More on one of my favorite pet topics, the impending weaponization of space:

For years, the American military has spoken in hints and whispers, if at all, about its plans to develop weapons in space. But the U.S. Air Force Transformation Flight Plan (PDF) changes all that. Released in November, the report makes U.S. dominance of the heavens a top Pentagon priority in the new century. And it runs through dozens of research programs designed to ensure that America can never be challenged in orbit -- from anti-satellite lasers to weapons that "would provide the capability to strike ground targets anywhere in the world from space."

Here's what I don't mind: goals from the document include "Protection of vital space assets" and "Denial of an adversary's access to space services." That makes sense -- we don't want anybody blowing up the International Space Station or the satellite feed that brings me Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Here's what freaks me out a little:

Space wargames bring together leaders and planners from the Services, the intelligence community, commercial space providers, and departments, agencies, and offices to explore the in-depth integration of space into the joint fight. These wargames explore space warfare issues in detail. They examine mission partner equities as Executive Agent for Space; generate insights for Air Force Space Command, Headquarters Air Force, and DoD transformation; and provide cadre- building by bringing together the best strategic and operational minds to focus on the future of space power.

This paragraph from page 27 of the Air Force document does much to confirm that NASA is a military operation. Bush's proposed trip to the Moon and Mars is nothing more than a way to get missile defense (or "space sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads") in orbit and line the pockets of Boeing and Lockheed.

Can't we just take one billion dollars --chump change for the Pentagon -- and give it to education? Is that too much to ask?

UPDATE: They're discussing this article over at Slashdot. Interesting insights into the physics of some of the plans (including "hypervelocity rods") and what treaties these plans may or may not violate.