Martin takes heat on missile defence

[seemslikeadream]

By JEFF SALLOT
From Friday's Globe and Mail

Ottawa — Prime Minister Paul Martin says U.S. President George W. Bush has assured him that the ballistic missile defence program will not involve putting weapons in space.

Under pressure from his own caucus Thursday, Mr. Martin tried to buy time to decide whether his government will accept Mr. Bush's invitation to support the program.

Mr. Martin reiterated that Canada opposes putting weapons in space. "I have talked with the President about the whole question. The President says does not imply the weaponization of space."

However, long-term Pentagon planning documents suggest ballistic missile defence may well evolve into a space-weapons program over time. Analysts at Mr. Martin's Department of National Defence have reported that it poses a "significant risk" of spreading weapons into space, declassified documents say.

The system already uses detection devices in space orbit to locate enemy missiles. Ottawa in August approved the use of these orbiting sensors, which are part of the Canada-U.S. North American Aerospace Defence Command
more
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041203.wxmissile1203/BNStory/Front/

[lapfog_1]

1. PNAC doctrine

calls for nothing less than complete US control of the
"high ground" by weaponizing space. PNAC people are now
FIRMLY and COMPLETELY in control of the US government.

[bemildred]

2. Space is more like the "low ground".

No place to hide up there.

[lapfog_1]

3. True...

But with enough orbiting platforms, you are never more than
50 miles or so from a target. Very intimidating. And we are
all about intimidating now.

[bemildred]

4. True.

And we are all about spending lots of money regardless of whether the
"product" works or does anything useful or not, too.

Edit: more like 100 miles, BTW, at 50 miles things don't stay up long.