Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 59, July - August 2001

News Review

US General on Space-Based Weapons

On August 1, General Michael Ryan, US Air Force Chief of Staff, spoke candidly to reporters about the strong likelihood of space-based weapons being deployed by the United States. According to General Ryan: "Eventually we're going to have the capability to take things out in orbit. ... We have to in some way protect those [space-based] assets, at least defensively. And that leads you to the thought that if you're going to be up there trying to protect them defensively, where do you cross the line into offensive operations? Historically, wherever commerce has gone and our national interests have gone, so have gone our forces - on land, sea, in the air, we tended to exploit the realm we were dependent on. I would suggest that sometime in the future...we're going to have to come to a policy decision on whether we're going to use space for both defensive and offensive capabilities."

On June 28, Canada's Foreign Minister, John Manley, had made plain his government's likely response to any US decision to move toward space-based weapons: "I've made the point [to Washington] as strongly as could possibly be made that Canada is unalterably opposed to the weaponisation of space. I think it is a very dangerous direction to be moving in."

On July 26, Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich announced he would be introducing a Space Preservation Act later this year aiming to preclude space weaponisation. In a press release, Kucinich stated: "We must work toward the elimination of all nuclear weapons, and an end to policies which cause this country to move toward the weaponization of space. ... My bill will call for an immediate and permanent termination of research, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of all space-based weapons systems and components by any person, agency or contractor of the US government."

Reports: Kucinich to introduce legislation to ban weaponization of space, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space Press Release, July 26; US, Canada swap barbs over spending, Associated Press, July 28; Military chief urges space weaponry, Associated Press, August 1.