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was re-ignited by the Bush administration, China and, to a lesser degree, Russia. It's an arms race that has the US aerospace industry drooling for more. Building constellations of battlesats, for example, could mean hundreds of billions of dollars for the industry. It is believed that there are no weapons in space at the moment, but there are weapons on the ground that have the proven capability of taking out targets in space— weapons that have already made aerospace giants such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and their executives, very, very rich. was re-ignited by the Bush administration, China and, to Moscow has good reason to be wary of NATO. “Russia is a lesser degree, Russia. It's an arms race that has the US __ not really on board because NATO is not serious about aerospace industry drooling for more. Building making them full partners, and in the coming months we constellations of battlesats, for example, could mean __ will likely see it break down between NATO and Russia,” hundreds of billions of dollars for the industry. e said. "Russia had no choice but to call the US-NATO It is believed that there are no weapons in space at the __ bluff and say, ‘Sure we'll play along’. moment, but there are weapons on the ground that have Gagnon and other peace activist organisations such as the proven capability of taking out targets in space— o to NATO, which claims that NATO's early-2Ist- weapons that have already made aerospace giants such century mission is based on intervention and armament, as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and their executives, report that Russia is feeling NATO closing in on them. very, very rich. "Russia does view [European missile defence] as a threat because they clearly see NATO expanding eastward, after European Missile Defence Shield being promised by the US after the fall of the Berlin Wall Indeed, new markets and new territories are opening hat NATO would not expand one centimeter eastward,” up for these mega aerospace corporations. In November said Gagnon. "US missile bases in Romania and 2010, at the NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, US potential NATO bases in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and President Obama triumphed Europe's planned missile | Georgia give Russia the clear message that they're being shield which will be armed with US missile defence argeted with these missile defense systems despite the systems. thetoric about it being about Iran.” Under the Obama plan—dubbed by the Pentagon as For instance, NATO and the White House are "A ‘Phased, Adaptive Approach’ for Missile Defense in championing the European missile defence shield Europe” and pushed hard by partially based on intelligence Secretary of Defense Robert allegations that North Korea Gates—US Navy destroyers . . secretly gave Iran 19 BM-25 armed with Aegis interceptors, Putting weapons into ballistic missiles with a range of which can obliterate space- space, or creating weapons 2,000 miles (3,220 kilometres). wesuieistine teas | that can destroy targets J 2s "ses gifass a’ Mediterranean, Adriatic and in space, is the arms race since men, missile defence deployments in the North Sea, for the 21st century, transfer, openly wondering it the The "Phased, Adaptive say experts. intelligence is bogus so as to advance a European missile defence shield. Approach" also calls for land- based interceptor batteries and radar sites, with the first systems to be set up by 2015 in Romania and by 2018 in Towards a New Outer Space Treaty Poland. Washington is also waiting to hear whether What is clear is that weapons in space are considered a Turkey will approve additional sites. “global taboo" by scores of nations—probably because Furthermore, the Obama administration has said that many will never have the know-how or the money to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty—which build such weapons to counter the US, China and Republicans have argued would limit US missile | Russia. For several decades now, the UN has tried to defence—would have "no constraints on current and elp broker anti-space-weapons treaties, but during the planned" missile defence programs.’ 2000s the US brushed them off. In fact, the Bush Russia's role in the European missile shield is not administration unilaterally withdrew from the Anti- clear, but Russian officials have said publicly that Ballistic Missile Treaty made in 1972 with the former Moscow would have authority over one of the "defence Soviet Union. The treaty's intention was to limit missile quadrants”. defence, such as deploying anti-ICBM (intercontinental “And tomorrow, we look forward to working with Russia __ ballistic missile) technology—battlesats—in space. It to build our cooperation with them in this area as well, | was a brash and cocky move—one that some critics said recognizing that we share many of the same threats,” lushed 36 years of other agreements on nuclear non- said President Obama in Lisbon, alluding that this isthe proliferation down the latrine. Then, in 2005, the Bush first time in history that Russia and the 28 NATO administration voted to block a UN resolution to ban member states will be working together in defence.’ actual space weapons. It was the first time that the US But Moscow has said that if it is not given equal ad voted that way. To the rest of the world, it sure as responsibility, it will back out of any cooperation. ell looked as if the US was going to break one of Bruce Gagnon, director for the Global Network Against mankind's greatest taboos. The ironic thing is that Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, believes that mankind probably has already broken it. Space European Missile Defence Shield Indeed, new markets and new territories are opening up for these mega aerospace corporations. In November 2010, at the NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, US President Obama triumphed Europe's planned missile shield which will be armed with US missile defence Putting weapons into space, or creating weapons that can destroy targets in space, is the arms race for the 2Ist century, say experts. Towards a New Outer Space Treaty What is clear is that weapons in space are considered a “global taboo" by scores of nations—probably because many will never have the know-how or the money to build such weapons to counter the US, China and Russia. For several decades now, the UN has tried to elp broker anti-space-weapons treaties, but during the 2000s the US brushed them off. In fact, the Bush administration unilaterally withdrew from the Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty made in 1972 with the former Soviet Union. The treaty's intention was to limit missile defence, such as deploying anti-ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) technology—battlesats—in space. It was a brash and cocky move—one that some critics said lushed 36 years of other agreements on nuclear non- proliferation down the latrine. Then, in 2005, the Bush administration voted to block a UN resolution to ban actual space weapons. It was the first time that the US ad voted that way. To the rest of the world, it sure as ell looked as if the US was going to break one of mankind's greatest taboos. The ironic thing is that mankind probably has already broken it. Space 12 * NEXUS APRIL - MAY 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com