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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 01:44 PM Jun 2018

Trump Directs Pentagon to Create 'Space Force' Branch of Military

Source: NBC4 Washington



The "Space Force" will be a "separate but equal" branch of the military

Published 48 minutes ago | Updated 15 minutes ago

President Donald Trump announced Monday he is directing the Pentagon to create what he called the "Space Force," an independent service branch of the military.

Speaking at a National Space Council meeting at the White House, Trump said the United States will "be the leader by far" in space and looks to revive the nation's flagging space program. The "Space Force" will be a "separate but equal" branch of the military overseen by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford.

The president framed space as a national security issue, saying he does not want "China and Russia and other countries leading us."

Trump also signed a new space policy directive aimed to reduce satellite clutter in space. The policy calls for providing a safe and secure environment in orbit, as satellite traffic increases. It also sets up new guidelines for satellite design and operation, to avoid collisions and spacecraft breakups. Trump also vowed to soon return the United States to the moon and to reach Mars.





Read more: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/Trump-Tells-Pentagon-to-Create-Space-Force-485836781.html

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump Directs Pentagon to Create 'Space Force' Branch of Military (Original Post) DonViejo Jun 2018 OP
Oh, joy. Another trillion-dollar boondoggle. sandensea Jun 2018 #1
Bet he'd try and revive the Star Wars program sakabatou Jun 2018 #2
Can we launch Trump, first into their first mission Purple Mountain Maje Jun 2018 #3
I'll pay for a one-way ticket so he can see their parade. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2018 #4
SpaceBalls? Me. Jun 2018 #5
Lol! bronxiteforever Jun 2018 #9
Funny I already thought the USAF had a component ... Historic NY Jun 2018 #6
We need a Department of Graft just to clean up after Gump and his family pecosbob Jun 2018 #7
40 Years Too Late Roy Rolling Jun 2018 #8
We gonna have Space Cadets! LOL Baclava Jun 2018 #10
This is fucked up on so many levels genxlib Jun 2018 #11
"Separate but Equal" mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2018 #12
What a turd. He never knows what he's saying. truthisfreedom Jun 2018 #13
He's going to pick a fight with the military like the FBI duforsure Jun 2018 #14
Already been proposed and shot down. LTG Jun 2018 #15
Militarizing space is prevented by treaties and is universally condemned. Trump is evil stupid. . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2018 #16
Correct. Antarctica and Space are covered by these treaties. rickford66 Jun 2018 #21
Never fear, he'll renegotiate those treaties. He's the best deal-maker ever, after all. N/T Jedi Guy Jun 2018 #32
You really think the US will care once space-based weapons become more than scifi? ansible Jun 2018 #36
It would be a mistake for you to imagine that Trump based his decision on reality. Please don't. .nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2018 #38
Another military service for Cadet Bone Spurs and family to avoid serving their country. keithbvadu2 Jun 2018 #17
Most space cadets would Tiggeroshii Jun 2018 #18
We'll need at least a hundred new generals to start. bluedigger Jun 2018 #19
Why don't we build military bases on Antarctica while we're stupid? hunter Jun 2018 #20
Can't because of treaties. rickford66 Jun 2018 #22
"The Thunderbirds"! Ready to be deployed for rescue in a moments notice. chelsea0011 Jun 2018 #23
The Thunderbirds were highly competent, kind, and compassionate. Dave Starsky Jun 2018 #30
The treaty bans weapons of mass destruction, not conventional weapons. Marcuse Jun 2018 #24
Why do I feel like we are trapped in a remake of Spaceballs? cstanleytech Jun 2018 #25
Well... Jedi Guy Jun 2018 #33
and Mexico will pay for it! dameatball Jun 2018 #26
Might be helpful to have a space program with actual rockets and such; shanny Jun 2018 #27
Even his space program sounds fascist. liberalmuse Jun 2018 #28
he's going to make the martians pay for it d_r Jun 2018 #29
Cadet enid602 Jun 2018 #31
Let's send Dump to the Sun. roamer65 Jun 2018 #34
He's just doing it 'cause he thinks it sounds cool and he wants credit for creating it. xor Jun 2018 #35
He can't do it by proclamation tonekat Jun 2018 #37

sandensea

(21,734 posts)
1. Oh, joy. Another trillion-dollar boondoggle.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 01:45 PM
Jun 2018

The war profiteers must be popping the bubbly as we speak.

 
3. Can we launch Trump, first into their first mission
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 01:46 PM
Jun 2018

Negotiate with the mean Sun...

