Compiled by Ron Rowe...Not so long ago, in a galaxy not so far away...

"SPACE ... the Warfighters' Edge"

"U.S. Space Command--dominating
the space dimension of military operations
to protect U.S. interests and investment.
Integrating Space Forces into warfighting
capabilities across the full spectrum
of conflict."

-- U.S. Space Command Vision for 2020
http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace/visbook.pdf

See: http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/index.htm

"As the size of our military forces decrease and our worldwide military
commitments increase, space forces help fill the gap. They help achieve
America’s vision for its joint warfighters in the next century:
out-maneuvering the enemy, attacking him with precision, protecting
themselves from attack, and focusing logistics where and when it’s
needed most.

"Our nation relies on the men and women of U.S. Space Command to put the
satellites that provide these capabilities in orbit, operate them,
protect them, and ensure that the information they provide is exactly
what America’s warfighters need to protect national security interests
today and tomorrow."
-- United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) Brochure
http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace/newfctbk.htm

"Control of Space requires USCINCSPACE to achieve five interrelated
objectives: (1) assure the means to get to space and operate once there;
(2) surveil the region of space to achieve and maintain situational
understanding; (3) protect our critical space systems from hostile
actions; (4) prevent unauthorized access to, and exploitation of, US and
allied space systems and, when required, (5) negate hostile space
systems that place US and allied interests at risk ...

"... Negation means applying military force to affect an adversary's
space capability by targeting ground-support sites, ground-to-space
links, or spacecraft. ... USCINCSPACE will take actions necessary to ...
defend our nation's vital space interests. Actions will range from
temporarily disrupting or denying hostile space systems to degrading or
destroying them. Our objectives must consider third-party use, plausible
deniability and how actions will add to debris or otherwise affect the
environment."
-- "Long Range Plan: Implementing USSPACECOM Vision for 2020"
Chapter 5 - Control of Space
http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch05a.htm

Below are a few excerpts from:

-- "Master of Space" by Karl Grossman (Jan 6 2000)
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
http://www.globenet.free-online.co.uk/
(Click on "Articles" and look back to articles posted in January)

and

-- "Long Range Plan: Implementing USSPACECOM Vision for 2020"
U.S. Space Command, Director of Plans, Peterson Air Force Base
http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/cover.htm

+++

Excerpts from "Master of Space" by Karl Grossman, The Progressive, 6th
January 2000
http://www.globenet.free-online.co.uk/
(Click on "Articles" and look back to articles posted in January)

...The U.S. military explicitly says it wants to "control" space to
protect its economic interests and establish superiority over the world.

Several documents reveal the plans. Take Vision for 2020, a 1996 report
of the U.S. Space Command, which "coordinates the use of Army, Navy, and
Air Force space forces" and was set up in 1985 to "help institutionalize
the use of space." ...

The report opens with the following: "U.S. Space Command--dominating the
space dimension of military operations to protect U.S. interests and
investment. Integrating Space Forces into warfighting capabilities
across the full spectrum of conflict." A century ago, "Nations built
navies to protect and enhance their commercial interests" by ruling the
seas, the report notes. Now it is time to rule space.

"The medium of space is the fourth medium of warfare--along with land,
sea, and air," it proclaims on page three. "The emerging synergy of
space superiority with land, sea, and air superiority will lead to Full
Spectrum Dominance." ...

Corporate interests are directly involved in helping set the U.S. space
doctrine--a fact the military flaunts. In its 1998 "Long Range Plan,"
the U.S. Space Command acknowledges seventy-five participating
corporations--including Aerojet, Hughes Space, Lockheed Martin, and TRW.

The P.R. spin is that the U.S. military push into space is about
"missile defense" or defense of U.S. space satellites. But the volumes
of material coming out of the military are concerned mainly with
offense--with using space to establish military domination over the
world below.

"It's politically sensitive, but it's going to happen. Some people don't
want to hear this, and it sure isn't in vogue, but--absolutely--we're
going to fight in space," General Joseph W. Ashy, the former
commander-in-chief of the U.S. Space Command told Aviation Week and
Space Technology in 1996. "We're going to fight from space, and we're
going to fight into space. That's why the U.S. has development programs
in directed energy and hit-to-kill mechanisms. We will engage
terrestrial targets someday--ships, airplanes, land targets--from
space."

