US Adopts Tough Space Policy. Great, Now Scrap This.

This is by far the best thing GWB has done for US security and defense. The United States has a substantial lead in strategic defense and in order to maintain that lead, more and more will depend on look down and shoot down technology that is space based. It is the ultimate defense position and high ground. The catch-up costs are enormous. If you need a reason to get out and vote Republican, this is it, because the Democrats will not stand up to the world criticism for such a unilateral move.

Next, the US should drop out of the International Space Station. The present arrangement is led by the United States, and her partners are Canada, Japan, Russia, 11 nations of the European Space Agency and Brazil. That would be fine except for the Russians. When the decision was made to include them, it was hoped that we would move into a normal relationship with Russia. That has not happened and things will only get worse. There is no benefit to the US in sharing any of this technology with the Russians. It is unfortunate that the other members will be hurt in a US withdrawal, but there is no other way to exclude Russia. The facts are we do not need the help of any other country. This will offend the multi-lateral crowd and be criticized by the media.

Defenders of the existing program will argue that Russia provides a reliable boost back-up system for the shuttle. That is true and the US should develop a back-up to the shuttle, but the Russians are so in need of revenue , they would probably sell the equipment to the US.

The US should offer to buy out the partners in the International Space Station or abandon it.

As reported by the BBC :

"The US has adopted a tough new policy aimed at protecting its interests in space and deny "adversaries" access there for hostile purposes.
The document - signed by President Bush - also says "freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power".

The document rejects any proposals to ban space weapons.

But the White House has said the policy does not call for the development or deployment of weapons in space."...

...The 10-page strategic document states that the US national security "is critically dependent upon space capabilities, and this dependence will grow".

"The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space... and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to US national interests," it says...

You can download the pdf, US National Space Policy Here