Bush Asserts U.S. Rights In Space

New Policy Says U.S. Has Right To Deny Adversaries Use Of Space For Hostile Purposes

(AP)  President Bush has signed an order asserting the United States' right to deny adversaries access to space for hostile purposes.

Mr. Bush also said the United States would oppose the development of treaties or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit U.S. access to or use of space.

The provisions were contained in the first revision of U.S. space policy in nearly 10 years. Mr. Bush's order, signed more than a month ago, was not publicly announced, although unclassified details of his decision were posted on the Web site of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

"Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power," the policy says. "In order to increase knowledge, discovery, economic prosperity, and to enhance the national security, the United States must have robust, effective, and efficient space capabilities."

The policy says that space systems should have rights of passage without interference, and that the United States would view any deliberate interference with its space systems as an infringement on its rights.

"The United States considers space capabilities — including the ground and space segments and supporting links — vital to its national interests," the policy said.

"Consistent with this policy, the United States will: preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space; dissuade or deter others from either impeding those rights or developing capabilities intended to do so; take those actions necessary to protect its space capabilities; respond to interference; and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests."

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Read the U.S. National Space Policy (.pdf)

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The White House said the policy does not call for the development or deployment of weapons in space.

"This policy emphasizes that the United States is committed to peaceful uses of space by all nations and that space systems enjoy the right of free passage," National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said.

He said the United States maintains the right of self-defense and the protection of its interests and assets in space.

"Protection of space assets does not imply some sort of forceful action," he said. "There is a broad range of ways to protect our space capabilities" such as system hardening, encryption, maneuvering and other methods.

"The new policy is consistent with previous national space policies in this regard," he said.

Jones said the challenges and threats facing the United States have changed in the decade since the space policy was last updated.

"Technology advances have increased the importance of and use of space," he said. "Now, we depend on space capabilities for things like ATMs, personal navigation, package tracking, radio services, and cell phone use."

The new policy was first reported by The Washington Post.

[jw218389]

Wow! He really IS Darth Vader! ;-)

I thought so!

[one_american]

Good for the White House for their prudent, logical move. It would be negligence to not have a policy for protecting American interests in space.

But I imagine the wacky conspiracy theorists will be foaming at the mouth and staying up late wringing their hands about this one.

[jw218389]

Obviously One_American has been seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. ;-0

[oleander8]

What an arrogant s.o.b. - how is he going to enforce it?

[itchybrain]

is there no end to this man's illogical thinking?

[houser123]

Does anyone see a correlation here? GWB, " respond to interference; and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests." and Iran's statement that their nuclear program is intended for power generation only. When, and I do mean when, not if, we develop and deploy a space based laser capable of striking anywhere on earth, dont you think this will escalate to a space wars mentality. Consider this scenario, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and Venuzela see our space based laser as a threat to their national security and decide to pursue the same technology, only on a concerted effort. Collectively they would have , more money, more people and more resources. What do we do in this case? Confront each one? Doubt it.. When will these cowboys learn that war is simply not the answer to all conflicts. Some yes, but not all.

[jumkey]

Well, Bush has set us up for failure again, just like with North Korea. Is there any bottom to this boob's incompetence? Or his supporter's for that matter? Probably not.

Let the space arms race begin! Thanks President Tinybrain!

[tejasdemo]

What a arrogant jerk. If there was anyone left on the planet that didnt think the US thought it owned everything, there isnt anymore.

What in the world is wrong with this guy ?!

[nativewoman]

Bush Asserts U.S. Rights In Space
Rice Tries To Prevent Asian Arms Race

Does anyone else see the hypocrisy and humor in these two headlines side by side?

[meboard]

I think he's going to try and move the War on Terror out of the Earth's atmosphere so that we can fight the terrorists in space as oppose to Brooklin. This policy makes perfect sense in bazaaro world.

[one_american]

Get with it, liberals.

Would you want your president to sit on his hands if North Korea started targeting and destroying U.S. satellites? The Space Station? A NASA Shuttle?

Not bloody likely.

I know its not your way, but think about it just for once before you start bashing Bush.

[manelvagor]

So far I've seen a lot of shallow, 'jingoistic' remarks that reflect a 'lowest common denominator' way of thinking which doesn't seem to recognize the inherent dangers of letting people like Kim Jong Il, Ahmadinejad, or Chavez being allowed, essentially, to sit up on our roof.