Space is "increasingly at the center of our national and economic
security," agreed General Richard B. Myers, current commander-in-chief
of the U.S. Space Command, in a speech entitled "Implementing Our Vision
for Space Control," which he delivered in April 1999 to the U.S. Space
Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"The threat, ladies and gentlemen, I believe is real," he said. "It's a
threat to our economic well-being. This is why we must work together to
find common ground between commercial imperatives and the President's
tasking to me for space control and protection."

"With regard to space dominance, we have it, we like it, and we're going
to keep it," said Keith Hall, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Space, in a 1997 speech to the National Space Club. "Space is in the
nation's economic interest." ...

+++

Excerpts from "Long Range Plan: Implementing USSPACECOM Vision for 2020"

http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/cover.htm

Introduction
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/intro.htm)

... Just as air power developed during the 1920s and 1930s, space power
will advance over the next decade. The growth of space power closely
resembles air power's evolution during the first half of this century.
Air power evolved from supporting war-fighters (e.g., communications and
reconnaissance), to air combat, and finally to strategically projecting
force on the battlefield. Similarly, space power started out mainly as
support (e.g., communications and surveillance) and may move toward
space combat operations. Eventually, as it continues to mature, it may
allow us to project force from space to earth.

Chapter 1 - Future Strategic Environment
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch01.htm)

Freedom of operations within the region of space is critical to our
nation's future. Given the huge economic and military importance of
space, USSPACECOM must shape the region of space and be prepared to
protect and defend the US national interests and investments in space.
Over time, USSPACECOM must:

-- Integrate space forces and information throughout the force
structure.
-- Develop and maintain the ability to achieve space superiority when
required.
-- Support and enhance worldwide missile defense and develop ways of
using space to hold terrestrial targets at risk.
-- Identify core military capabilities in space and ways tp partner
with civil and commercial space organizations or other nations to
augment these capabilities.

Chapter 2 - USSPACECOM Vision for 2020
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch02.htm)

Navies and armies have evolved to protect national interests and
investments. As sea commerce advanced in the 18th and 19th Centuries,
nations formed navies to project power and to protect and enhance their
commercial interests. ...

Air power emerged differently because it evolved to support land and sea
operations (e.g., communications and reconnaissance), not to protect
national economic interests. Over time, however, air power became a
separate instrument of warfare, protecting national interests and
ensuring freedom of action in the air.

Eventually, space power will parallel both models. For several decades,
it has mainly supported land, sea, and air operations—strategically and
operationally. Early in the 21st Century, space will become another
medium of warfare. As the United States relies more on space-based
capabilities, space forces may protect the country's commercial assets
in this medium. ...

Today, the United States is the preeminent military power in space.
USSPACECOM's Vision for 2020, when attained, will ensure that
preeminence-providing a solid foundation for securing our future
national security in space ...

US Space Command—dominating the space dimension of military operations
to protect US interests and investment. Integrating Space Forces into
warfighting capabilities across the full spectrum of conflict.

To move towards arraining the USSPACECOM Vission for 2020, we developed
four operational concepts from an examination of the Unified Command
Plan's assigned missions, the Joint Vision 2010 operational concepts and
the anticipated strategic environment.

Control of Space

Control of Space (CoS) is the ability to ensure un-interrupted access to
space for US forces and our allies, freedom of operations within the
space medium and an ability to deny others the use of space, if
required. ...

Global Engagement

Global Engagement (GE) is the combination of global surveillance of the
Earth (see anything, anytime), worldwide missile defense, and the
potential ability to apply force from space. GE addresses increasing
ballistic and cruise missile threats, the need for force application,
and the need for effective forward presence with reduced forward basing.
By 2020, a second generation system for National Missile Defense is
expected to be in place-with many of the weapons and sensors potentially
moving into space. Surveillance and strike missions for land, sea, and
air will improve using space systems. For example, a force application
system based in space could be available for strategic attack, and
space-based surveillance may augment systems on land and in the air. At
present, the notion of weapons in space is not consistent with US
national policy. Planning for the possibility is a purpose of this plan
should our civilian leadership decide that the application of force from
space is in our national interest.

Full Force Integration

Full Force Integration (FFI) seamlessly joins space-derived information
and space forces with information and forces from the land, sea, and
air. ...

