With minimal global or public input, Bush released the policy amid international jitters about nuclear research by Iran and North Korea. The move could be viewed as a preemptive grab against any nation determined to catch up with the US in terms of technology – and inspire a whole new race to space. – YaleGlobal