Twilight War: The Folly of U.S. Space Dominance

By Mike Moore

Book Overview

Considering the historical background of space militarization and providing an overview of the United States' efforts to militarily dominate space since the dawn of the space age, this book argues that America must either ensure that space-related weapons are verifiably banned for all nations through an international treaty or definitively choose a policy of unilateral space dominance that may lead to an arms race in space and possibly to another cold war.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty designated space as the "province of all mankind." It expressly prohibited nuclear and non-nuclear weapons of mass destruction in orbital space and exclusively limited the use of the Moon and other celestial bodies for "peaceful purposes." But changes in the post-Cold War world, as well as unforeseeable advances in satellite and weapons technologies, have compelled every space-faring nation--save the U.S. and Israel--to go on record as favoring a new treaty for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. In Twilight War: The Folly of U.S. Space Dominance, Mike Moore, former editor of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, argues that the U.S. merely provokes conflict when it presumes to be the exception to the rule. Rejecting treaty negotiations while further militarizing space renders America unable to lead by example. Moore concludes that instead of trying to stop an arms race in space by starting one, the U.S. must radically rethink its strategy.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1598130188
• ISBN13: 9781598130188
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Independent Institute
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 7.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely essential book

Mr. Moore's excellent research makes for essential reading for those interested in the future of our planet and our species. Highly recommended.

Brilliant book on how we must avoid military confrontations in orbital space

The numerous blurbs by prominent professionals and educators on the back jacket of Mike Moore's "Twilight War," a masterful book about the dangers of any nation attempting to militarily dominate orbital space, make a compelling case for the timeliness and importance of this book. As a lay person, but well read regarding space matters, I whole-heartedly concur with these views. This book is clearly and eminently readable, presents an enlightening historical record about space matters, and confronts the coming crucial decisions regarding how earth-orbital space will be seen by America and perhaps other technically-advanced countries - whether as a frontier to be dominated or as an environment threatening no nation, to be peacefully exploited for the benefit of all. Moore makes a clear and wholly convincing case that militarization efforts can lead to disastrous consequences to the wireless world of commerse, communication, and the internet, and how entire spacial orbits could be rendered forever unusable with space debris and junk if nations resorted to military action. Moore convincingly urges that the time is now for America to lead the way to treaties which will guarantee this peaceful goal. This book should be a must-read for those with any influence of even just interest in the issues regarding the immediate space surrounding our earth.