Global Partnerships

Global Partnerships (GP) augment the military's space capabilities by
leveraging civil, commercial, and international space systems. ...

As we move onto the 21st Century, space forces will continue to provide
support from space, but will also begin to conduct space operations. The
emerging synergy of space superiority-equal to land sea, and air
superiority-will enable us to achieve Full Spectrum Dominance.

Chapter 5 - Control of Space
http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch05a.htm

"Given the importance of space-based capabilities to information
operations, our ability to operate in space, support military activities
from space and deny adversaries the use of space will be key to our
future military success."
NDP Report, December 1997 [National Defense Panel]

Control of Space requires USCINCSPACE [Commander in Chief United States
Space Command] to achieve five interrelated objectives: (1) assure the
means to get to space and operate once there; (2) surveil the region of
space to achieve and maintain situational understanding; (3) protect our
critical space systems from hostile actions; (4) prevent unauthorized
access to, and exploitation of, US and allied space systems and, when
required, (5) negate hostile space systems that place US and allied
interests at risk ...

... Negation means applying military force to affect an adversary's
space capability by targeting ground-support sites, ground-to-space
links, or spacecraft. Negation will be executed when prevention fails.
High-priority targets include an enemy's ability to hold US and allied
space systems at risk. Negation will evolve from current concepts, which
emphasize terrestrial attacks on an adversary's ground nodes, to a full
range of flexible and discriminate techniques against the most
appropriate node. Acting under clear lines of authority and rules of
engagement, USCINCSPACE will take actions necessary to meet the National
Command Authorities' objectives and defend our nation's vital space
interests. Actions will range from temporarily disrupting or denying
hostile space systems to degrading or destroying them. Our objectives
must consider third-party use, plausible deniability and how actions
will add to debris or otherwise affect the environment.

Chapter 6 - Global Engagement
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch06.htm)

USCINCSPACE's vision seeks to revolutionize surface and air
surveillance, missile defense, and Force Application from the ultimate
"high ground." Its abilities will be even more dramatic than that of
military aircraft decades ago. The past margin of safety for our
homeland, allies, and vital interests-eroded by new, longer-range
weapons-will expand again under GE. ...

>From its inception in 1985, USSPACECOM has been directed by the Unified
Command Plan (UCP) to plan for and develop requirements in support of
engaging ballistic missile attacks on the United States. There are
potential space-based solutions to this very difficult national missile
defense challenge. If our country were to pursue research and
development of these space-based options, they would also offer
attributes for the engagement of time-critical, very high value targets
(besides BMD) anywhere in the world. Force Application could hold a
finite number of targets at risk anywhere,
anytime. ...

Many of the systems and concepts for Missile Defense may have
applicability to Force Application. This concept envisions holding a
finite number of targets at risk anywhere, anytime with nearly
instantaneous attack from space-based assets. This concept will add
options for deterrence and flexibility for the NCA. It will offer
reduced risk, increased speed, and short cycle times to counter some
high-value targets that may threaten US and allied forces and interests.
...

Chapter 7 - Full Force Integration
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch07a.htm)

In 2020, we see space forces completely integrated with land, sea, and
air forces. ... Should threats to our national security emerge and our
civilian leadership decide, weapons in space could be deployed-first for
national missile defense, then toward theater missile defense, and
eventually for additional missions. ... USCINCSPACE ensures space is
operationally integrated throughout DoD and directs warfighting in and
from space.

Chapter 8 - Global Partnerships
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch08a.htm)

Global Partnerships is a concept for leveraging domestic and
international resources from the military, civil, commercial,
intelligence, and national communities to strengthen the DoD's space
capabilities. Additionally, these efforts will enhance confidence in
coalition warfare through closer cooperation with our allies in space.
...

-- The United States will usually contribute to major theater
conflicts as a coalition member.
-- Using Space forces may be the only US contribution to a coalition
war.
-- Strengthening US security is the main consideration in developing
partnerships; ...
-- The military/commercial relationship will mature and support more
innovative agreements of mutual benefit. ...

Chapter 12 - Summary
(http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/ch12.htm)

... The increasingly important role of space in military operations and
economic development demands a coherent, focused and workable plan to
further the US interests and protect our investment in space. This LRP
is USSPACECOM's effort to get the military space piece right. This plan
is an ongoing process that will benefit from continued dialogue from all
interested organizations.