From: J. Hughes (jhughes@changesurfer.com)
Date: Sat Sep 08 2001 - 16:50:16 MDT
Make love (or profits if you prefer), not war, baby - J. Hughes
GLOBAL NETWORK STATEMENT ON HOUSE & SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON STAR WARS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
On September 7 the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 13-12, along party
lines, to recommend $7 billion in 2002 for Star Wars research and
development. The recommendation would have the funds transfered to other
Pentagon priorities.
While the Democrats on the committee stated that the $7 billion would be a
cut from Bush's requested amount of $8.3 billion, they also reassured the
public that it was still a 37% increase over Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization (BMDO) funding levels in 2001.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) told a news conference that the $7 billion would still
provide large increases for both Theatre Missile Defense (TMD) and National
Missile Defense (NMD).
The House Armed Services Committee, on August 1 recommended $8.2 billion for
BMDO in 2002.
The full House and Senate still have to debate the 2002 funding levels in
the coming weeks and several amendments will be expected as opponents
attempt to seriously cut Star Wars funding.
The Global Network maintains that research and development for all BMDO
programs must be zero funded if we are to prevent an arms race in space.
Just the process alone of Pentagon and aerospace corporation Star Wars
research and development is destabilizing as the message is sent to the rest
of the world that the U.S. intends to follow through with plans for "control
and domination" of space.
History shows that with each advancement of weapons technology a new arms
race has always followed. We urge all concerned citizens to do all they can
to oppose all BMDO funding for 2002 and beyond.
Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 90083
Gainesville, FL. 32607
(352) 337-9274
http://www.space4peace.org
globalnet@mindspring.com
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