Houser,
Of course there's a correlation. You'd have to be an idiot NOT to see a correlation. JFK is still right about the cost of freedom being eternal vigilance. The correlation that YOU'RE missing is how Iran's 'peaceful energy' nuclear program came to light when they were caught red-handed using technology they purchased on the nuclear black market run by the 'Father' of the Pakistan bomb - A.Q. Khan.

Any President worth his salt would and should be very suspicious of allowing any blood-sucking egomaniacal despot access to our jugular vein.

[meboard]

Wow, I wasn't aware North Korea had a space agency?

[frankly6]

We've got to take the fight to these space terrorists. We've got to fight them out there so we don't have to fight them here.

[meboard]

So I guess we're going to send South Korean solders up in U.S. space vehicles to stand toe-to-toe with North Korean space solders in this super cosmic space-like DMZ?

[meboard]

My question is, can you effectively use a box cutter in space? I mean, could a terrorist hijack a commercial space suttle? I think we need to take these issues into consideration before we just through out some half-azz space territory policy.

"Would you want your president to sit on his hands if North Korea started targeting and destroying U.S. satellites? The Space Station? A NASA Shuttle?"

"I know its not your way, but think about it just for once before you start bashing Bush."

I can honestly say I have never personally attacked GWB. I happen to be a liberal as well. But this is utterly absurd. How can you declare something like that without drawing criticism? There is more than one way to protect your homeland.

[meboard]

I love the picture of Bush with the earth and space behind him. He's got this look on his face like he's thinking "I've f-uped everything on Earth, now let's see what I can f-up in space!

[jetauma]

Another set of humiliating statements by our Pres. No wonder that 70% of the world's peoples think we are more dangerous than China.

It's understood, (isn't it?) that national defence would include space. But he sounds like a spoiled brat reserving the right to govern everyone else's sandbox...because nobody wants to play with him and he can't figure out why.

North Korea? Come on! They have to get electricity first.

[talkingham]

Bush is sounding more and more like a recovering alcoholic. Psychiatrists who have studied his media appearances say exhibits many classic behaviors of recovering alcoholics (or non-recovering in-denial ones as well).

I wish I could be proud of the US president but I can't. He's just too far right of intelligent. He's got a great snicker though.

Now he's talking about space again. Sure sounds like the US militarization of Space to me. So just who's gonna stop us from using space the way we want to? Who's your next boogey man Mr. President? Guess it takes his mind off stuff down here. No liberal media out in space unless UFO's count.

[manelvagor]

Tejasdemo,

Is it too much to ask for you to try to gain a shred of understanding that space is inherently different than "0wning" a peice of property before you make the asinine assertion that this policy statement is all because GWB is an 'arrogant jerk'.

One can't just jump straight up into space and hover there (yet). The only way to get there is to go into 'orbit' is by obtaining enough horizontal momentum to make the curved arc of your 'fall' match the circumference equal to the radius of your distance from the center of the earth. So by necessity, the orbit carries a spacecraft over the space of other soveregn nations, usually at a distance that is even less than many countries fishing boundaries.

This policy states that based on America's reliance on space, if another country has the ability to bring a craft closer to Tulsa than Oklahoma City is, then we assert the right to assure that craft is benign.

[observantx]

LOOK! UP There! Like a meteor blazing across the heavens! It's GWB, Sp-a-a-a-a-a-ce R-a-a-a-a-ng-e-e-er! Protecting the galaxy from Evildoers and liberals.

Well, I can understand this if he is asserting that we will protect our assets. I just wish he would do more ("more" meaning "nonviolent") about the situation leading up to the potential problem before making those assertions.

[tejasdemo]

Manelvagor,

We do not own the space over our heads to infinity. And, yes, Bush is an arrogant jerk. I can not believe you just tried to make that argument.

Let's just say, for a minute, that you are right. Well, Bush works for me as a public servant. I, as his employer and owner of said space over my head, disagree with his assertion to be able to decide who has or has not the right to hover over my space.

Therefore, he needs to contact each U.S.citizen to decide how he or she feels about this issue.

Lol...gimme a break. Arrogant jerk

[meboard]

So I guess the flip side would be that a country like say Kenya would have the right to assume our space craft are just as benign when flying over their airspace? And if Kenya developed a space policy much like ours, would we be obligated to honor it?

