[FOX]
As one who has had the honor to consult for NASA and the Space Shuttle team in the past; work space-defense related issues in the Pentagon; speak with all twelve men who walked on the Moon; and author tens of columns on the subject, I have been "Johnny One-Note" over the last decade or so warning that the People’s Republic of China is seeking to establish itself as the dominant military power in space for decades to come. Did anyone in authority care? Not so much.
That may now be changing. Two recent stories in the news have certainly elevated not only interest, but apprehension.
The first being when Air Force Secretary Troy Meink recently confirmed that the U.S. has weapons stationed in Earth orbit. Said Meink, in part, presumably as a warning to China and, to a lesser extent, Russia at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference: "Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist. This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action…"
The second — and potentially much more intriguing — was highlighted in the site "Defense One" via the headline: "The Pentagon must prepare for battles around the moon: Joint Chiefs chair."
During the same Air, Space, and Cyber conference in which he delivered the Keynote address, it was reported that General Dan Caine — who is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — said in part: "Our task, my friends, is to adapt right now, so the Joint Force is prepared to fight, endure, and win, in global contested environments, from the seabed to cislunar space…"
# id) ?>
|
