The skies are already dangerous

The Space Review ^ | 01/22/07 | Christopher Stone

[KevinDavis]

In a recent article published on the Center for Defense Information’s Space Security Update, Victoria Samson writes about her concern for what she calls the “unilateralist” and “militaristic bent” US policy toward space defense and exploration. She made several points that I think need to be looked at from a more proper perspective.

First, she views the international security situation in space based on treaties and “collective security”. She cites treaties such as the now-defunct ABM treaty, the Outer Space Treaty, and several other proposed treaties such as PAROS (Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space) that aren’t even ratified by the US Senate. As always with position papers like these, they use the term “dangerous” with respect only to the United States, as if everything we do is preemptive and/or reactionary as a means of global evil. While I agree the skies are “more dangerous”, I do not believe it is any fault of our own.

[KevinDavis]