[manelvagor]

Trust me TALKINGHAM,

If there are any UFOs, they certainly aren't liberals. Liberal species generally don't become spacefaring creatures because they are too busy politicizing every facet of life on their world.

Just like in the mid 20th century, when Soviet (the ultimate liberals) genetic science lagged behing the west because the western theories didn't jibe with accepted communist theory (see 'Lysenco' and 'vernalization') and the scientists had 'P.C.' political operatives looking over their shoulders all the time.

[tejasdemo]

I'll tell ya. I am still rollin on the floor laughin at this one !!. I didnt think it was possible for Republicans to become any more screwed up then they already are but ....bingo....now they're trying to tell space aliens where they can fly around.

10 US soldiers were killed today in a useless war and Bush is thinking about what part of space is his ! Like a child and a toy. What a joke. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves and completely humilated.

[clestes-2009]

More political bs from Dubya playing the Great Protector. He thinks he can exert his (nonexistant) influence and control who does what in their space program. Jeez, the guy really does megalomania and is paranoid. He really thinks he is God.

Bush has lost touch with reality and lives in a dream world where he has the money and the power to control the rest of the world. The reality is he has neither. Iraq and Afganistan made sure of that. No longer are we considered invincible and our military to be feared. It will be another leader who works with other countries that will continue the space program. Not Dubya. He can't work with anyone.

Space exploration and colonization is way too expensive for a single country to undertake.

[whozzzzure]

What do you mean "recovering alcoholic?" Just about the time you think it cannot get any sillier or terminally nutty, it does?

This not only lacks intelligence, it lacks common sense! But, it sure does take the headlines off Iraq and the GOP child predators and thieves. Foley is the tip of the iceberg on that one.

I wonder if Rove came up with this one? He not only looks creepy, he probably is. The guy has a future career as the nemesis for the next James Bond film. No make-up needed.

[oregonfella]

How do you define "hostile purposes" for adversaries in space? Space missiles, sure, but what about spy satellites or communications satellites? I fear this will be another "too broad" label, like "terrorist", for instance, being used against common criminals, innocents who are unfairly suspected, or even just peace protestors.

And is there reason to be bringing this up now? Do we have any reason to believe an adversary is going to do something "hostile" in space?

[cantshutup]

WOW! That is probably THE scariest picture of the decider that I've ever seen...I'll be having nightmares for weeks to come!

[cantshutup]

I hope the aliens save us from the decider SOON!

[getcentered]

"Space Terrorists"!!!!

They're here! Oh no!

Lucky for we've got the go get'er president! Maybe he'll try and impress us by going to "Space" and checking the terrorist out.

[oregonfella]

How do you define "hostile purposes" for adversaries in space? Space missiles, sure, but what about spy satellites or communications satellites? I fear this will be another "too broad" label, like "terrorist", for instance, being used against common criminals, innocents who are unfairly suspected, or even just peace protestors.

And is there reason to be bringing this up now? Do we have any reason to believe an adversary is going to do something "hostile" in space?

[oregonfella]

How do you define "hostile purposes" for adversaries in space? Space missiles, sure, but what about spy satellites or communications satellites? I fear this will be another "too broad" label, like "terrorist", for instance, being used against common criminals, innocents who are unfairly suspected, or even just peace protestors.

And is there reason to be bringing this up now? Do we have any reason to believe an adversary is going to do something "hostile" in space?

[cdraper5]

Two things. First stop referring to the United States as "The Homeland". The use of that term had never been used to indentify the US until Bush and his Boys used it after 9-11. As a Babyboomer that was taught US and world history properly, the phase conjures up to many reminders of The Homeland Adolph Hitler referred to. The United States should be addressed as that or the US or America. Secondly, Bush is a Meglamaniac!

[angelsix-2009]

You people are all pessimists, looking at the glass as half full. Sure, W's action is stupid, blustering, and useless. Isn't this a lot better than if he were instead focussing his talents on something that mattered?

[themooniac]

I agree, who came up with that "homeland" security anyway? It sounds like Nazi references to Germany as the fatherland - fatherland security. I know this an understatement but I guess they have no sense of history. Of course we had to reorganize the whole government for that one "homeland security"...what was wrong with putting that department under the defense department anyway?? Did we have to spend a bundle of tax dollars to make another department? Another ignorant idea from the administration.

