For once, he’s actually not just being a moron.
Thursday saw Vice President Mike Pence announce the Pentagon’s detailed plan for President Donald Trump’s vision of a Space Force, an organisation which would establish the first new military branch in over 70 years.
Trump, in an act of support, took to his favourite social medium to tweet the five words ‘Space Force all the way!’, causing a number of people to question his thought process.
Space Force all the way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2018
The 45th President first floated the Space Force idea as a part of his national security strategy back in March, stating that this would fulfil his original vow to ensure the US’s dominance in the space race.
In fact, he originally coined the term as a joke before directing the Pentagon in June to immediately begin working on the creation of the new branch.
“Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America’s best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation,” said Pence at today’s briefing.
“The time has come to establish the United States Space Force.”
As we continue to carry American leadership in space, so also will we carry America’s commitment to freedom into this new frontier. pic.twitter.com/gCGYRFofz8
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) August 9, 2018
The next generation of Americans to confront the emerging threats in the boundless expanse of space will be wearing the uniform of the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/CPNM3w48Y0
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) August 9, 2018
As the US continues to stave off competition and threats from both Russia and China, the White House has decided it will create the US Space Force as a sixth, separate military service by 2020.
To provide context, Nasa is a civilian branch of government whereas the Space Force will be a branch of the US military.
The new branch has seen a wide range of criticism already, with, many suggesting Trump should focus on domestic policy before branching out.
Pence, at Thursday’s meeting, stressed that the new branch would be built, in part, from pre-existing elements.
“The Space Force will not be built from scratch,” Pence said during his speech.
“This is a critical step toward’s establishing the Space Force as the sixth branch of our armed forces.”
He added the “Space Force” was an idea “whose time has come.”
However, before it gets off the ground – Space Force still needs Congress to pass new legislation.
According to Pence, Trump hopes to get that process started by asking for funding in his annual budget request next year.
Thursday’s announcement coincided with a report detailed by the Pentagon on how the newest branch of the US military is set to work.
While the whole ordeal seems like a power move of epic proportions, it seems like it might have some backbone to it – as it seems ready for off in as little time as 2020.
The US is a member of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, a document which represents the basic legal framework of international space law.
Among its principles, it bars states party to the treaty from placing weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit, installing them on the Moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise station them in outer space.
Former astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Mark Kelly called the venture “redundant and wasteful”.
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