U.S. Deploys Orbital Communications Jammer 619
kpwoodr writes "An interesting article at the Washington Times makes note of a recent satellite launch by the U.S. It seems we have put a jammer in space that will allow us to disrupt enemy communication systems at will. From the article: 'The U.S. military is bracing for future attacks in space, and the Air Force has deployed an electronic-warfare unit capable of jamming enemy satellites, the general in charge of space defenses says. "You can't go to war and win without space."'"
Militarization of Space (Score:2, Interesting)
space. Given the problems we already have with "space junk", orbiting
materials left over from previous launches ranging in size from rivets and
nuts to whole satellites, encouraging a "space race" of orbiting weapon
systems (including weapons against communication) seems crazy and
deeply disappointing.
I can only hope that such a space-race doesn't clog the low-Earth-orbit
regions so legitimate, peaceful endeavors can continue without being
pelted by the space-borne mine-field of junk left over from this disaster.
Re:With apologies to Sid Meier... (Score:3, Interesting)
The shadowy shape of a bird spread its wings and rose into the air near him. Darkness engulfed the bridge. Dim lights danced briefly in the black eyes of the bird as, deep in its instructional address space, bracket after bracket was finally closing, if clauses were finally ending, repeat loops halting, recursive functions calling themselves for the last few times.
Re:With apologies to Sid Meier... (Score:2, Interesting)
Europe was by far the bloodiest continent for hundreds and hundreds of years. What changed? Simple -- Democracy. It's extremely rare that stable democracies war on each other. Eventually, the rest of the world will join civilization and the entire world will be stable constitutional democracies. China, Korea, the Middle East -- Yeah, it seems far away from where we're standing right now, but it'll happen eventually.
Once the entire world has been "de-dictator-ized", war will be pretty much over. There will still be the old hatreds (*ahem*India and Pakistan), but that only takes a few generations of children who don't know and don't care the border used to be different. They'd rather have peace than move a few lines on the map. Britain and Northern Ireland are already well on this course. Israel and Palestine probably won't happen until Palestine has actual real estate to call their own and has had a stable democracy for a few generations.
But it'll happen. It's only a matter of time. I hope I see it in my lifetime.
Not a new idea, just a new public announcement (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Attacks from whom? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:The Biggest Jammers: +1, Informative (Score:4, Interesting)
What if its purpose is to just "buy time"? Meaning, it could be used as a fail safe to stop bad news from getting out.
Heres a scenario: actual treason charges that could bring down the house of cards that is BushCo are brought forth. The satellite is fired and stops all broadcasts getting out of Washington. The private mercenaries are used as a Pretorian Guard to secure Fitzpatrick and any witnesses. After the "cleanup", a suitable explanation along with a defrosted "insta-terrorist" is put in place, and then the media can fill the airwaves with a "human tragedy" or terrorist act. Something that makes enough sense that half the country can argue with the other half... like we have been dealing with for 5 years now.
This satellite may be no big deal and actually help our country. Normally, I wouldn't worry about it. But I am so paranoid about these fascists in office I wouldn't trust them with a butter knife--much less our country.
If we think BushCo can lie us into a war that doesn't benefit US interests--or anybody but a bunch of crooks. If we think BushCo would steal an election. What don't you think BushCo would do?
Not enough? Ok if torture were somehow legalized. If people could be imprisoned without their will? Oh, those are bad guys...
Not enough? OK, an administration that would use its own people as guinea pigs (especially abused children), how about that?
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The proposal was later dropped when the public got wind of it... but now it is back again (like the media consolidation bill). In fact, they pushed it through while people were drowning after Katrina. Our government, too busy to rescue citizens but not too busy to sneak in legislation. I've just heard the rumor but I can't find a link yet. I just hope that when we find a way to test roach killer on kids, it will be legal.
You just don't know where the battle is... (Score:4, Interesting)
What happens when less oil comes out of the ground than the year before? What happens when clean water gets more scarce? What happens when the gulf stream shuts down and Europe has to find new crop land or warmer/wetter weather?
Are we too civilized to have resource wars? How civilized were we to turn back food and water going to the victims of Katrina just last week in the US of A?
I have become much more cynical and worried about the future than ever. I have kids of my own now and I worry if they will be spared being drafted into a resource war. I'm sure they'll leave feeling like they are great heroes off to defeat some evil -- they will return with hollow looks in their eyes when they have killed too many of the hungry and desperate.
Re:Implicit racism and tyranny of low expectations (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Taking the initiative! (Score:3, Interesting)
Here is one article that sums it up, surprisingly on cable news from Keith Obermann http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6368819/#041119a [msn.com]
America is only 49% idiots.
Re:Taking the initiative! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I'm more worried about verbalizing space! (Score:3, Interesting)
When my enlistment ended that was the happiest day of my life.