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... GLOBAL NEWS. ... NEWS launch "military space plane", the potential cost of which has not been disclosed, would also be used as a mobile "body- guard" for US space installations. It would e the first "space plane" in history designed just for a military function. A rototype is expected by 2005, although military deployment is not expected before 2014. "It will hopefully be a new kind of vehi- cle, equipped for the challenges of the uture," said a Pentagon official. The Pentagon believes that the struggle to control space will form the next stage of a global arms race. Until now, international treaties have for- idden the deployment of weapons in outer space, although a loophole exists which allows the United States to use its satellites or military intelligence. The 1967 Space Treaty—the first inter- national legislation on space exploitation— also stated that outer space should be free or exploration and use by all states, and would not be subject to national appropria- tion by occupation or any other means. A US Department of Defense Review in 2001 also stated that "a key objective [for the US] is not only to ensure US ability to exploit space for military purposes but also as required to deny an adversary's ability to do so". Canadian government officials have already complained that senior US officials have begun to exclude them from sensitive areas of joint aerospace defence operations. The implications of a United States mili- tary monopoly in space are bound to con- cern European allies, which have long _ internal contamination. The results were resisted the prospect of military use of astounding: the donors presented concen- space technology. trations of toxic and radioactive uranium In May, Russian foreign minister Sergei isotopes between 100 and 400 times greater Ivanov repeated Moscow's demands for the _ than in the Gulf veterans tested in 1999. If complete demilitarisation of space. UMRC's Nangarhar findings are corrobo- (Source: Daily Telegraph, UK, June 8, 2003, rated in other communities across http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main jhtm Afghanistan, the country faces a severe 1?xml=/news/2003/06/08/wspace08 xml) public health disaster... Every subsequent generation is at risk." WERE RADIOACTIVE WEAPONS Dr Durakovic said: "In Afghanistan USED IN AFGHANISTAN? there were no oil fires, no pesticides, Aw sample of Afghan civilians has nobody had been vaccinated—all explana- shown "astounding" levels of uranium tions suggested for the Gulf veterans' con- in their urine, according to an independent dition. But people had exactly the same scientist. symptoms. I'm certainly not saying Dr Asaf Durakovic, Medical Director of Afghanistan was a vast experiment with the Uranium Medical Research Centre new uranium weapons. But use your com- (UMRC) based in Toronto, Canada, sus- mon sense." pects that new types of radioactive The UK Defence Ministry says that in weapons were used in Afghanistan, as no Afghanistan it used no DU weapons nor traces have been found of the depleted ura- any others containing uranium in any form. nium (DU) that some scientists believe is A spokesman for the US Department of implicated in Gulf War syndrome. Defense told BBC News Online that the Dr Durakovic is a former US Army _ US had not used DU weapons there. adviser and now a professor of medicine. (Source: BBC News Online, May 22, 2003, In 2000, he found "significant" DU levels Attp://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/ in two-thirds of the Gulf veterans he had _ sci/tech/3050317.stm; also see http://www. tested. In May 2002, he sent a team to wmrc.net/index.asp) Afah ayo cle, equipped for the challenges of the WERE RADIOACTIVE WEAPONS Dr Durakovic said: "In Afghanistan uture," said a Pentagon official. USED IN AFGHANISTAN? there were no oil fires, no pesticides, The Pentagon believes that the struggle Aw sample of Afghan civilians has nobody had been vaccinated—all explana- to control space will form the next stage of shown "astounding" levels of uranium tions suggested for the Gulf veterans' con- a global arms race. in their urine, according to an independent dition. But people had exactly the same Until now, international treaties have for- scientist. symptoms. I'm certainly not saying idden the deployment of weapons in outer Dr Asaf Durakovic, Medical Director of Afghanistan was a vast experiment with space, although a loophole exists which the Uranium Medical Research Centre new uranium weapons. But use your com- allows the United States to use its satellites _(UMRC) based in Toronto, Canada, sus- mon sense." or military intelligence. pects that new types of radioactive The UK Defence Ministry says that in The 1967 Space Treaty—the first inter- weapons were used in Afghanistan, as no Afghanistan it used no DU weapons nor national legislation on space exploitation— __ traces have been found of the depleted ura- any others containing uranium in any form. also stated that outer space should be free nium (DU) that some scientists believe is A spokesman for the US Department of or exploration and use by all states, and implicated in Gulf War syndrome. Defense told BBC News Online that the would not be subject to national appropria- Dr Durakovic is a former US Army _ US had not used DU weapons there. tion by occupation or any other means. adviser and now a professor of medicine. (Source: BBC News Online, May 22, 2003, A US Department of Defense Review in In 2000, he found "significant" DU levels http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/ 2001 also stated that "a key objective [for in two-thirds of the Gulf veterans he had _ sci/tech/3050317.stm; also see http://www. the US] is not only to ensure US ability to tested. In May 2002, he sent a team to umrc.net/index.asp) exploit space for military purposes but also Afghanistan to interview and examine as required to deny an adversary's ability to civilians there for uranium contamination. NEW US-BASED WEAPONS TO do so". During the Afghanistan conflict in HAVE GLOBAL REACH Canadian government officials have 2001-02, Nangarhar province was a strate- llies are to become less important, as a already complained that senior US officials gic target zone for the deployment of a new new generation of weapons will enable have begun to exclude them from sensitive generation of deep-penetrating, "cave-bust- the USA to strike anyone, anywhere—from areas of joint aerospace defence operations. _ ing", seismic-shock warheads. within its own territory. The implications of a United States mili- The UMRC says its team identified The Pentagon is planning a new genera- tary monopoly in space are bound to con- several hundred people suffering from _ tion of weapons, including huge hypersonic illnesses and conditions drones and bombs that can be dropped similar to those of Gulf from space, which would free the US from “Where Fin v > ™~s War veterans, probably dependence on forward bases and the coop- is the _ because they had __ eration of regional allies. [— | SELF-HELP j—' yoy Rsece! eccrem inhaled uranium dust. The new weapons are being developed \ section? AN ql To test its hypothesis under a program code-named FALCON i that some form of ura- (Force Application and Launch from IC ee | | \O0 | 1 nium weapon had been Continental US). Ila = TN zAl used, the UMRC sent According to DARPA, the ultimate goal | 72, ws “ye fer go by \) ee — $A urine specimens from is a "reusable hypersonic cruise vehicle | } cs 7 } =i “a 17 Afghans for analy- (HCV)...capable of taking off from a | 4 I a —= > sis at an independent conventional military runway and striking \AF “ID ) 1, UK laboratory. Some _ targets 9,000 nautical miles distant in less \ |) — Sa IS; = Ym of the patients were than two hours". The unmanned HCV PS il ftireIN— — from Jalalabad, and would carry a payload of up to 12,000 [ya Ue, others from Kabul, pounds and fly at speeds of up to 10 times —= Tora Bora and Mazar-_ the speed of sound. DARPA estimates it Ne creer {| I <7 —Ms} iz ie ’ a e-Sharif. will take more than 20 years to develop Hl - . . te fect -_ _ _ "Without exception, Meanwhile, over the next seven years the —_ every person donating US Air Force and DARPA will develop a 7 Sewer lhe urine specimens tested cheaper "global reach" weapons system positive for uranium relying on expendable rocket boosters 8 ¢ NEXUS WWW.NeXU smagazi ne.com AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2003