“I’ve made my own preliminary cost estimates… and I can’t figure out a way to make them (space-based interceptors) cost as much as some of the numbers I’ve seen tossed around the media (like) many tens of billions of dollars.” ($67 to $109 billion is commonly cited.) ~ Dr. Michael Griffin, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Read Full Story
“Although the program was cancelled due to opposition in Congress, and lack of interest during the Clinton Administration, the aerospace technology developed utilized a combination of essentially off-the-shelf commercial and military technology that is still available to U.S. aerospace development.” ~ Donald H. Baucom, The Rise and Fall of Brilliant Pebbles Read Full Story
In a June 18, 2018 speech to the National Space Council, President Trump stated, “I’m hereby directing the Department of Defense and the Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces . . . separate but equal from the Air Force. That’s a big statement.” Then he asked Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “Got it?” General Dunford replied, “We got it.” Read Full Story
The first four Directors of what is now the Missile Defense Agency believed we knew how to build a cost-effective space-based interceptor system called Brilliant Pebbles 30 years ago. Moreover, Brilliant Pebbles became the first product of President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) to enter a formal Demonstration and Validation program, approved in 1990 by the Pentagon’s top acquisition executive. The fully vetted by the Pentagon cost estimators, in conjunction with outside expert critical reviews, estimated the cost for development, deployment and operations of 1000 space based interceptors for 20 years to be $20 billion in today’s dollars. We need to “go back to the future!” with today’s more advanced technology which should lead to lower costs. Read Full Story
. . . Ruby lips above the water, Blowing bubbles soft and fine, But alas, I was no swimmer, So I lost my Clementine.
Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. Read Full Story
“Brilliant Pebbles, canceled by the Clinton Administration for ideological reasons, could be resurrected and begin deployment before 2024, total cost $20 billion or less. The current National Defense Authorization Act in Sections 1685 “Boost Phase Ballistic Missile Defense” and 1688 ‘Plan For Development Of Space-Based Missile Intercept Layer” opens the door for the return of ‘Star Wars!’” ~Peter Vincent Pry in Better SANE than MAD, published by The Mackensie Institute Read Full Story
“Wouldn’t it be better to save lives than to avenge them?” ~President Ronald Reagan … March 23, 1983 Read Full Story
“I didn’t take this job so that we could regain parity with our adversaries. As I’ve taken to saying: ‘I want to see their hand and raise them one. I want to make them worry about catching up with us again. . . Any American, any ally or partner that we have who doesn’t see it that way, I don’t have time for you.’” Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin Read Full Story
“[S]pace capabilities are critical for effective deterrence, defense, and force projection capabilities. . . Due to the critical importance of these assets, the national security strategy states, ‘any harmful interference with or attack upon critical components of our space architecture that directly affects this vital U.S. interest will be met with a deliberate response at a time, place, manner, and domain of our choosing.'” Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood Read Full Story
On March 1, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin favored us with some of his true views, consistent with his reported declaration over a decade ago, “The breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century.” His bellicose claims of how Russia was now rectifying the failures of his predecessors remind me of Nikita Khrushchev’s 1956 claim that “Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury (or outlast) you. Hopefully, “Forewarned is forearmed!” Read Full Story
We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.