David Hogg calls Space Force announcement a distraction from Russia, shows ignorance of 1967 treaty

August 10, 2018

On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence announced what the Washington Post called “an ambitious plan Thursday that would begin creating a military command dedicated to space and establish a ‘Space Force’ as the sixth branch of the U.S. military as soon as 2020…” This triggered anti-gun teen demagogue David Hogg, who called it a “distraction” from Russia and cited a 1967 treaty that he obviously had never read.

“Your distraction from Russia is not only dumb but it also breaks the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,” he tweeted. “Signed by the United States on January 27th 1967,” he added.

Your distraction from Russia is not only dumb but it also breaks the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

Signed by the United States on January 27th 1967 https://t.co/n9KG3b54Yo

— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) August 9, 2018

His acolytes naturally agreed, but those with actual functioning brain cells took him to task.

That’s the point. Before this “space force” thread, you likely never heard of that treaty. Now you know enough to posit an argument for it, or against it. Question for you: how does orbital dynamics and debris play in said treaty? Who’s Orbit is It? A priori or a posteriori?

— David J. Weber (@DavidJWeber2) August 9, 2018

Holy $%*#!

This is a real tweet, LOL. https://t.co/5QJjVs3AWr

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) August 9, 2018

How, exactly? That treaty only says no WMD in space and no military on the moon https://t.co/MW7N8ymcRi

— Jack Posobiec ???????? (@JackPosobiec) August 9, 2018

When you try to sound smart by citing a treaty that you haven’t actually read… https://t.co/MxFPuK8kI1

— Daniel Dent (@DanielJDent) August 9, 2018

Twitchy responded: “Temporarily out: Gun control. Temporarily in: Space Force control!”

As for the treaty, the State Department explains:

The substance of the arms control provisions is in Article IV. This article restricts activities in two ways:

First, it contains an undertaking not to place in orbit around the Earth, install on the moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise station in outer space, nuclear or any other weapons of mass destruction.

Second, it limits the use of the moon and other celestial bodies exclusively to peaceful purposes and expressly prohibits their use for establishing military bases, installation, or fortifications; testing weapons of any kind; or conducting military maneuvers.

After the Treaty entered into force, the United States and the Soviet Union collaborated in jointly planned and manned space enterprises.

Of course, if Hogg has actually read this, he would know better than to tweet what he did…

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