Russia vetos UN resolution put forth by U.S to ban nuclear weapons in space
Russia yesterday vetoed a UN resolution by the U.S and Japan that proposed banning all nuclear weapons as well as “other weapons of mass destruction” in space.
This is all a game by the diplomats and politicians in power on both sides.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Wednesday echoed [U.S. ambassador] Thomas-Greenfield, reiterating that “the United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device.” If Putin has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space, Sullivan said, “Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.”
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the resolution as “absolutely absurd and politicized,” and said it didn’t go far enough in banning all types of weapons in space. Russia and China proposed an amendment to the U.S.-Japan draft that would call on all countries, especially those with major space capabilities, “to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.”
The vote was 7 countries in favor, 7 against, and one abstention and the amendment was defeated because it failed to get the minimum 9 “yes” votes required for adoption.
So Russia vetos the U.S. resolution, and the U.S. and its allies veto the Russian resolution. In both cases neither side intends to stop work on its space weaponry, nor will either allow any independent inspections of their facilities. Moreover, both resolutions are irrelevant, because these nations are all signatories to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which already outlaws the placement of nuclear weapons in space.
As I said, it is all a game, intended not to stop deployment of such weapons but to try to embarrass their opponents.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Russia yesterday vetoed a UN resolution by the U.S and Japan that proposed banning all nuclear weapons as well as “other weapons of mass destruction” in space.
This is all a game by the diplomats and politicians in power on both sides.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Wednesday echoed [U.S. ambassador] Thomas-Greenfield, reiterating that “the United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device.” If Putin has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space, Sullivan said, “Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.”
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the resolution as “absolutely absurd and politicized,” and said it didn’t go far enough in banning all types of weapons in space. Russia and China proposed an amendment to the U.S.-Japan draft that would call on all countries, especially those with major space capabilities, “to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.”
The vote was 7 countries in favor, 7 against, and one abstention and the amendment was defeated because it failed to get the minimum 9 “yes” votes required for adoption.
So Russia vetos the U.S. resolution, and the U.S. and its allies veto the Russian resolution. In both cases neither side intends to stop work on its space weaponry, nor will either allow any independent inspections of their facilities. Moreover, both resolutions are irrelevant, because these nations are all signatories to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which already outlaws the placement of nuclear weapons in space.
As I said, it is all a game, intended not to stop deployment of such weapons but to try to embarrass their opponents.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The bigger picture is this: Russia’s military is completely outclassed by the West’s. It is already two generations behind in its weaponry, and it will be three generations behind within ten years. Its nuclear and other doomsday weapons are all they have left to hold back the West.
For this reason they are absolutely terrified that the United States will deploy a 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative-style weapon system in space. If Russia’s ICBMs and SLBMs are neutralized, they would not be able to stop the West from rolling back Russia’s military conquests.
So Russia is trying to prevent that with a two-pronged approach: 1) A diplomatic initiative to prevent development and deployment of such a system in the first place, and 2) Deployment of a nuclear doomsday device in orbit that could take out an entire hemisphere’s worth of satellites at once.
It may seem like a game, but the stakes are Russia’s military conquests in Europe.
mkent: Your analysis of Russia’s motives is excellent, but I think you miss my point, which is that the actions of the U.S. government are as untrustworthy as Russia’s. Neither is to be trusted in the slightest. Both want war, mindlessly, to line the pockets of their big money donors.
“Both want war, mindlessly, to line the pockets of their big money donors.” C’mon Bob, that’s really cynical. We both are old enough to remember the rejoicing at the end of the first cold war in 1990. Yes, I’m sure Putin is fine with low intensity conflicts all around the world, but to suggest that this a goal of G7 nations is silly.
Follow the money.
Most war is about control of available resources.
Threat of war is an instrument for persuading others to share the wealth.
Nukes in space will be a thing because the denial of wealth encourages the sharing of wealth.
Steve Carleton: If you think the Western leaders today are even close in their goals to the leaders in 1990, you are naive beyond belief. Consider just one example: A Belgium mayor about a week ago attempted to use police force to shut down a conservative political conference, because he didn’t like their opinions. Such an action was considered unthinkable prior to 2000. Nor is it becoming par for the course.
The usual deal with Russian weapons is this. They have some good stuff. Some of it is as good as anything the west can come up with. The have a lot of stuff, much more than the west has. The problem is, the good stuff isn’r common. The common stuff isn’t good. Put another way, its like having a thousand baseball bats and one machine gun. That not going to help you much against.an opponent with a hundred machine guns. This has been Russia’s issue with military technology from the start of the Cold War until now. Its much.more complicated then that, but that’s it in a nutshell.
Nuclear weapons in space are useless.
Treaty’s like this are nothing more than pandering to the people who think it will keep them safe.
Those are the very same useful idiots who are doing the anti Israel protests around the world right now.
I agree with pzatchok, nuclear weapons require decaying triggers that must be replaced often making space-based nuclear weapons rather foolish but scary to talk about.
Reagan’s Star Wars systems fantasy are now obsolete and the current ballistic and cruise missiles are manageable, far faster and more reliable. (Boeing is turning the F-15s in Utah into pilotless attack drones…)
Tungsten ”Rods from God” are nearly as destructive without the nuclear radiation. Rocks from a lunar base would even be more destructive.
It is true that the Russians our buying tech and equipment from the Chinese and Iranians.
The United States has always given them the technology for free… Not only during the cold war with our nuclear secrets was found in their possession, (A book written by a whistle blower in the 50s is now selling on Amazon for $150 a copy for paper back)
The United States (Joe Biden ) just filled a base in Nigeria, just like Afghanistan, with the latest high-tech equipment and is abandoning the Air Force Base… walking away from it knowing that the government there has already made a deal with the Russians to take over our fully stocked air base. Christmas comes early for Putin.
Hunter Biden says the family business is influence… There is nothing else they have for sale. So if there’s something the United States has that you want, Joe Biden can get it for you for the right price. If you don’t have the money? Obama can you get that for you too. How many pallets of $100 bills do you need?
Apparently business is good.
Steven is right.
Libertarianism is as big an enemy to military preparedness as liberals themselves. LeMay and Rickover got blank checks and space advocates starved in comparison.
Right now Israel has SDI tech saving its skies–but Space Force is still starving in comparison to carrier groupies and fighter jocks–THEY need to be gutted in favor of New Defense.
But any time space advocates complain and rightfully so, your knee-jerk libertarianism kicks in.
Back in 2022 Biden cut the funds for new Naval ships and upped the decommissioning number. presently we are buying 9 and sinking 24.
In 2023 he cut back the budget again and slowed the replacement rate back by 3 years,
Giving the saved cash to the illegals. Some say illegally since he can not move budgeted money from department to department.
As for Russia or China stealing tech from the US.
Its a little hard to not believe it after seeing the US patriot missile maneuvering system and then a few years later the same style shows up in China and Russia. On their SA- systems.
After following the Russian systems developments and updates after the maneuvering theft all they have pretty much done is trade distance for warhead size
Russia does not have the tech base to keep up with the US and the western nations. With China’s help they could, but not on their own.
Economic sanctions on China will no longer work. We have to many enemies that will buy off of them to even hope of starving them out inside the next 50 years. They will live off of slave labor just like NK.