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CONTENTS
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1. Introduction: Revenge of the Mad Scientist
2. Two Links
3. The Strategic Importance of Space
4. Space-Based Weapons and Surveillance
5. Treaties in Space
6. Space Pollution
7. Take Action
8. Get Involved
9. About the Bulletin

 
INTRODUCTION: REVENGE OF THE MAD SCIENTIST
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Remember the power-hungry mad scientist from those old science fiction movies? You know, the guy who holds the world hostage with a sinister, space-based weapon of mass destruction? Well, he's back, and he's got big plans. His name is Donald Rumsfeld, and he's somehow managed to be appointed Secretary of Defense for the United States.

Almost all of the nations on earth have pledged to keep space free of weapons. After all, militarizing space poses some big problems for international cooperation. What would all of the treaties that restrict where and how weapons can be used mean if any country could set up space-based lasers and obliterate people and buildings anywhere on earth? Given the potential for a space arms race of massive proportions, the leaders of most countries have concluded that we're better off ruling out the military use of space entirely.

Although this consensus is growing, there's one major nation that's running in the opposite direction -- the United States. Why? Well, the mad scientists tend to tell it like it is: "World Domination."

While most of the US's space-based military programs are ostensibly parts of a plan to defend the US (and allies) from missiles, there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that the National Missile Defense is actually a National Missile Offense. American military documents specifically refer to space-based weapons as being key to "military and economic dominance" (see One Link). Space is touted as the ultimate "higher ground", a platform from which to observe and target the entire earth, not to mention the rest of the solar system. Rather shocklingly, these documents also recommend space-based weaponry for controlling the unrest that will result from an increasing global rift between the "haves" and the "have-nots", both by disrupting communications and by combating attacks that result from it.

The US military already relies on an array of satellites that have been instrumental in the current effort in Afghanistan. They give the American government an unprecedented ability to track and target equipment and troops on the ground. The deployment of a new generation of satellites, space-based lasers, and other advanced military technologies under the banner of "national missile defense" will increase America's military capabilities to the point where, according to advocates, they will be almost impossible to defeat.

Once space does become a militarized zone, there may be no turning back from an arms race. But a swift change in US policy could make all the difference. A foreign policy that embraced the values of democracy, multilateralism, and international cooperation would undermine the need for space-based arms. The time for the US to make its turn-around is now. Otherwise, it looks like the mad scientists will win.

Next week: Coups, Dirty Wars, and the US Commitment to Democracy

 
TWO LINKS
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"[T]he U.S. Space Command's Vision for 2020 report says: "The globalization of the world economy will also continue with a widening between 'haves' and 'have-nots.'" From space, the U.S., the engine of the global economy--would keep those 'have-nots' in line."

Originally presented to the British Members of Parliament as an argument against aiding the US in building its missile defense systems. The author contends that missile defense is not the goal at all, but rather just a "layer" in a larger program for space domination. The author also highlights Canadian attempts to ban all space-based weapons which have been blocked by the US.
9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=187

You can read the Space Command's Vision for 2020 document online. It's pretty frightening.
www.spacecom.mil/visbook.pdf

 
THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF SPACE
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This article argues that the military dominance of the US is now maintained largely through its dominance of space: "When you're a cop, sometimes you kick doors in. Most of the time you stay on patrol. Outer space is where a global cop patrols. America's eyes, ears, and nerves are up there, all day, every day, circling the blue yonder. Space vehicles are the ultimate asymmetrical asset. They can't be reached with a hijacked jet. They laugh at anthrax."
www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.04/sdi.html

The Reagan-era vision of Star Wars has been resurrected by the current administration. Indeed, the program has been given a huge shot in the arm due to the war on terrorism, despite the fact that Star Wars-type systems would be utterly incapable of defending against a terrorist attack. According to critics, "Now is the time for people around the world to act in order to keep space for peace. War in space will mean more war on earth."
www.cpusa.org/article/articleview/263/1/3/

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has been instrumental in pushing the US along the path toward space domination. According to the "Rumsfeld doctrine," space is the fourth battlefield arena, along with land, sea, and sky, and control of space will mean control over America's military and economic interests.
www.progressive.org/wx051001.html

