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THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
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MISSION TO MARS FOR MILITARY BENEFIT, NOT JUST "SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY"

President Bush unveiled his proposal for a new space program Wednesday by
invoking the spirit of explorers Lewis and Clark, saying, "They made that
journey in the spirit of discovery . . .America has ventured forth into
space for the same reasons" But the president didn't mention that members
of his administration view space as the next frontier for military buildup
and conquest.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld chaired the Commission to Assess United
States National Security Space Management and Organization four years ago,
releasing its findings in January 2001. Rumsfeld's report found that "we
know from history that every medium -- air, land and sea -- has seen
conflict. Reality indicates that space will be no different." The panel
also concluded that "given this virtual certainty, the [United States] must
develop the means both to deter and to defend against hostile acts in and
from space."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld chaired the Commission to Assess United
States National Security Space Management and Organization four years ago.
Rumsfeld was announced as Bush's choice for DoD Secretary weeks before the
commission releasing its findings in January 2001. Rumsfeld's report found
that "we know from history that every medium -- air, land and sea -- has
seen conflict. Reality indicates that space will be no different." The
panel also concluded that "given this virtual certainty, the [United States]
must develop the means both to deter and to defend against hostile acts in
and from space."

The president's focus on space exploration because it "improves our lives,
and lifts our national spirit." However, behind the scenes, USA Today
reported that Bush was persuaded to move forward in part due to the military
benefits, as promoted to him by Vice President Cheney. The Center for
American Progress' Progress Report yesterday noted an appearance by
Republican Congressman Tom Feeney on Scarborough Country where he stated,
"Somebody is going to dominate space. When they do, just like when the
British dominated the naval part of our globe, established their empire,
just like the United States has dominated the air superiority, ultimately,
whoever is able to dominate space will be able to control the destiny of the
entire Earth."

Feeney's comments echo PNAC's September 2000 report Rebuilding America's
Defenses, which said, "Much as control of the high seas - and the protection
of international commerce defined global power in the past, so will control
of the new "international commons" be a key to world power in the future."

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