The Bush administration announced June 26 the merging of U.S. Space Command into U.S. Strategic Command, which controls the American nuclear strike force. The shift is part of a major reorganization of the structure of U.S. joint forces. This decision has important implications for the future of Amercan warfighting, melding space with the nuclear warfighting culture, and could well delay the emergence of a battle doctrine for space.
Analysis
On June 26 the Bush administration announced that U.S. Space Command would be merged into U.S. Strategic Command, or STRATCOM. Normally, such reorganizations are of little or no importance except to those who work in the affected organizations -- and sometimes not even then.
Analysis
On June 26 the Bush administration announced that U.S. Space Command would be merged into U.S. Strategic Command, or STRATCOM. Normally, such reorganizations are of little or no importance except to those who work in the affected organizations -- and sometimes not even then.
For example, the domains of the various Commanders in Chief (CINCs) were redefined recently as "Combat Command," a useless but fairly harmless exercise. However, the merging of Space Command into Strategic Command is a rare exception. It has profound implications for the future of U.S. warfighting in space as well as the manner in which space-based assets support tactical operations.
When the Bush administration came into office, its intention was to reorganize U.S. forces to take advantage of and to reflect the realities of new technologies.
When the Bush administration came into office, its intention was to reorganize U.S. forces to take advantage of and to reflect the realities of new technologies.