Sure, it'll take about 100,000 years, but with Trump and Pence (in a chain and a duct tape stowed somewhere) will be out of the way.

pecosbob

(7,550 posts)
7. We need a Department of Graft just to clean up after Gump and his family
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 01:55 PM
Jun 2018

aimed at reducing Gump's personal enrichment through his office and provide a safe and secure working environment for the rest of us.

genxlib

(5,547 posts)
11. This is fucked up on so many levels
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 02:09 PM
Jun 2018

It comes from him just spitballing it in one of his asinine "speeches". He sounded like an idiot just making it up as he went along (but I repeat myself). This is from May 13th



This is just fundamentally non-serious. It should take years of study to determine how best to do this. Trump makes it up on the fly and then just says "do it"

And how does he expect to pay for this. We can't even get our own astronauts to the space station anymore. Space is expensive and we have been bleeding the actual space program dry for decades now.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,768 posts)
12. "Separate but Equal"
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 02:28 PM
Jun 2018
MaybeCooperativeHat Retweeted:

President Markov Chain



OMG the President just announced the creation of his "Space Force" and this is how he described in by way of comparison to other military branches:

"Separate but Equal."





WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

“Colored” drinking fountain from mid-20th century with african-american drinking (Original caption from July 1939: “Negro drinking at “Colored” water cooler in streetcar terminal, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma”).

Separate but equal

Say, what's that sound?

duforsure

(11,885 posts)
14. He's going to pick a fight with the military like the FBI
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 03:18 PM
Jun 2018

So he can make it HIS with only loyalists that'll do anything he demands no matter what it is, no matter if its illegal.

LTG

(216 posts)
15. Already been proposed and shot down.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 03:24 PM
Jun 2018

The House had a provision for the creation of the the “Space Corp” in the 2018 NDAA. It died in conference last June.

 

ansible

(1,718 posts)
36. You really think the US will care once space-based weapons become more than scifi?
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 11:25 PM
Jun 2018

Not to mention kinetic bombardment weapons technically skirt the treaty. Tungsten rods the size of telephone poles using nothing but gravity to deliver death and destruction without the worries of nuclear fallout. My guess is there's enough breakthroughs now that Trump made this branch official.

keithbvadu2

(37,060 posts)
17. Another military service for Cadet Bone Spurs and family to avoid serving their country.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 04:10 PM
Jun 2018

Another military service for Cadet Bone Spurs and family to avoid serving their country.

Mitt Romney's sons said riding on daddy's campaign bus was equivalent to military service.

hunter

(38,354 posts)
20. Why don't we build military bases on Antarctica while we're stupid?
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 04:45 PM
Jun 2018

You never know, some of those penguin might have voted for Obama.

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
30. The Thunderbirds were highly competent, kind, and compassionate.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 07:05 PM
Jun 2018

The entire Tracy family was devoted to serving the world with their amazing knowledge and wealth. That's what International Rescue was all about. They could, and did, help the world.

It makes me sad that we don't value that kind of commitment anymore.

Anyway, don't be slamming the Thunderbirds. They presented a brilliant and hopeful future in the past. We have now transformed that bright vision into a bleak one in the present and future.

Marcuse

(7,564 posts)
24. The treaty bans weapons of mass destruction, not conventional weapons.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 05:41 PM
Jun 2018
https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/18/5/873/398694
The deployment of conventional weapons in Earth orbit may be consistent with the framework established by international space law, the law of armed conflict, and the Charter of the United Nations.

snip

At this juncture, it goes without saying though is worth saying nonetheless that, while an activity that is prohibited by law should not occur, it is facile to argue that what is not prohibited by law should occur. In other words, simply because an activity is legal does not necessarily mean that the activity must be done or is being encouraged to be done by anyone, least of all by those who do suggest the legality of such an activity. In considering the above legal analysis, it is important to keep in mind, within the international political realm and in outer space in particular, that the legality of an activity is but one consideration for a state in determining whether it should be done.

Jedi Guy

(3,289 posts)
33. Well...
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 07:56 PM
Jun 2018

With Scott Pruitt in charge of the EPA, we will be breathing Perriair out of cans, just like in the movie. Wait, did I say "we"? Haha, no. I should've said "the rich." The rest of us will be left to breathe toxic chemicals until our lungs bleed out.

Let's hope no one plays Elysium for Trump in the WH movie theater, otherwise he'll announce plans to build a Trump Hotel Space Station.

 

shanny

(6,709 posts)
27. Might be helpful to have a space program with actual rockets and such;
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 06:17 PM
Jun 2018

also not to have some pesky international treaty banning the militarization of space.

liberalmuse

(18,672 posts)
28. Even his space program sounds fascist.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 06:44 PM
Jun 2018

"Never mind the children in cages. SPACE. FORCE!" Sick, craven fuck.

xor

(1,204 posts)
35. He's just doing it 'cause he thinks it sounds cool and he wants credit for creating it.
Mon Jun 18, 2018, 11:02 PM
Jun 2018

Have they even attempted to explain the problem they are trying to solve with this? Why do they think the Air Force is unable to continuing to handle space operations?

tonekat

(1,836 posts)
37. He can't do it by proclamation
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 12:23 AM
Jun 2018

Congress would have to do it. Not that they are anything but a rubber stamp for T-rump.

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