[FPSPACE] The weaponization of space?

[Dwayne Allen Day]

On Sat, 30 Dec 2000 JamesOberg@aol.com wrote:

> << But no treaty bans anti-satellite weapons, which both the United States
>  and Russia have been researching and testing for more than 20 years. The
>  original impetus for developing these so-called ASATs was the prospect of
>  space-based missile defense systems. >>
> 
> Political-nonsense alarm! OO-gah. OOO-gah. Pincus is speaking, but the words 
> are Garvin's and Pike's. 

I didn't list all my snips in the article and suggest that you read the
on-line version.  However, Mr. Oberg is correct that the Washington Post
reporter is wrong--the original impetus for ASATs was NOT to shoot down
space-based missile defense systems.  In fact, the US ASAT system was
aimed at the Soviet FOBS.  In effect, it was part of a BMD system
itself.  The Soviet co-orbital ASAT was apparently aimed at American recon
satellites.



DDAY