WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites)'s plan to
expand the exploration of space parallels U.S. efforts to control the
heavens for military, economic and strategic gain.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld long has pushed for technology that
could be used to attack or defend orbiting satellites as well as a
costly program, heavily reliant on space-based sensors, to thwart
incoming warheads.

Under a 1996 space policy adopted by then-President Bill Clinton (news
- web sites) that remains in effect, the United States is committed to
the exploration and use of outer space "by all nations for peaceful
purposes for the benefit of all humanity."

"Peaceful purposes allow defense and intelligence-related activities
in pursuit of national security and other goals," according to this
policy. "Consistent with treaty obligations, the United States will
develop, operate and maintain space control capabilities to ensure
freedom of action in space, and if directed, deny such freedom of
action to adversaries."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=8&u=/nm/20040118/pl_nm/space_weapons_dc

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