E.U. Agrees To Launch Galileo Satellite Location System

waimate writes "The European Union today decided to go ahead with Galileo, the constellation of 30 satellites which will compete with the U.S. GPS system. The U.S. abolished selective availability three years ago partly to make GPS more useful for all mankind, but also to dissuade other countries from developing their own navigational satellite system, and thus be dependant on the U.S. for both peaceful and military purposes. Since the demise of the Russian GLONASS system, GPS is the only game in town. Evidently recent events make Europe feel less comfortable about such things, and so they're building their own. Good thing for commercialization of space, or bad thing for world peace?"

Comments

Good Thing for Europe

[moehoward]

When the U.S. gets a "monopoly" on something, we seem to have a way of imposing our moral correctness on others. (Lots of foreign aid money, kick-ass military, GPS satellites, etc.)

This, of course, rubs everyone the wrong way and is probably why we are so, um, disliked in many parts of the world.

We have this weird political morality that makes people very uncomfortable. On one hand, we impose Hollywood/TV on the world (OK, "Impose" is the wrong word) and then we also have the high-falutin right-wing christianity twist to what we expect of others. It's more than just that, but that's the gist of it.

Look for more of this. I think it's great for Europe to stretch its legs a bit. Perhaps a streak of independence will help nurse them from the socialism that's dragging their economy down (big unemployment and large upcoming social payouts).

Re:Peace?

[Malcontent]

"Unless you want to imply that the USmilitary is going to attack europe to stop them from lauching its satelittes..."

Why not? Look how fast france went from being one of closest allies to our number one enemy. You think george bush would have any reservations about invading france? You think the amrican public would object to invading france? Who would stop us?

We can and will shoot their sattelites down, we can and will bomb the shit out of anybody who stand in the way of total american domination of the world. That's the wolofowitz doctorine go read it.