P-17 Bush fears losing military advantage... now wants the USA to control space ....

US adopts tough new space policy

The US has adopted a tough new policy aimed at protecting its interests in space and denying "adversaries" access there for hostile purposes..... The document - signed by President Bush - also says "freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power".

The document rejects any proposals to ban space weapons......However, some military experts warn that by refusing to enter into negotiations on space weaponry, the US is likely to fuel international suspicions that it will develop such weapons....

"The notion that you would do defence from space is different from that of weaponisation of space. We're comfortable with the policy", White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

President Bush authorised the policy in August but it was not released until October...... During the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan proposed a defence shield using laser or particle beam technology to "intercept and destroy" incoming nuclear missiles...... The Strategic Defence Initiative, or "Star Wars" programme as it came to be known, was abandoned in 1993.

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Note the phrase, "The notion that you would do "defense" from space is different from that of "weaponisation" of space. We're comfortable with the policy" ..... that statement directly refers to the "star Wars" program that wasn't abandoned in 1993..... but was COMPLETED in 1993... otherwise.. they wouldn't have said the first comment.... It's just a play on words...

What prompted this policy was what China did a couple of weeks ago... and that scares the Bush and his military.... as that could also take away any advantage the US has with it's military campaigns..in identifying enemy positions and guiding them with satellite technology...

Saysame JR

Below is the link to the China activity that sparked this fear based Bush policy...
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China jamming test sparks U.S. satellite concerns
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
Thu Oct 5, 5:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has beamed a ground-based laser at U.S. spy satellites over its territory, a U.S. agency said, in an action that exposed the potential vulnerability of space systems that provide crucial data to American troops and consumers around the world...... The Defense Department remains tight-lipped about details, including which satellite was involved or when it occurred.

Critical U.S. space assets include a constellation of 30 Global Positioning Satellites that help target bombs and find enemy locations. This system is also widely used in commercial applications, ranging from car navigation systems to automatic teller machines.

The Pentagon also depends on communications satellites that relay sensitive messages to battlefield commanders, and satellites that track weather in critical areas so U.S. troops can plan their missions.

UPDATES:
'06 Nov 08 Russia, China plan joint space projects