US Claims Space Belongs to America

One of the cornerstones of the neoconservative catechism is the belief that American power must be used to prevent any potential rival from arising. Having seen where this school of thought leads (3,000 coalition and 650,000 Iraqi dead and counting), one would think that the administration would move onto more plausible approaches to global politics. Not so. Mr. Bush has just signed a revised space policy that says “The United States will oppose the development of new legal regimes or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit US access to or use of space.” For people who believe in zero sum games, as the neo-cons do, this means the world should stay out of American Outer Space.

In politics, one should believe nothing until it has been officially denied. Thus, when a report from an unnamed official stated, “This policy is not about developing or deploying weapons in space. Period,” one began to worry. National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said in written comments the update needed to “reflect the fact that space has become an even more important component of US economic, national and homeland security.” The policy asserts, “Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power.” Logically then, space needs protection just as the sealanes need a navy and the skies need an airforce.

Fortunately, there is the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.” This 1967 treaty, among other things, “contains an undertaking not to place in orbit around the Earth, install on the moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise station in outer space, nuclear or any other weapons of mass destruction. Second, it limits the use of the moon and other celestial bodies exclusively to peaceful purposes and expressly prohibits their use for establishing military bases, installation, or fortifications; testing weapons of any kind; or conducting military maneuvers,” according to the US State Department.

One would think the matter settled. However, the neo-cons don’t like limits on American power, not by treaty commitment, not by morality, nor by reality. Last October, the UN voted on proposals to ban weapons in space. The US was the sole “no” vote, with 160 nations voting “yes.” The penchant for unilateralism wins the Busheviks no allies. They just can’t seem to believe that a good deal on a space-weapons ban is better than no deal at all. They refuse to even talk about it.

The Washington Post, which broke this story (the policy was made public at 5 pm the Friday before Columbus Day), reported, “The issue of possible hostilities in space became more real last month when National Reconnaissance Office Director Donald M. Kerr told reporters that a U.S. satellite had recently been 'painted,' or illuminated, by a laser in China. Gen. James E. Cartwright, the top U.S. military officer in charge of operations in space, told the newsletter Inside the Pentagon last week that it remained unclear whether China had tried to disrupt the satellite.” This kind of thing happens to airmen and submariners with some regularity. It is usually seen as a potentially hostile act, and it is part of the war of nerves that has been background to life since the Cold War began.

Under the newly revised policy, the US would seriously consider denying China access to space because of this sort of potential. Most certainly, the Chinese would object were that to happen; they have the capability to put men in space, too. The only thing worse than an unenforceable and stupid policy is an unenforceable and stupid policy in the hands of people who have no idea what the consequences of their actions will be. Maybe, the Martians will welcome the Yanks as liberators, throwing flowers and offering sweets.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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