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Recently, the United States announced the finalization of a Strategic analysis of the situation in outer space. However, to publish this document will not, although there are unclassified version of the report. The decision of the White house, according to the publication Breaking Defense, caused a negative reaction from the expert community and mass media.
Many experts and journalists criticize this position for the reason that to keep China and Russia in space would be impossible if these countries don't get the idea about the real possibilities of Washington in outer space.
Previously, such reports of the Pentagon quietly published and no problems arose. By the way, officials of the space industry in the US require more openness, writes Breaking Defense. In this document we are talking about the balance of offensive and defensive capabilities in space.
By the way, recently, the Pentagon released an unclassified part of the Analysis, nuclear policy and Analysis, missile defense, therefore, the refusal to publish the unclassified part of the report on the space looks even more strange in the background.
Interestingly, in the unclassified version of the national defense Strategy prescribes the importance of information as a deterrent. In the text of the national Strategy of defense States that deterrence depends on understanding potential enemies of the intentions and capabilities of the United States. Victoria Samson from the Secure World Foundation, however, said the lack of surprise about the refusal to publish an unclassified version: most of the activities of States in outer space and so has always been classified.
Meanwhile, excessively high level of secrecy in the space sector often plays into the hands of the opponents of the United States. For example, it prevents the development of technologies, as it hinders the exchange of information and technology with friendly States and the commercial segment of the economy. In recent years, the us administration has made some progress towards reducing the level of secrecy, however, special military operation of Russia in Ukraine and the Taiwan issue has made its adjustments.
Interestingly, the military themselves also require greater transparency of information on space programs and opportunities. Russia and China, according to U.S. senior military personnel would not hurt to know what the offensive potential of the armed forces of the United States in the space sector and the consequences of its use can lead to Chinese and Russian space vehicles.
As stated by the former Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General John Khayten in an interview with Breaking Defense, if the goal is to make the policy of effective deterrence, it is necessary to consider three aspects – the ability of the United States, the availability of credible threats in the minds of the enemy and the desire to bring to the attention of the enemy the first two aspects. Excessive secrecy prevents the realization of the last paragraph.
