Is It Possible to Ban Weapons in Space?

Making News

Will New Help for Borrowers Make a Difference? ()

In December, it was "Project Hope" to provide help to holders of sub-prime mortgages who can't make increased payments. Today it's "Project Lifeline," a program by six of the nation's leading financial institutions to freeze all foreclosures for 30 days. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson acknowledged that while no program will solve all borrowers' struggles, the new plan "has the potential to offer new solutions to responsible, able homeowners who want to keep their homes." Mark Zandi is chief economist at Moody's Economy.com.

Guests:

• Mark Zandi: Chief Economist, Moodys Economy.com

Links:

• Resolution Trust Corporation

Main Topic

Is It Possible to Ban Weapons in Space? ()

Ronald Reagan's space-based missile-defense program died with the Cold War, but satellites are now key to America's military superiority, as our Army, Air Force and Navy -- even the Marine Corps -- rely on satellites for communication, surveillance and the targeting of "smart bombs." With space militarized, the big question now is whether it will be "weaponized." Today, at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, Russia and China proposed a treaty banning weapons in outer space. Three years ago, the US stood alone against 160 nations in opposition to such a treaty. Do Russia and China mean it? Is their real target the land-based missile defense proposed by President Bush? Would a race to put weapons in space be counter-productive for all the countries involved or is it inevitable?

Guests:

• Teresa Hitchens: Director, Center for Defense Information
• Ashley Tellis: Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment
• Pavel Podvig: Researcher, Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation
• Anton La Guardia: Defense and Security Correspondent, Economist
• Geoffrey Forden: former Weapons Inspector, United Nations

Links:

• Hitchens' 'Future Security in Space: Charting a Cooperative Course'
• Podvig's 'Russian and Chinese Responses to US Military Plans in Space'
• La Guardia's article on the militarization of space
• Forden's 3-part series on China and coming space war

Reporter's Notebook

On Potomac Primary Day, Clinton Focuses on Later Contests ()

Rudy Giuliani figured he could lie low until the Florida primary, but John McCain's momentum put an end to Giuliani's campaign. If Barack Obama wins today -- as expected -- in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, that will mean eight losses in a row for Hillary Clinton, with Obama leading next week in Hawaii and Wisconsin. Now Hillary Clinton is counting on Ohio and Texas, which don't vote until April. Susan Milligan, who covers presidential politics for the Boston Globe, says that's changed what both candidates are saying and could effect super-delegates.

Guests:

• Susan Milligan: Reporter, Boston Globe