[Peace] JFP alert: Congress, Obama: Don't Start an Arms Race in Space

[Robert Naiman]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Just Foreign Policy <info at justforeignpolicy.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 22, 2016 at 3:44 PM
Subject: Congress, Obama: Don't Start an Arms Race in Space
To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org


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Dear Robert,

Tell Obama and Congress not to start an arms race in space between the
superpowers.
Take Action
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2Vyvn6p3KyluNM%2B0slsS%2FABn1F9LoepW>

By removing the word "limited" from in front of the phrase "missile
defense" in the National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA], *Congress is
laying the groundwork for a costly effort to field space-based weaponry*,
the *Los Angeles Times* reports
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=La6tzm%2FW9XYvDvYAIU%2BsEwBn1F9LoepW>.
Experts say the changes could *aggravate tensions with Russia and China*
and prompt a *renewed nuclear arms race*. 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 *fantasy*.

*Press President Obama and Congress to oppose a new arms race in space by
signing our petition at MoveOn
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=05NyJOUhB8So4zSa1uOshABn1F9LoepW>.*

“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. *So it’s an opportunity to waste a prodigious amount of
money
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JS0t9SKbXtFoFS9hyVjufABn1F9LoepW>.*”
He calls the provisions passed by Congress “*insanity, pure and simple*.”

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 *sham
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=y1sPkM02rNyKVBYTx3xLVwBn1F9LoepW>*.
“To do this would cost just *gazillions and gazillions*,” Coyle says. “The
technology isn’t at hand - nor is the money…*Both Russia and China will use
it as an excuse to do something that they want to do.*” [3]

*Demand President Obama and Congress oppose a new arms race in space by
signing and sharing our petition
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=U%2FBHClnncN7iBXefub23PABn1F9LoepW>.*

Thanks for all you do to help make U.S. foreign policy more just,

Robert Naiman, Avram Reisman, and Sarah Burns
Just Foreign Policy


*Help support our work! * If you think our work is important, support us
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