“We’ve been led astray by viewing space as some kind of a fuzzy panda bear thing; I think the Chinese … the Russians and others, they view space as the ultimate high ground. They are preparing for battle in space.” ~ Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, in February 14, 2018 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee Read Full Story
“I firmly believe that it was the determination to embark upon that SDI program and to continue with it that eventually convinced the Soviet Union that they could never, never, never achieve their aim by military might because they would never succeed.” ~ Margaret Thatcher, August 2, 1991 at SDI’s National Test Facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado Read Full Story
“INITIAL OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that an effective interim kinetic or directed energy boost phase ballistic missile defense capability is available for initial operational deployment as soon as practicable.” Section 1685, National Defense Authorization Act for 2018 Read Full Story
“If consistent with the direction or recommendations of the Ballistic Missile Defense Review that commenced in 2017, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall develop a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer to the ballistic missile defense system that is—regionally focused; (2) capable of providing boost-phase defense; and (3) achieves an operational capability at the earliest practicable date.” Section 1688, National Defense Authorization Act or 2018 Read Full Story
“An imaging satellite and 72 micro-satellites were launched into orbit Friday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Russian space agency Roscosmos and research centre Glavcosmos announced. The Soyuz 2-1A rocket successfully lifted off at 0643 GMT with the satellite payload, Roscosmos said in a statement.” ~Agence France Presse, July 14, 2017 Read Full Story
“Someday, not too distant; there can come streaking out of somewhere (We won’t be able to hear it, it will come so fast.) some kind of gadget with an explosive so powerful that one projectile will be able to wipe out completely this city of Washington. . . . I think we will meet the attack alright [sic] and, of course, in the air. But I’ll tell you one thing, there won’t be a … pilot in the sky! That attack will be met by machines guided not by human brains, but by devices conjured up by human brains.” ~ General Henry H. Arnold, 1943 Read Full Story
“Certainly, we do not want for things to get to a military conflict . . .” but: “If they [North Korean leaders] elevate the threat of their weapons program to a level that we believe requires action, that option [a military response] is on the table.” ~ Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Reuters, March 17, 2017 Read Full Story
“[T}here’s a time when confluence of thought comes together and now it takes a leader to say, ‘The timing is right. I’m going to move it. And I feel comfortable with my grounds, I feel comfortable the American people will back this as a basic ideological concept. I feel comfortable that the technology is within grasp in 20 years. I feel comfortable that this gives us new hope.’ What else do you need? That’s what a vision is all about. And he had the guts to step out and do it.” ~Admiral James D. Watkins Read Full Story
“We propose to rebuild the key tools of missile defense, starting with the Navy cruisers that are the foundation of our missile defense capabilities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. As we expand our Navy toward the goal of 350 ships, we will also procure additional modern destroyers that are designed to handle the missile defense mission in the coming years.” ~ Then Candidate Donald Trump, September 2016 in Philadelphia Read Full Story
“I strongly support missile defense and a robust U.S. nuclear deterrent as important components of defending the U.S. against catastrophic threats. In addition, however, there is much the Department can do in helping to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from these catastrophic threats and events. Should I be confirmed, I will pay particular attention to these threats . . .” Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly Read Full Story
We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.