The media won’t give him the proper credit, but one day, Donald Trump will be remembered as one of the greatest, and certainly the most courageous Presidents in the history of the United States of America…
President Trump praised members of the military Tuesday, saying the administration will give them the “largest pay raise in over a decade,” while touting successes around the globe, and even suggesting the creation of a new military branch — the “Space Force.”
"My new national strategy for space recognizes that space is a war fighting domain just like the land, air and sea," Trump said. He also entertains the idea of adding a new military branch, calling it the "Space Force." https://t.co/IECzRamgz4 pic.twitter.com/bUlC1zaOFS
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 13, 2018
Twitter exploded with criticism of President Trump and his suggestion of a “Space Force”.
https://twitter.com/ChibiLex/status/973703875428601856
The reality is, however, that President Trump is bringing up an issue that needs to be addressed and taken seriously.
According to CNBC, there’s a space arms race happening, and the United States better take it seriously, because Russia and China are emerging as ‘rapidly growing threats’ to the US.
U.S. satellites may be vulnerable to attacks that could make our whole way of fighting war riskier, according to experts.
“Every major space-faring nation that can track a satellite and launch into outer space has the means to mess up a satellite,” said Michael Krepon, a space security expert and co-founder of the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, D.C.
A space arms race of sorts is underway with weapons under development or in the arsenals of China, Russia and the U.S. Space weapons include satellite jammers, lasers and high-power microwave gun systems.
“My guess is that our capabilities to carry out a war in space are a lot better than the Chinese and Russians,” said Krepon.According to analysts, space weapons could be used to compromise navigation, surveillance, communications and other functions in a wartime scenario or national emergency.
“Our military space systems are critical to the way we fight war today,” said Todd Harrison, director of the aerospace security project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank.
The U.S. uses satellite technology in advanced weapons systems aboard aircraft and warships to carry out precision-strike capabilities. At the same time, infrared satellites provide key intelligence systems used as part of the early warning system to track and detect nuclear warheads and other threats to the homeland.
“Not surprisingly, nations are now actively testing methods to deny us continued use of space services during conflict,” said retired Air Force Gen. William Shelton, the former commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command, in testimony Wednesday to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. The subcommittee heard about the role space-based capabilities play in emergencies and the threats to U.S. space systems.
Experts say the biggest threats seen today are non-kinetic threats such as jamming of satellite-based capabilities such as GPS and communications. And the threat isn’t limited to space-faring countries since the satellite jamming technology is relatively inexpensive.
North Korea has previously used ground jammers, impacting both military and civilian aircraft and ships. Harrison said there’s evidence that insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq also have used jamming.
As for lasers, they can blind imagery satellites and high-power microwave guns could knock out circuitry on targeted satellites.
Some have speculated the U.S. Air Force might be using the Boeing-built X-37B unmanned military space plane to test space weapons. The military has always denied the small robotic craft is a kind of space weapon.
So, tell us again, “Alternative NOAA”, how “stupid” the idea of a “Space Force” is :
Trumpistanis are celebrating Trump's #SpaceForce. I know this requires a functioning cerebral cortex, but I wonder if they have actually stopped to give thought to: 1) there isn't anything to fight in space that we know of, 2) it'll cost a lot of unnecessary money, 3) it's stupid
— Alternative NOAA (@altNOAA) March 13, 2018
President Trump praised our military men and women
The president spoke to thousands of military men and women at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif., Tuesday, following his visit to review border wall prototypes.
“I have a message for you straight from the heart of the American people, and you know what that is — we support you, we love you and we will always have your back like you have ours,” Trump said, also praising military spouses and families for their service.
“For too long, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces have been asked to do more with less,” Trump said, listing “underinvestment,” deferred modernization and maintenance, old equipment and having “fewer ships than we should, fewer planes than we should, and fewer of you than we should.”“Today I am very proud to report that all of that is changing, and as you have seen, all of that is changing quickly,” Trump said, noting that his administration sees “peace through strength.”
“I said, maybe we need a new force, I was not really serious, but now I’m thinking that’s a great idea. We’re making a Space Force. Tremendous.”
“I’m talking the largest military buildup since Ronald Reagan, and one of the largest buildups in the history of our nation,” Trump said, noting that the proposed military budget would be $716 billion in 2019. “We are investing in the greatest weapon, the most beautiful weapon. Our most brilliant weapon — you.”
Trump added that “in 2019 we want to give you your largest pay raise in over a decade. You deserve it. You deserve it.”
