We are in the midst of a new space race. This race, unlike the last, is
one that usually is ignored - or derided - by the news media. Unlike the
last, this one is deadly serious. It involves much higher stakes than
putting a man on the moon. We can only pray that our politicians and the
public will summon the will to prevail. Losing it would bring severe
consequences.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES reported last week, "China and Russia are
developing space weapons and are among several nations working on
systems to threaten U.S. satellites with lasers or missiles." This story
by TIMES reporter Bill Gertz was based upon testimony offered on January
11, 2007 by Army Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples, Director, Defense
Intelligence Agency, before a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
hearing on "Current and Projected National Security Threats to the
United States."
Here is the printed testimony of what Maples said:
Russia and China continue to be the primary states of concern
regarding military space and counter-space programs. However, as the
availability of space technology and services continues to increase,
other nations already possessing capabilities in key areas will acquire
military and commercial space-based assets.
...
Several countries continue to develop capabilities that have the
potential to threaten U.S. space assets, and some have already deployed
systems with inherent anti-satellite capabilities, such as
satellite-tracking laser-range finding devices and nuclear-armed
ballistic missiles. A few countries are seeking improved space object
tracking and kinetic or directed energy weapons capabilities."
Maples made the point that developing such technologies would be
financially exorbitant. Other countries were embarked on the less costly
or less technologically complex capabilities of signal jamming,
electronic warfare, and denial and deception.
Credit President George W. Bush and the Administration for shoring up
America's defenses by developing the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
Some key conservatives in Congress are even more gung-ho on behalf of
SDI. Not so the new leadership in Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA) received a 91% rating from liberal Peace PAC for 2003-2004, the
latest available. Peace PACs sister organization, the Council for a
Livable World (CLW), assigns Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-NV) a 75%
rating for 2004-2006.