The NFIRE satellite will use an infrared sensor to look for the plumes from missiles such as this one, which was launched on 21 March by the US Missile Defense Agency to test tracking technology (Image: New Scientist/Missile Defense Agency)From World Politics Review:
According to a recent article in Global Security Newswire, President Barack Obama might seek an international agreement to limit weapons in space, reversing Bush administration policy. As noted on the White House Web site, the new administration is calling for "a worldwide ban on weapons that interfere with military and commercial satellites." The president's position on this issue is impractical and dangerous.
Proponents of the ban argue that because the U.S. has the most space-based assets to lose in a future space war, it also has the greatest interest in restricting the use of space to peaceful purposes. An international treaty is seen as an effective means of creating a weapon-free zone outside of Earth's atmosphere. Treaty proponents also assert that U.S. restraint in deploying space weapons will forestall an arms race by removing the need for other states to develop countervailing capabilities. However sincere these assertions might be, they are simply not grounded in reality. Consider three arguments against a space weapons treaty:
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My Comment: For Guantanamo .... the announcement was made that before any decision was to be made on the legal status of Guantanamo inmates, a review (which will last about one year) must first be done. OK .... this seems reasonable.
Now to do a Space Treaty .... you would think that the same cautious and prudent approach will be done before making an announcement.
Nope .... a treaty is necessary .... and as to its implications .... there is a total lack of foresight or sensitivity to its consequences.
This is what outer space means to the U.S. military today. The use of GPS satellites for accurate missile targeting. The use of GPS satellites to know where you are in the world today. The ability to use UAV predator and reaper drones from a distance of thousands of miles ... and to get information in real time. Intelligence gathering both signal and visual. Communications .... and scores of other apps that I am not going to bore you the reader with.
The bottom line is the following .... everything is now on the table for negotiation. If I am interpreting the news like this, I am sure that Moscow, China, Tehran, Tel Aviv, EU countries, and other foreign powers are interpreting the same thing.