Quote:
Originally posted by Donut:
Ronn - China has been pushing for an international treaty to stop a weapons race in space. The US believe that such a treaty is not necessary. Presently the US controls the GPS system, it allows other nations to access the system but can remove this access at any time. The EU is being 'discouraged'by the USA from developing their own systems.
In addition the US is developing it's "global engagement" policy which, along with GPS, will include missile defence and the ability to launch weapons from space. This policy is intended to allow the US to strike pre-emptively anywhere in the world and will deny other nations this capability.
China believe that this policy is being developed with them in mind. Is it any wonder then that they seek to develop their own space capability? Not a publicity stunt, rather a necessary precaution in the face of the USA's refusal to even discuss the problem.
Looks like we are headed for a whole new arms race. What price the Federation of Planets now?
The question of aid is separate of course.
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But the question of aid is at the heart of this. The aid is given for use as described by skunk, and a space program is an incredibly inefficient use. Even more, an absolute waste.
Exactly how is China's sending a man to the moon anything but a publicity stunt?
Yes, I realize the argument against any Star Wars type defense plan is that the malevolent US wants to make itself impervious to attack while gaining the ability to attack others at will, but I have to line up with the group that thinks the mutually assured destruction theory is out dated, and that a defense initiative should not be looked at as an offensive weapon. (You had to know I would [img]tongue.gif[/img]
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On the GPS issue I'm quite confused. If the EU or anyone else wants or needs it's own system why doesn't it build one. The US may discourage it, but the EU has shown that it doesn't have to acquiesce to the will of the US, but if the EU continues to rely on the system the US offers, then there should be absolutely no complaining about the US's ability to control/withdraw that system unless that complaining is addressed directly to the EU or other government that feels it shouldn't have to rely on the US. Something’s are our fault, something’s are not.
