Missile defence: a tool for peace or power?
Links between missile defences and US ambitions to place weapons in space
- compiled by the Missile Defence Working Group

‘We’re going to fight a war in space. We’re going to fight from space and we’re going to fight into space…’ General Joseph W Ashy, Commander-in-Chief of US Space Command, 5 August 1996

The US Government should pursue the relevant capabilities ‘to ensure that the President will have the option to deploy weapons in space to deter threats to and, if necessary, defend against attacks on US interests.’ ‘Report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization’ (The Rumsfeld Report), Washington DC, 11 January 2001, p. 12

‘There is no question but that the use of land and sea and air and space are all things that need to be considered if one is looking at the best way to provide the kind of security from ballistic missiles that is desirable for the United States and for our friends and allies.’ Donald Rumsfeld, US Defense Secretary, 8 May 2001

‘Space offers attractive options not only for missile defense but for a broad range of interrelated civil and military missions. It truly is the ultimate high ground. We are exploring concepts and technologies for space-based intercepts.’ Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Defense Secretary, October 2002.

‘Dominating the space dimension of military operations to protect US national interests and investment … [and] integrating space forces into war-fighting capabilities across the full spectrum of conflict.’ US Space Command, Vision for 2020, 1997

‘Ballistic missiles owned and operated by states of concern tend to lack accuracy, and in general have more political than military utility.’ Ministry of Defence, ‘Missile Defence: A Public Discussion Paper’, December 2002. p. 10 [This suggests that the capability to defend against a ballistic missile attack would also be politically rather than militarily driven].

The US should: ‘DEVELOP AND DEPLOY GLOBAL MISSILE DEFENSES to defend the American homeland and American allies, and to provide a secure basis for U.S. power projection around the world.’ (Original emphasis). Project for a New American Century (PNAC), ‘Rebuilding America’s Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century.’ PNAC is an influential thinktank whose founder members include US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Space and information operations have become the backbone of … civilian and military capabilities. This opens up the possibility that space control – the exploitation of space and the denial of the use of space to adversaries – will become a key objective in future military operations.’ US Quadrennial Defense Review, 30 September 2003 (Official US government policy)

‘Space is the ultimate high ground of US military operations … Space force application systems [delivering attacks from space] would have the advantage of rapid global access and the ability to effectively bypass adversary defenses.’ Air Force Doctrine Document 2-2, ‘Space Operations’ (Official US Air Force policy)

‘We cannot fully exploit space until we control it.’ US Space Command, ‘Strategic Master Plan, Federal Year 2004 and beyond’, p. 5

Space Force Application: Nuclear Deterrence; Missile Defense; Conventional Strike’ US Space Command, ‘Strategic Master Plan, Federal Year 2004 and beyond’, p. 8

In US Space Command’s Strategic Master Plan: From 2010 or 2015 - develop capability of conventional strike – a non-nuclear attack from/through space. From 2016 onwards – develop capability for space-based components of a missile defense system. p. 14

‘Our vision calls for prompt global strike space systems with the capability to directly apply force from or through space against terrestrial targets. International treaties and laws do not prohibit the use or presence of conventional weapons in space.’ US Space Command, ‘Strategic Master Plan, Federal Year 2004 and beyond’, p. 20

However Li Cheng believes the programme is primarily military in nature: "No one would be so naïve as to think this only has civilian implications. China is very concerned about the US missile defence system and its space programme is commissioned and mainly controlled by the military." Gary Milhollin, an American expert, agrees. He says, "if you make progress in space, if you use that progress for reconnaissance of military satellites, you can make progress in launching more effective missile attacks."

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Compiled November 2003