ACEIZE

Undersecretary of State Robert G. Joseph started a short debate this week with some statements regarding the right of the United States to pursue peaceful space programs, and therefore the need to launch weapons systems to defend those peaceful programs.

In this Washington Post article, the need for the United States to protect existing space assets, namely satellites, is discussed. The Project for the New American century, said in their 2000 defense review - a document that the Bush administration has very strictly adhered to - stated that the need for space defense systems is essential for the coming century. Space defense systems in this case being space to missile defense (missile defense shield, star wars), satellite defense and satellite offense. The deputy head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Vitaliy Davydov, spoke against the US push to space, stating that the Russians also have weaponry to add to any potential space weapons race.

Several Democrats in congress spoke against the US putting weapons in space, citing the 1967 UN Outer space treaty.

Several Defense related organizations were quoted in the article; including Theresa Hitchens of Center for Defense Information who made a smart statement about the inability of space based weapons to defend against any current threats. Also the George C. Marshall Institute who cited a report from 'Defense News' about a Chinese project that has succeeded in focusing a ground based laser on a US satellite.