Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Omaha World-Herald
October 17, 2007
Pg. 1
Space defense stressed
By Tim Elfrink, World-Herald Staff Writer
With a former astronaut leading the way, the U.S. Strategic Command will play a key role in protecting the military's space assets in the 21st century, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said this morning at Offutt Air Force Base.
When China shot down one of its old weather satellites earlier this year with a ground-based, medium-range ballistic missile, it demonstrated the danger to vital American satellites, Gates said.
"The importance of maintaining unfettered access to space was reinforced earlier this year when China successfully tested an anti-satellite weapon," Gates said. "This test and other developments shows our own near-earth satellites are vulnerable and must be protected."
Gates spoke at a ceremony to recognize Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton's assumption of command at StratCom, which has taken a lead role in the military's space programs since it merged with the U.S. Space Command in 2002.
Chilton, who flew three missions on the space shuttles Atlantis and Endeavor, officially took command of StratCom this morning. His predecessor, Marine Gen. James Cartwright, was named vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff over the summer.
Gates praised Chilton's credentials.
"Chilton is someone who's blazed new trails for much of his career," he said. "I believe he has the right set of skills and experience to lead this command at this time."
As a young Air Force officer, Gates served for several years at StratCom's predecessor, the Strategic Air Command.
Gates said StratCom plays as vital a role in today's global war on terror as SAC played during the Cold War, as the head of American nuclear deterrence.
"Though much has changed in the decades since, the proud tradition of safeguarding our country from the most destructive threats continue in this organization today," Gates said.
Though StratCom retains its historic mission at the head of U.S. nuclear forces, it has picked up a number of new responsibilities since 2002, including space; missile defense; cyberwarfare; global strike; combating weapons of mass destruction; and global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
"The potential of . . . terror groups getting control of weapons of mass destruction is perhaps the greatest threat facing our nation today," Gates said. "In addition to stopping the proliferation of dangerous materials, a key part of our strategy for combating this threat is the responsibilities of this command."
Chilton praised Cartwright's leadership at StratCom and said he planned to focus on better synchronizing the various missions the command has recently picked up.
"This command didn't experience a sea change, but a 'tsunami change,' in the way it's organized and the missions it must perform," Chilton said. "The disturbance in the force at StratCom is settling, and the tsunami has passed. Now we must focus more than ever on planning and executing our missions."
Chilton also echoed Gates' belief that StratCom's leadership role in military space and cyberspace operations will be key to American security in the next century.
"The type of combat we'll face in the 21st century will go beyond the traditional force-on-force combat of the centuries gone by," he said. "The type of combat we'll be involved in will take innovation, speed, agility and focus, and the men and women behind you in this command are just the team America needs to defend her today and tomorrow."
October 17, 2007
Pg. 1
Space defense stressed
By Tim Elfrink, World-Herald Staff Writer
With a former astronaut leading the way, the U.S. Strategic Command will play a key role in protecting the military's space assets in the 21st century, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said this morning at Offutt Air Force Base.
When China shot down one of its old weather satellites earlier this year with a ground-based, medium-range ballistic missile, it demonstrated the danger to vital American satellites, Gates said.
"The importance of maintaining unfettered access to space was reinforced earlier this year when China successfully tested an anti-satellite weapon," Gates said. "This test and other developments shows our own near-earth satellites are vulnerable and must be protected."
Gates spoke at a ceremony to recognize Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton's assumption of command at StratCom, which has taken a lead role in the military's space programs since it merged with the U.S. Space Command in 2002.
Chilton, who flew three missions on the space shuttles Atlantis and Endeavor, officially took command of StratCom this morning. His predecessor, Marine Gen. James Cartwright, was named vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff over the summer.
Gates praised Chilton's credentials.
"Chilton is someone who's blazed new trails for much of his career," he said. "I believe he has the right set of skills and experience to lead this command at this time."
As a young Air Force officer, Gates served for several years at StratCom's predecessor, the Strategic Air Command.
Gates said StratCom plays as vital a role in today's global war on terror as SAC played during the Cold War, as the head of American nuclear deterrence.
"Though much has changed in the decades since, the proud tradition of safeguarding our country from the most destructive threats continue in this organization today," Gates said.
Though StratCom retains its historic mission at the head of U.S. nuclear forces, it has picked up a number of new responsibilities since 2002, including space; missile defense; cyberwarfare; global strike; combating weapons of mass destruction; and global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
"The potential of . . . terror groups getting control of weapons of mass destruction is perhaps the greatest threat facing our nation today," Gates said. "In addition to stopping the proliferation of dangerous materials, a key part of our strategy for combating this threat is the responsibilities of this command."
Chilton praised Cartwright's leadership at StratCom and said he planned to focus on better synchronizing the various missions the command has recently picked up.
"This command didn't experience a sea change, but a 'tsunami change,' in the way it's organized and the missions it must perform," Chilton said. "The disturbance in the force at StratCom is settling, and the tsunami has passed. Now we must focus more than ever on planning and executing our missions."
Chilton also echoed Gates' belief that StratCom's leadership role in military space and cyberspace operations will be key to American security in the next century.
"The type of combat we'll face in the 21st century will go beyond the traditional force-on-force combat of the centuries gone by," he said. "The type of combat we'll be involved in will take innovation, speed, agility and focus, and the men and women behind you in this command are just the team America needs to defend her today and tomorrow."