Neocons.... In.... Spaaaaaace!

I suppose there's no avoiding the term imperialism when discussing the White House's bellicose foreign policy and the lofty goals of PNAC. But couldn't they at least limit it to this planet?

Officially, the United States opposes militarizing space in the future, including with its own weapons. Yet last year, when the United Nations voted on whether to open negotiations to formally ban space weaponry, 160 nations voted "yes," one nation voted "no" -- the United States.

On Aug. 31, the president authorized a new National Space Policy that leaves little room for doubt that this administration considers space one more extension of its sphere of influence -- up to, and including, weapons. "Freedom of action in space," the policy states, "is as important to the United States as air power and sea power." Putting it in those terms, "freedom of action in space" is indistinguishable from "space power." The Washington Post uncovered the policy on Wednesday. It quotes an unnamed administration official denying that a change is afoot: "This policy is not about developing or deploying weapons in space, period."

The policy contradicts the official's certainty: "The United States," the policy 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 policy's rejections of arms control agreements limiting use of space is just as clear.

UPDATE: A great catch from OD1. This link to a Project for the New American Century report highlights their determination that space become an American miltary base. From page 54...

No system of missile defenses can be fully effective without placing sensors and weapons in space. Although this would appear to be creating a potential new theater of warfare, in fact space has been militarized for the better part of four decades. Weather, communications, navigation and reconnaissance satellites are increasingly essential elements in American military power.

Ahhh, PNAC. Proven wrong across the board, but still crafting White House policy. I suspect I'm not the only one who sees the comparison of weather satellites and missile platforms to be a tad disingenuous.