The Final Frontier

You know, when Yglesias first proposed the Green Lantern Theory of Geopolitics, i thought he was being ironic.

Turns out, not so much.

US President George W Bush has signed an order which asserts the US right to block access to space to any country or group deemed hostile to its interests.

The document says the US is determined to protect its interests in outer space and will defeat any adversary who threatens them.

The order rejects any proposals to ban space weapons.

But the White House said the policy document was not a prelude to putting weapons in orbit.

However, military experts warn that by refusing to enter into negotiations on space weaponry, the US is likely to fuel international suspicions that it will develop such weapons.

The document was the first revision in US space policy for 10 years.

President Bush authorised the policy in August but it was not released until October. Declassified elements of the document have been posted on the US government's science and technology website.

The policy states the importance of space militarily to the US.

"Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power," it says.

It's time to send these clowns to the Phantom Zone so the rest of us can just get on with the business of making this a better place to live.