panamfloyd@hotmail.com wrote:

"In this new century, those who effectively utilize space will enjoy
added prosperity and security and will hold a substantial advantage
over those who do not. Freedom in space is as important to the United
States as air power and sea power."

This isn't an issue. "Freedom in space."

A threat to other nations' capabilities for spaceflight (from Section
2):

"The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom
of action in space...(skipping portions I consider fair)..*and deny, if
necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to US
National Interests*" (emphasis mine)

It's really only saying that, just because they put it in space, we
won't treat it any differently.

Look. Things happen for a reason. This is getting flashed around
now NOT because Bush claims space for himself or the United
States, but because China has recently made such a claim.

"Claim"? They went further.

China claims they own space, or at least the space they say is
above all the land & sea that they claim. And they also say that
they have every intention of ENFORCING their claim. Towards this
end, they were firing lasers at U.S. satellites -- seen more as a
threatening gesture than a genuine attempt to affect the performance
of the satellites.

That's what's going on.

FAR from claiming that the U.S. owns space, this is saying:

#1. Space belongs to everyone.
#2. We see space as vital to our national interests.
#3. Attacks on our satellites are viewed the same as attacks
on our ships & planes.
#4. In times of war, putting it in space doesn't put it off limits.

An implied desire to place military abilities in space (from Section
3):

"Strengthen the nation's space leadership and insure that
space capabilities are available in time to *further US
national security*, homeland security, and foreign policy
objectives;" (emphasis mine)

Um, actually, we already have placed military payloads in
space. Everything from spy satellites, communications &
GPS. This has been true for about five decades.

"Further" national security? Why not "insure"? IMO, because
everyone knows missiles from orbit only have half the flight
time of land-based systems. Yeah, that'll make `em behave..

It says nothing about missiles.

GPS systems were invented
for the military, and there's communication satellites and
spy satellites.

I'll concede that there *is* a lot of language about co-operation
in the document. But hey, hasn't Bush & Co. lied to us before?

There are no coincidence. China spawned this document.

CHINA is making the claim you atribute to Bush. That's why
they released this.

This is a response to CHINA.

On 20 Oct 2006 02:49:49 -0700,

I'll concede that there *is* a lot of language about co-operation in
the document. But hey, hasn't Bush & Co. lied to us before?

The proper way to word that question is, "has Bush & Co. ever told us
the truth before?"