Amazingly, a 1998 report by the US space command acknowledges that globalization will lead to unrest that will possibly threaten the security of the US. However, their solution isn't addressing the gaps between the "haves" and the "have-nots" - their solution is space weapons. Learn more about how US domination of space could be used to enforce globalization, including the Bush administration's ties to the aerospace industry, and campaign contributions by the major players.
www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=1333

 
SPACE-BASED WEAPONS AND SURVEILLANCE
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This excellent article provides an overview of the various satellites currently being used by the US military. The capabilities of these satellites are discussed, as is their possible application during the "war on terrorism", especially in Afghanistan.
9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=188

This is a group of brief descriptions of current and future air- and space-based strategic systems. These include the proposed Space-Based Laser as well as Airborne Laser systems. Several of the descriptions are accompanied by artists' conceptions, such as a laser shooting out of a Boeing jet.
www.highfrontier.org/hf_spacebased.html

Space-based lasers could be a critical part of the American military defense systems in space. If you want to get a good understanding of the entire space-based laser project, including costs, objectives, timelines, and the advances in technology that are making it possible, this is the article to read.
9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=189

Does a connection between Nazi Germany and the US push to dominate space seem far-fetched? Believe it or not, many of the ideas touted today can be traced back to the work of Werner von Braun, the German scientist who created rockets for Hitler and helped make the moon landing possible. In the 50's, von Braun was already advocating the creation of a space station, serviced by shuttles, in order to be used as an observation and attack platform. This article is a worthwhile read because it explains the rather chilling foundations of much of the current thought on this issue.

(We can't resist quoting from Tom Lehrer's satirical song on this topic: "'Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down? / That's not my department,' says Werner von Braun")
www.globenet.free-online.co.uk/articles/hville.htm

 
TREATIES IN SPACE
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Space has been designated by the UN as one of the five global commons, along with weather, Antarctica, the atmosphere, and the oceans. This means that space belongs to all the people of earth.
www.theguardians.com/space/commons.htm

A comparison of all the major space/anti-ballistic missile treaties (chart with written explanation).
www.peaceinspace.com/comparison.htm

On Nov. 1, 1999, the UN resolution titled "Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space" was passed by a vote of 138-0, with two abstentions. The resolution called for the use of space only for peaceful purposes. The two abstentions from the treaty were the US and Israel.
www.warpeace.org/unspace.html

FAQ on the weaponization of space and the measures meant to help stop it from the website of the Institute for Cooperation in Space. Includes information on how to get involved with the efforts.
www.banspaceweapons.com/FAQ.htm

US Congressman Dennis Kucinich has introduced the Space Preservation Act of 2002, which you can read in full here.
thespiritoffreedom.com/space.html

 
SPACE POLLUTION
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An interesting but little known fact is that there is already an alarming amount of debris, mostly man-made, circling the earth. Any space-based weapons systems will have to contend with the risks posed by this space junk, while at the same time cluttering the skies even more.

This article on the danger of space junk notes that, "After just forty years in space we have seriously polluted the final frontier. Valuable orbits are peppered with debris that threatens the operation of satellites and the lives of astronauts."
www.theatlantic.com/issues/98jul/junk.htm

Large pieces of space junk also occasionally fall to earth without burning up in orbit. A piece of space junk recently crash-landed in a Ugandan woman's garden.
9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=190

 
TAKE ACTION
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Congressman Dennis Kucinich's Space Preservation Act of 2002 is a crucial measure to stop the space arms race. If you're a US resident, call your Representative and ask her or him to support the Space Preservation Act.

Phone numbers for US Representatives can be found at:
congress.org/stickers/?dir=congressorg&officials=1

Some comprehensive talking points can be found at:
www.peaceinspace.com/FAQ.htm

You can also write a letter to your local paper, incorporating the information from this bulletin. Few people are aware of this issue; educating the public about it is an important part of making space policy change.

For the addresses and phone numbers of US newspapers, try:
congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

If you know of a resource for international newspapers' addresses, please let us know at [email protected].

 
GET INVOLVED
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ABOUT THE BULLETIN
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The 9-11Peace.org bulletin is a weekly newsletter providing resources, news, and action ideas to over 28,500 people around the world. The full text of the bulletin is online at peace.moveon.org/bulletin.php3; users can subscribe to the bulletin at that address also. The bulletin is a project of 9-11Peace.org. Contact [email protected] for more information.