"Ayatollahs in Orbit" reveals that we are about to witness the first launch of a spy satellite by a terror-involved state, Iran in this case. The Iranians call it a "meteorological research" satellite, but why would anyone bother to build one now that NOAA shares all the data from their extensive network of such birds with all who ask, as does the European Space Agency? Apparently, this bird has some capabilities such as fine-definition IR scanners that are really un-necessary for met research of the level that the ayatollahs would order up. Those scanners are quite the thing for detecting military formations, especially in the desert, and if they are VERY accurate, in the cities as well. There may be high-definition cameras aboard as well. In short, it's a spy bird.
Since Iran has already indicated that it will share satellite information on the dispositions of Israeli and Coalition military forces with the terrorists, doesn't the launch of this satellite (by Putin's boys) constitute an act of war against the US or Israel? It's the same as if the Norks were building a suitcase bomb, and had promised that it would be exploded in downtown Los Angeles as soon as they could get it there. We'd be fools to let them build, transport and detonate it on their specious claim that their sovereignty allowed them to have such weapons.
I don't debate the Iranian's right to fly a satellite. Such spy satellites are weapons of war however, and in this case will be used to wage war on the United States (by proxy of terror groups from somewhere else, for now)and on Israel, an ally. Our sovereign right to self defense is just as un-debatable as Iran's right to fly a bird, and morally higher, since if we DON'T destroy the bird (which wouldn't involve injury or loss of life if done in space), we or Israel are guaranteed to have military and civilian casualties, either here as an act of internal terrorism, or offshore where our people and interests lie, or such casualties will be in Israel.
We have some anti-satellite capability. It seems that this would be a good time to test it. We might also bribe Putin to make sure some jittery launch controller pushes the wrong button and explodes the launch vehicle, but that's less likely since Iran's bill for the launch will be paid by giving Russia first crack at the data it gathers.
We also need to re-examine our technology agreements with the Italians, who built this bird for Iran. The issue of technology transfer to potential terrorists is a matter of US, but not international law. To discourage other nations from making such transfers, we use economic persuasion.
The simple play would be to make the satellite go away, somewhere over the far South Atlantic where there is little effective sensor coverage to record it's demise.
But, I suspect we won't do that, and I'll wager that instructions are already out to our military to tie yet another hand behind their backs as they fight the war on terror.
The wimps that run this nation make me want to hurl my breakfast.
