- America has begun preparing its next military objective
- space. Documents reveal that the US Air Force has for the first time
adopted a doctrine to establish 'space superiority'.
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- The new doctrine means that pre-emptive strikes against
enemy satellites would become 'crucial steps in any military operation'.
This week defence experts will attend a conference in London amid warnings
that President Bush's re-election will pave the way to the arming of space.
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- Internal USAF documents reveal that seizing control of
the 'final frontier' is deemed essential for modern warfare. Counterspace
Operations reveals that destroying enemy satellites would improve the chance
of victory. It states: 'Space superiority provides freedom to attack as
well as freedom from attack. Space and air superiority are crucial first
steps in any military operation.'
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- Theresa Hitchens, vice-president of a Washington-based
independent think-tank, the Centre for Defence Information, said: 'These
documents show that they are taking space control seriously.'
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- This week's meeting, held by the British-American Security
Information Council (Basic), will also discuss whether Britain can restrain
a US administration intent on strategic control of space.
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- Next year's budget for the US Missile Defence Agency
includes funding for research into the development of 'space-based interceptors'.
Although the funding allocated to develop lightweight ballistic missile
parts is only £7.5m, further details have emerged of a more ambitious
programme to site weapons in space.
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- Plans for a 'thin constellation of three to six spacecraft'
in orbit, which would target enemy missiles as they took off or landed,
are planned, according to Hitchens. The document, said Hitchens, signals
that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which outlaws the use of weapons in orbit,
will be ignored.
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- Of equal concern to some UK defence experts is Britain's
agreement in principle to station US interceptor missiles at RAF Fylingdales,
North Yorkshire. Participation in the missile defence programme means that
Britain is already 'locked into' a programme that could ultimately include
space warfare, say those who are monitoring developments.
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- 'If the UK government tries to argue that it is participating
in missile defence, but not in the weaponisation of space, either officials
have been duped or they are being disingenuous,' said Hitchens.
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- Suggestions of a deepening relationship between Britain
and America over missile defence surfaced again last week. A parliamentary
statement from Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to Labour MP Llew Smith conceded
that the MoD has sent two experts to work at the US Missile Defence Agency.
Another two will be sent next year.
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- In a separate debate last week, defence minister Lord
Bach admitted that the US was encouraging Britain to become involved in
its missile programme. 'The US has offered to extend coverage and make
missile defence capabilities available to the UK and other allies, should
we require them,' he said.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2004 http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,14493,1345460,00.html
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