by Robert M. Traxler
Do we need an arguably eighth branch of military service? Space Command? It sounds like the title of an old “B” movie.We have the Army (oldest, and in my biased opinion, the best), Navy, Marines (I know they are a part of the Navy), Air Force, Coast Guard (In time of war), the United States Public Health Service and The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.
On Oct. 4, 1957, the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (USSR) launched Sputnik 1 and the war in space was opened. My teacher in grade school maintained it was a great accomplishment for mankind (personkind today). I went home and proclaimed to my Dad how wonderful it was, as my beloved teacher had said.
“The Colonel” (my Dad) said, “Bobby, if they can launch a satellite they can put a nuclear weapon on it.” The war in space was opened and the race was on. I am not blaming the socialists in Russia for seeing the military value in space, they merely beat us to exploiting it. The Chinese, Russians, North Koreans and Iranians and others are arming or preparing to arm for warfare in space.
So, do we need a branch devoted to space as a battlefield? As President Donald Trump is advocating, yes we do. Old set-in-their-ways military folks were adamant that we did not need an Air Force in 1952, the Army Air Corps was good enough. My father and father-in-law both served in the Army Air Corps; it was founded in 1926 as a branch of the Army, millions had served in it, and there was no need for a separate branch, or so they maintained.
They were very wrong; we as a nation needed a force with its mind in the vastness of the air, not in a trench on the ground or vessel on the sea. We now need a service with its total effort directed to the vastness of space, not air-to-air, air-to-ground or ground-to-space warfare.MAD ( mutually assured destruction) was a concept started in the mid-1960s; the combatants knew that no one would win a nuclear war, and it has worked as a deterrent for going on 60 years now. Sure, we have had wars, lots of wars, but the World War Three scenario has thankfully not played out.
Strength in space and a Space Command will ensure that no country dominates, and the balance continues to deter a general war. If you feel millions of plastic straws are bad for the environment, think what millions of tons of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) would due to the environment. The term Nuclear Winter springs to mind.
The Russian Federation recognized the value of a space command; since 2011 they have had a dedicated command concentrating on warfare in and from space. Balance is necessary to counter the threats going into the 21st century and beyond. We need a dedicated force with the single focus of combat in zero gravity and in the most unlivable environment ever.
As history has proven during the Pox Romana (27 B.C.E. to 180 C.E.), the longest sustained period of peace in world history “the Roman Peace,” peace through strength is not a trite statement.
The Second Council of the Lateran in 1138 banned the use of missile weapons, crossbows, longbows and gunpowder weapons. The church banning the use of such deadly weapons against fellow Christians was not followed, as a force armed with standoff weapons will easily destroy one not as well armed. To be unprepared for war invites war, it will not prevent war. We need space warriors and a Space Command, the sooner the better.
About need for Space Command branch of military, Trump and Army Bob are right. ( Even a stopped watch is right twice a day.)
Thanks for the comment Mr. Greenawalt, comparing me to the President is a complement.
Thanks again.
Just what the world needs more ways to kill people. The next war will be nuclear nobody wins. Mostly caused by Trumpy with his tough guy attitude. For a man who served the military to want more weapons stuns me. All the money spent on weapons around the world would feed clothe and shelter every homeless child in the world. The my dad can beat up your dad era should come to an end
Thanks for the comment.
If memory serves the same thing was said about President Regan starting a WWIII. Please take a look at the Pox Romana you may change your mind. A world without greed, violence and war will never happen, would be nice if it did but it will not happen.
Army Bob
You are so ” spot on ” …He who controls space will control the world.
Many today live in “a dream world “.believing our Country should not improve our military…or the idea no one would ever start a war to end the world as we know it.
We can stand back and point fingers, take wagers, on who will start it. People forget even in the animal kingdom the most powerful hardly ever get challenged .
The human race is basically the same…some fathers know they can not beat the other and tell “little Johnny ” to man up and fight his own battles the best he can.
As harsh as it is we the United States of America can not save everyone. Everyone screams help the homeless, poor, etc but are they willing to give up 20% of their earnings or assets for all those issues? Of course not take it from some other area leave what I have alone.
With technology today which ever Country controls space very well could without using nuclear weapons strategically/ surgically disable any threat with multiple strikes.
We have to remember in the days of comic books, everyone laughed at the thought of Flash Gordan taking a rocket into space …..it was just fantasy.