<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Just Foreign Policy</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:info@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">info@justforeignpolicy.org</a>></span><br>Date: Thu, Dec 22, 2016 at 3:44 PM<br>Subject: Congress, Obama: Don't Start an Arms Race in Space<br>To: <a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a><br><br><br><span>
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<div align="left" class="m_-3902088068393751606m_3672842347683949695content"><p>Dear Robert,</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14px">Tell Obama and Congress not to start an arms race in space between the superpowers.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-size:large"><a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2Vyvn6p3KyluNM%2B0slsS%2FABn1F9LoepW" target="_blank">Take Action</a></span></h2>
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<p>By removing the word "limited" from in front of the phrase "missile defense" in the National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA], <b>Congress is laying the groundwork for a costly effort to field space-based weaponry</b>, the <i>Los Angeles Times</i> <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=La6tzm%2FW9XYvDvYAIU%2BsEwBn1F9LoepW" target="_blank">reports</a>. Experts say the changes could <b>aggravate tensions with Russia and China</b> and prompt a <b>renewed nuclear arms race</b>. The bill awaits action by President Obama, who has not said what he will do. Leading defense scientists say the idea that a space-based system could provide security against nuclear attack is <b>fantasy</b>.<br>
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<b>Press President Obama and Congress to oppose a new arms race in space by <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=05NyJOUhB8So4zSa1uOshABn1F9LoepW" target="_blank">signing our petition at MoveOn</a>.</b><br>
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“It defies the laws of physics and is not based on science of any kind,” says David Montague, retired president of missile systems for Lockheed and co-chair of a National Academy of Sciences panel that studied missile defense technologies. “Even if we darken the sky with hundreds or thousands of satellites and interceptors, there’s no way to ensure against a dedicated attack. <b>So it’s an opportunity to <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JS0t9SKbXtFoFS9hyVjufABn1F9LoepW" target="_blank">waste a prodigious amount of money</a>.</b>” He calls the provisions passed by Congress “<b>insanity, pure and simple</b>.”<br>
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Philip Coyle, former assistant secretary of Defense who headed the Pentagon office responsible for testing and evaluating weapon systems, describes the notion of a space-based nuclear shield as a <b><a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=y1sPkM02rNyKVBYTx3xLVwBn1F9LoepW" target="_blank">sham</a></b>. “To do this would cost just <b>gazillions and gazillions</b>,” Coyle says. “The technology isn’t at hand - nor is the money…<b>Both Russia and China will use it as an excuse to do something that they want to do.</b>” [3]<br>
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<b>Demand President Obama and Congress oppose a new arms race in space by <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=U%2FBHClnncN7iBXefub23PABn1F9LoepW" target="_blank">signing and sharing our petition</a>.</b> <br>
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Thanks for all you do to help make U.S. foreign policy more just, <br>
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Robert Naiman, Avram Reisman, and Sarah Burns<br>
Just Foreign Policy<br>
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