Star-spangled+banner+over+space,+Rehana+Rossouw,+Weekender

Business Day Weekender, Johannesburg, 28 October 2006
=Star-spangled banner waves o’er space=


 * REHANA ROSSOUW**

YOU just have to admire George Bush. I do. For a while, he was looking a bit like a lame duck, like something Dick Cheney would shoot at if he had him in his sights.

Republican candidates for the forthcoming elections in the house of representatives were avoiding their president like the plague, campaigning without even mentioning his name.

Bush even admitted that Iraq could be his Vietnam — with the potential to turn voters against the government; a war that will be remembered as one in which American lives were lost needlessly and the cause wasn’t won.

But he rallied his strength and girded his loins, and set his sights on a prize far, far bigger than Iraq, one which could be conquered without a drop of blood being spilled. Without anyone noticing, without the United Nations being consulted, he colonised space.

I kid you not. Bush has boldly gone where no other world leader has ever even considered going. He issued a doctrine (whatever that means) asserting his government’s right to deny access to space to any “adversary hostile to US interests”.

He said space was important to America’s “national interest” and its dominance was crucial to his country’s security. Why didn’t President Thabo Mbeki think of that? Imagine if he had first asserted the right to dominate space.

Bush’s doctrine reads: “The US 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 actions necessary to protect its space capabilities; respond to interference; and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to the US national interests.”

Bush hasn’t only used national security to justify his invasion of space, he also relied on a survey of American citizens which found that more than 70% believed their country should set up human colonies in space because Earth will eventually be so badly exploited and polluted, humans will need to find another place to live in.

I’m sure I don’t have to remind you which country is the worst polluter on this planet.

The US government has also booked space for the exclusive use of Americans and others they deem friendly because they want to protect US technology.

The doctrine says the country depends on satellites to keep their ATMs and phones working; ensure the personal navigation systems that help drivers find their way; and to track UPS parcels across the globe.

How do they think the rest of the planet gets all that done?

You just have to admire Bush, he makes Alexander the Great look like a very small man.


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/weekender.aspx?ID=BD4A304590**

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