Bush Seeks to Block Enemies From Space
By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent
2 hours ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush has signed an order asserting the United States'
right to deny adversaries access to space for hostile purposes.

Bush 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.

The provisions were contained in the first revision of U.S. space policy in
nearly 10 years. Bush's order, signed more than a month ago, was not
publicly announced although unclassified details of his decision were posted
on the Web site of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

"Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air
power and sea power," the policy says. "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."

The policy says that space systems should have rights of passage without
interference, and that the United States would view any deliberate
interference with its space systems as an infringement on its rights.

"The United States considers space capabilities -- including the ground and
space segments and supporting links -- vital to its national interests," the
policy said.

"Consistent with this policy, the United States will: preserve its rights,
capabilities, and freedom of action in space; dissuade or deter others from
either impeding those rights or developing capabilities intended to do so;
take those actions necessary to protect its space capabilities; respond to
interference; and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space
capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests."

The White House said the policy does not call for the development or
deployment of weapons in space.

"This policy emphasizes that the United States is committed to peaceful uses
of space by all nations and that space systems enjoy the right of free
passage," National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said.

He said the United States maintains the right of self-defense and the
protection of its interests and assets in space.

"Protection of space assets does not imply some sort of forceful action," he
said. "There is a broad range of ways to protect our space capabilities"
such as system hardening, encryption, maneuvering and other methods.

"The new policy is consistent with previous national space policies in this
regard," he said.

Jones said the challenges and threats facing the United States have changed
in the decade since the space policy was last updated.

"Technology advances have increased the importance of and use of space," he
said. "Now,, we depend on space capabilities for things like: ATMs, personal
navigation, package tracking, radio services, and cell phone use."

The new policy was first reported by The Washington Post.

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On the Net:

Office of Science and Space Technology: http://www.ostp.gov/