Miloch wrote in
news
more at
https://www.defenseone.com/politics/...eeks-alternati
ves-independent-space-force/153119/
White House Seeks Alternatives to Independent Space Force
For months, Pentagon officials have been rushing to prepare plans for
an independent Space Force, a sixth branch of the military ordered up
by President Trump. But since Oct. 26, they have been marching to new
White House orders: go back and look at different ways to reorganize
the military’s space operations.
One of the four new options is an old one, defense officials said: a
space corps that would be part of the Air Force, the way the Marine
Corps is part of the Department of the Navy. The proposed structure is
similar to a bipartisan proposal that passed in the House but failed
in the Senate last year.
Why the second thoughts? The officials, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity, suggested that some in the Trump administration fear that
the proposed independent Space Force might not make it through
Congress.
A former senior defense official said Pentagon officials would be more
comfortable with a space corps within the Air Force, but feel Trump’s
comments that he wants a “separate but equal” space force have given
them little wiggle room.
The four options, according to one of the officials, include:
1) an Air Force-owned space corps that includes only Air Force assets,
2) an Air Force-owned space corps that also takes space-related troops
and assets from the Army and Navy,
3) an independent service that takes from the Air Force, Army, and
Navy, and
4) an independent service that takes from the three services plus
parts of the intelligence community.
Vice President Mike Pence and Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick
Shanahan — who are leading the reorganization of the military’s space
operations — are scheduled to meet Thursday. The two are to discuss
the options.
“As part of an ongoing review, the Department is developing options
for a Space Force as a sixth military service branch to implement the
President’s vision and guidance,” Lt. Col. Joseph Buccino, a Defense
Department spokesman, said in an email.
Needless to say, this is something neither
the Pentagon nor Air Force saw a need for. Nor
something their budgets has room for.
But Trump had a late night brain fart, put
it in a tweet, and now billions have to be pulled
from other military needs to accomodate it.
No wonder so many retired generals and admirals
are trying to warn us how dangerous Trump is....