Proposed US space force will open Pandora’s box
Exactly as he anticipated, the United States commanderin-chief made a “big, breaking story” last Monday as he ordered the Pentagon to establish a “space force” as the sixth branch of his country’s military. About which he had previously been “not really serious”.
Now it seems he is deadly serious — literally — that, a “space force” “separate but equal” to the US Air Force, should be established. He just needs to get the US Congress to amend Title 10 of the United States Code to create a brand-new military service. And convince congressional critics that an independent “space force” is a necessity for national security and worth the potentially astronomical input it would entail.
The US House of Representatives passed legislation last July authorizing establishment of a “space corps” within the US Air Force. The idea of a “separate” “space force” invites doubts because few view it as a national security imperative or believe it is advisable.
It is fine that Donald Trump wants to “Make America Great Again” in space, and see to it that “America continues to lead the way into the stars”.
It is also fine he, as the US president, does not want “China and Russia and other countries leading us”. Each country is entitled to pursue a competitive edge in any area of competition.
But it is quite another story for the US commander-in-chief to consider space as “a war-fighting domain”. Not to mention the US’ notorious sense of insecurity that means it also likes to have absolute military superiority so it can throw its weight around. Unlike his earlier proposal to revive US space programs, return the US to the moon, even to explore Mars, defining space as a battlefront has the dangerous potential for opening a Pandora’s box for militarizing it and triggering an arms race there.
It is true that the US is no longer the only country capable of certain maneuvers in Earth’s orbit. But that potential can be used for constructive purposes and to advance peaceful human utilization of space resources if countries cooperate.
No country should expect absolute security in an exhaustive arms race. If the US president wants peace for his country, it is far more realistic and rewarding to concentrate on peace-making on Earth and rethink his all-round assault on longstanding international institutions and arrangements than opening up a fresh frontier for animosities on Earth.