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American Foreign Policy Council, Washington, DC
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TOKYO REVISITS SPACE POLICY In tandem with its growing focus on ballistic missile defense, the Japanese government has begun a major rethink of its national space policy. According to the July 4th edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo is now mulling the relaxation of a thirty-five year old parliamentary resolution restricting the nation’s space program to “peaceful uses.” Possible revisions of the May 1969 declaration – or even a follow-on resolution – are reported to now be under consideration by Japanese policymakers as part of a push to broaden Japan’s space development to incorporate national security and commercial uses. The unprecedented change comes amid growing concerns in Tokyo over North Korea’s ballistic missile capabilities, and raises the possibility of cooperation on space-based sensors and anti-missile technologies with the United States. ABL GROUNDED, FOR NOW The Air Force’s controversial Airborne Laser, or ABL, is continuing to experience setbacks. The July 6th Global Security Newswire reports that the troubled project, which has been plagued by technological problems and cost overruns, will not be deployed in 2006 as previously projected. According to Lt.-Gen. Ronald Kadish, the former head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, integration problems have prevented the ABL from being included in the Pentagon’s “Block 04” deployment, which will start later this year and run through 2006. While expressing confidence in the directed energy system’s “revolutionary” technologies, Kadish counseled “patience” with the project. CANBERRA SIGNS ON... After months of anticipation, Australia has officially joined the Bush administration’s missile defense initiative. On July 7th, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed a bilateral pact integrating Australia into Washington’s missile defense plans, codifying a pledge to jointly develop early warning radars and a sea-based interception capability for Australia. Explaining his government’s decision in the wake of the signing ceremony in Washington, Reuters (June 8) reports Hill as saying that the two governments “have a responsibility to address not only the threats of today, but the threats that we might face in the future.” ...AS OTTAWA GOES WOBBLY In the wake of a tumultuous parliamentary run-off late last month, Canada’s participation in American ballistic missile defense plans has grown increasingly uncertain. Heavy electoral losses by Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal Party has created a minority government in Ottawa, with Martin requiring support from smaller factions to successfully pass legislation. And groups like the National Democratic Party (NDP) are already on the offensive. The Toronto Sun (July 9) reports that leaders from the NDP – which opposes their country’s participation in U.S. BMD efforts – are insisting that Martin, who previously endorsed missile defense, back away from plans for cooperation with Washington on a system to protect both countries from missile attack. MIDEAST TERRORIST GROUPS CHART MISSILE ADVANCES Israeli officials are expressing fresh concern over the growing missile capabilities of Lebanon’s Hezbullah. Middle East Newsline (July 6) reports that Israeli intelligence sources believe the Shi’ite militia to have received more than 1,000 missiles – including Katyushas and short-range rockets – in 2002 and 2003, courtesy of the Iranian, Syrian and Iraqi regimes. According to policymakers in Jerusalem, the Shi’ite terrorist powerhouse, which is ensconced on Israel’s northern border in southern Lebanon, now brandishes some 12,000 missiles capable of striking targets within the Jewish state. Radical Palestinian groups, meanwhile, are marking similar progress – albeit on a smaller scale. In its July 14th edition, Jane’s Defence Weekly reports that the Hamas terrorist organization has successfully constructed an improved variant of the “Qassam” short-range rocket. The new “Nasser 3” has the same range as its predecessor – 9 kilometers – but a much more powerful warhead, one that eliminates previous design problems and is guaranteed to detonate on impact. Hamas is said to be actively deploying the “Nasser 3” in the Gaza Strip, and has already begun to use the missile in attacks on Israeli population centers; on June 28th, three “Nasser 3” rockets struck the Israeli town of Sderot, killing two civilians – the first ever Israeli casualties of Palestinian rocket attacks. |
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