NYT editorial: New Bush space policy "jingoistic," "belligerent"

[DeepModem Mom]

Editorial
Flexing Our Muscles in Space
Published: October 21, 2006

The Bush administration has adopted a jingoistic and downright belligerent tone toward space operations. In a new “national space policy” posted without fanfare on an obscure government Web site, and in recent speeches, it has signaled its determination to be pre-eminent in space — as it is in air power and sea power — while opposing any treaties that might curtail any American action there.

This chest-thumping is being portrayed as a modest extension of the Clinton administration’s space policy issued a decade ago. And so far there is no mention of putting American weapons in space. But the more aggressive tone of the Bush policy may undercut international cooperation on civilian space projects — a goal to which the new policy subscribes — or set off an eventual arms race in space.

The new policy reflects the worst tendencies of the Bush administration — a unilateral drive for supremacy and a rejection of treaties. And it comes just as the White House is desperately seeking help to rein in the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran. That effort depends heavily on cooperation from China and Russia, two countries with their own active space programs.

The administration regards the policy as a necessary update to reflect how important space is becoming for the American economy and defense. But outside experts who have parsed the language are struck by how forceful and nationalistic it sounds.

Whereas the 1996 policy opened with assurances that the United States would pursue greater levels of partnership and cooperation in space, the new policy states: “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 of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/opinion/21sat1.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. "Jingoism"

Jingoism is a word you don't see much nowadays, although it is practiced all to often by the Junta.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Yeah, well, there may be terra-ists on Mars.

Not to worry, though. Bush's entire "science" team thinks the Earth is 6,000 years old and the sky is made of papier-mache. They don't believe in space travel because it's not in the Bible.

[ninkasi]

3. The thing that first came to my mind

aside from the embarrassing faux macho strutting by *, is that if his administration's policies encourage further radical Xtian opposition to science, and keep on pushing such idiotic fantasies such as "Intelligent Design", and continue to ignore the science explaining global warming, we will never be competitive in the space race.

The same new century he talks about is a century which will depend on students learning actual science, instead of myth. He can't have both religious right narrow mindedness, and cutting edge technology. The two things do not go together.

[kurth]

4. "A unilateral drive for supremacy and a rejection of treaties"

Those are not his "worst tendencies". They are his freakin' trademarks.

[elehhhhna]

5. "jingoistic," "belligerent"...everything comes back to J.B. w/ this guy

[The Count]

6. Darth W Vader - as George Lucas called him on the Colbert report

when he submitted his own Star Wars themed 'amateur film" homage to Colbert (in the end, they both (George&Stephen) dueled with light sabers - in the studio that is. Great moment in geekdom history.

[greeneyedboy]

7. "jingoistic" & "belligerent" - sums up the last 6 years. + "corrupt" too.

[indepat]

8. Jingoism, belligerence, and corruption served up daily via mendacity,

duplicity and disingenuousness by a cadre of reichous and sanctimonious lying minions and media whores. :evilfrown: