© Reuters / Kevin Lamarque
The Pentagon has formally established the US Space Command, tasked with deterring US rivals from "challenging American space assets or operations" - and, it hopes, serving as a stepping stone to an independent Space Force.
"The dangers to our country constantly evolve, and so must we," President Donald Trump said at a ceremony marking the establishment of the military's 11th combatant command on Thursday. "Now those that wish to harm the United States to seek to challenge us in the ultimate high ground of space - it's gonna be a whole different ball game."
The ultimate goal of Space Command - and the Space Force Trump and the Pentagon hope it will become - is to have the capacity to "degrade, deny, disrupt, destroy, and manipulate adversary capabilities to protect US interests, assets, and way of life," according to internal documents.
After years of watching its rivals moving effortlessly through space - NASA relies on Russian technology to ferry its astronauts to the International Space Station, while China has beaten the US to the dark side of the moon - the US wants revenge. Or if not, at least to load up earth orbit with as many weapons as possible.
The new command is led by Air Force General Jay Raymond, who took the occasion to put Russia, China, and "other powers" that might "challenge" American assets or operations on notice.
Comment: This is the new American foreign policy: throw a self-righteous fit, then watch as your emotionalism ends up making things worse than they would have been had you just shut your mouth and let things be.