EU welcomes US space plans, but has concerns (about military ambitions)

[bigtree]

SPACE WIRE
http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040115185953.4qfwre2v.html

EU welcomes US space plans, but has concerns

BRUSSELS (AFP) Jan 15, 2004

The commission spokesman said Brussels wants a bit more explanation about references to the intention of the US to discontinue participation in some projects, adding that its concerns were not limited to funding problems.

He pointed out that the US Defense Department is one of the world's major space players, adding that there "is a strong link in the space sector between the civilian research effort and the defence, military space research ability."

He declined to comment further, but an EU source explained that Brussels is concerned that Washington might be preparing to switch its emphasis towards space research with military-related ends.

"There might be the risk that the US goes it alone, but they put too much emphasis on developing military spinoffs from this drive into space," said the source, requesting anonymity.


References:

The Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space maintains that just like missile defense is a Trojan horse for the Pentagon's real agenda for control and domination of space, NASA's nuclear rocket is a Trojan horse for the militarization of space.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nuclearspace-03b.html

U.S. Likely to Put Arms in Space - Air Force Chief
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/space_weapons_010802.html

Space Laser Project Heats Up
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/space_laser_001127.html

NASA To Boost Nuclear Space Science With Project Prometheus
Los Angeles - Jan 20, 2003
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/oped-03c.html

http://spacescience.nasa.gov/missions/prometheus.htm

[HereSince1628]

1. I fully appreciate EU's concern

The US will "envelope" the world once it militarizes space.

Who wants to be surrounded by forces controlled by trigger-happy cowboys with much less than average ability to assess real threats?

[Stephanie]

2. Finally!

That's the first news story I've seen that mentions the militarization of space. It's part of the PNAC blueprint. It's spelled out in Rebuilding America's Defenses. When is US media going to cover this??????? I just posted about this in the Cheney thread. It seems WE all know it, EUROPE knows it, but the American media is blithely rhapsodizing about the romance of space travel.