China Hits 20 Year Old U.S. Benchmark in Taking out Space Satellite

The United States is up in arms over China’s successful destruction of one of its own weather satellites. The Chinese satellite was old and no longer in use. In its usual “that’s mine and no one else should have that capability” stance, the Bush administration threw a temper tantrum as its 20 year advantage had been nullified. In the mid-80’s America gained the capability of taking out satellites. Keep this in mind as you listen to the Bush reaction as shared by the AP:

The United States criticized China on Thursday for conducting an anti-satellite weapons test in which an old Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a missile. "The United States believes China's development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. "We and other countries have expressed our concern to the Chinese."

If this act is considered space warfare, then the U.S. has been capable of such for over two decades. Last fall, President Bush staked his claim to all space above our planet with his executive order.

In October, President Bush signed an order asserting the United States' right to deny adversaries access to space for hostile purposes. As part of the first revision of U.S. space policy in nearly 10 years, the policy also said the United States would oppose the development of treaties or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit U.S. access to or use of space.

"Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power," the policy said. "In order to increase knowledge, discovery, economic prosperity and to enhance the national security, the United States must have robust, effective and efficient space capabilities."

In addition to who can build the biggest bomb on Earth, we now have competition over who can garner the strongest space weapons. Of course ours will be "defensive" while our enemies will be for "offensive" purposes. I can just hear Jesus when he returns.

“And they will beat their satellite busters into tractors, and train in war no more….”