Staff Reports
The U.S. Space Command has finally achieved full operational capability, making it the coolest kid on the block at the Pentagon. Army Gen. James Dickinson, the commander, proudly declared this victory during a headquarters town hall meeting, emphasizing the command’s mission to be there for the country when things go south.
U.S. Space Command at ‘full operational capability’ as Congress battles over HQ sitehttps://t.co/kEY3C5NFQM pic.twitter.com/5l9TVN6dPu
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 17, 2023
Ever since its inception in 2019, the Space Command has been laser-focused on giving the joint force the top-notch tools they need to scare off would-be troublemakers, defend America’s vital interests, and, if push comes to shove, kick some serious butt. It’s a bit like the superhero squad of the military, but without the capes and cool masks.
However, let’s not get it twisted – the Space Force and the Space Command are as different as night and day. The Space Force is a full-blown military service, just like the Army and Navy, while the Space Command is a unified combatant force, similar to the Central Command and the Indo-Pacific Command. In other words, they’re like the dynamic duo of space defense, making sure those pesky satellite systems with GPS and secure communications stay safe from any bad guys with evil plans.
But hold on to your helmets, folks, because Gen. Dickinson threw some shade at the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, calling them out for getting all up in America’s space business with their counter-space shenanigans. It’s like a galactic showdown, and the U.S. Space Command is ready to defend its turf with all the force of a cosmic hurricane.
Now, here’s where the real drama unfolds – the political tug-of-war over the location of the Space Command’s headquarters. Former President Trump was all about moving it to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., but President Biden swooped in and said, “Not on my watch!” The headquarters, as it turns out, will stay put at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.
Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Colorado Republican, couldn’t resist doing a victory dance, claiming that this announcement proves once and for all that Colorado Springs is the crème de la crème when it comes to hosting the Space Command. He’s basically saying, “Take that, Huntsville! We’ve got the best of the best.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican big shot, is fuming like a rocket about the decision to nix the transfer to Huntsville. He’s so miffed that he’s planning to throw a fit and demand an investigation by the Defense Department’s inspector general. To add fuel to the fire, he’s even threatening to put a hold on any construction for a permanent Space Command headquarters in Colorado.
Talk about political fireworks! It’s like a battle for the ultimate space throne, and everyone’s got their laser guns at the ready. Who knew space could be so scandalous?