[manelvagor]

Tejasdemo said
- "Therefore, he needs to contact each U.S.citizen to decide how he or she feels about this issue."

This foolish statement makes clear that you didn't understand a word I said.

First you say "we don't own space up to infinity" - and the next paragraph you're saying "as...owner of said space above my head".

As a person who can't seem to make up your mind on what you're trying to say from one minute to the next, do you really think you should be consulted on something as vital as space security?

I'd be surprised if you could even name two constellations besides the big and little dippers.

[meboard]

Manelvagor, you've yet to address my question on the sovereignty of Kenya's airspace. :^(

[tejasdemo]

Manvel...you're back from your Fox News interview ! Welcome back. If you are going to quote me, then quote the whole thing so everybody gets a proper context.

By the way, I am still laughing over the entire premise..."space security ". Wow ! Republicans havent solved Iraq and now you zeros want to secure space ?! good luck with that.

[manelvagor]

Why answer a meaningless (albeit honest) question? Talking about Kenyan 'airspace' is like asking about the Nepalese Navy, and besides, these IS no air in space.

But at least you're not as idiotic and confrontational as TEJASDEMO - he says totally idiotic, childish statements like "Bush is thinking about what part of space is his, yeah, like a new toy" - and then has the nerve to tell people "you should feel ashamed and humiliated". (obviously some people don't posses the intelligence to feel shame or humiliation themselves but are quick to heap it upon others).

A person who can't see beyond the constant "Demo-Rebublican" confrontation ends up giving Demos (or Republicans), especially those 'straight ticket morons', a bad name.

Tejasdemo - being that you couldn't address anything I said in substance - answer this question - if I voted for:
Reagan in 1984
Bush in 1988
Clinton in 1992
Clinton in 1996
Bush in 2000 and
Kerry in 2004
- am I a Republican, a Democract, or an Independant with a mind of his own.

[frankly6]

We've got to take the fight to these space terrorists. We've got to fight them out there so we don't have to fight them here.

[manelvagor]

Transdemo -

While you're still laughing about the 'space security' comment, take a breath (or pull your head out more than likely) and tell me, do you think that the program to identify/track 'near-Earth' asteriods and starting to consider the prospects for preventing one from obliterating us falls under which of the following categories -

A.) Space Security
B.) Groovey-cool Movie Trivia
C.) Things Republicans want so I'm against it.

Also, if you wish, feel free to go on pretending you are debating Bill O'Reilly on Fox TV if that is a fantasy you enjoy.

[gossimer]

WOW! Just WHO does Bush think he is, anyway? He's not EVEN a fairly elected leader! His was a NON-WIN in 2000, therefore, making his run in 2004 a fraud and his so called "win" ALSO a fraud!

Two more years of his bullsh**, can we stand the suspense?!

I agree 100% with the majority of the contributors here, Bush IS an, "S-O-B/ARROGANT S-O-B", "Megalomaniac", and anything/everything anyone else says, or can think of!

Both those pics of him in this story say it all, he thinks he's God. What an utter A**HOLE!!! Bush is not MY president, that's for damned sure!!!

[red1530]

The order is just enforcing the Outer Space Treaty.
Sourse:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

[jw218389]

Wow! Bush really IS Darth Vader!

[bellal-2009]

that's a weird voting record,Manelvagor. You're all over the board. Trying to make sense of it.

[manelvagor]

bellal,

I always vote person, not party.
I liked Bush41's experience.
I liked Clinton's intelligence and ability to orate and communicate.
I liked Bush43 because I thought he did a good job as Texas Governer (yes, I'm a Texan) and felt that he would help relations with Mexico and points further south (I thought was big issue pre-9/11).
I liked Kerry because he was articulate and intelligent, felt that Bush was in over his head and that he made critical mistakes in Iraq (the decision to oust Saddam NOT being one of them).

[stevespits]

Oh Great, another way to waste our resources on the profit line for Halliburton er. al. Eisenhower's farwell speech is ringing was ringing in my ears as a read about this endless New Frontier of Graft. Maybe we can invade Venesuala because of our intelligence reports that they were going to supply Martian with cheap heating oil. Only Bush would bite on this arms industry sales pitch.