4 ms·

This article doesn't seem to have much evidence to back it's theory about displacing the dollar. Elon's primary motivation is quite well documented, a massive

This article doesn't seem to have much evidence to back it's theory about displacing the dollar. Elon's primary motivation is quite well documented, a massive DoD program*, which requires Republicans to fund. Twitter helps him curry favors to earn these (potentially ~$500B) Republican-backed contracts. Mike Griffin is the ringleader but he's only useful when Republicans are in power (see parts about Elon and Space Development Agency / SDI). https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career * The DoD program is a space constellation of ballistic missile defense satellites for tracking and targeting nuclear ballistic missiles, including HGVs and hypersonic cruise missiles".[110] " However, (UCS) warns developments could escalate tensions with Russia and China and called the project "fundamentally destabilizing".[111] They later called for a treaty halting development to prevent an arms race in space.[112] The Biden administration has largely agreed to slow it down and has been stiffing Elon (e.g. ignoring Tesla) for his involvement. Starlink's military satellite development is overseen internally at SpaceX by retired four-star general Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy.[113][114] O'Shaughnessy advocated before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services for a layered space capability with lethal follow-on that incorporates machine learning and artificial intelligence to gather and act upon sensor data quickly.[115] It is based on Starlink platforms and requires heavy lift (Starship) for actual orbital weapon deployment. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#Military_capabilities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#Military_capabilities Also see: Strategic Defense Initiative. It's a big project, the recent establishment of the Space Force under Trump is built around this new program.

danny_codes 4y ago
Space weapons is a pandoras box I don't think we want to open.
- petre 4y ago
  China and Russia will do it, just like with the hypersonic missiles and that nuclear torpedo/UUV designed to take out coastal cities.
  - georgeg23 4y ago
    From my reading, China is only looking at it in response to the US.
    - UncleEntity 4y ago
      And the US is only doing it to protect the dollar being the global reserve currency from people like Musk. At least that’s what TFA is trying to pull out of their asses.
    - clouddrover 4y ago
      No, it's more simple. China wants to be world hegemon by 2049. Everything China does is aimed at that.
    - Attrecomet 4y ago
      Military technology is subject to very real, very dangerous prisoners' dilemmas. In a way it doesn't matter if one side is starting it or not, the real question is if it can be ruled out that either one of the sides could be doing it. And it's shit, because unilaterally declaring you're not gonna do it won't work at all, so there needs to be enough trust between the parties to institute a supervision regime, otherwise, if something is technological possible and promises military benefits, it will be done sooner rather than later.
- georgeg23 4y ago
  I agree space weapons are a bad idea, but I think Elon isn't JUST doing it for the money. He sincerely believes it's needed to stop nuclear war. The counterpoint is that it could start WWIII
  - loceng 4y ago
    I suppose so long as whomever is control of the space superiority, and it's used only as a suppression system - similar to the Iron Dome providing a fairly effective wall to protest Israel, then it doesn't matter if someone gets annoyed that all of their missiles can be efficiently knocked down. If that system is however deployed and its controller launches its own missiles in attack, while suppressing others', then that's a very big problem - and probably very close to a total global tyrannical control state.
    - kidme5 4y ago
      We might all have to live underground in tunnels
    - Attrecomet 4y ago
      Satellite mounted weapons systems that can block ballistic missiles, i.e. reach at least into the upper atmosphere, but can't ever be used offensively? That seems like a tall order. In addition, anything making MAD impossible will have very, very far reaching consequences for world politics, many of which are offensive. Any state that can unilaterally deploy nukes without fear of reprisal is on it's way to the total global tyranny you mention.
yrgulation 4y ago
So, corruption basically?
Dig1t 4y ago
>Elon's primary motivation is quite well documented Huh? Where? I haven’t seen anything about buying Twitter being related to space missiles. This claim needs a lot more evidence, it sounds more like a conspiracy theory. All the evidence I’ve seen honestly just seems to point to politically moderate people like Musk genuinely being concerned about Twitter’s previously heavy-handed approach to banning/silencing people that disagreed with their political views. There are tons examples of popular right-leaning accounts being banned/suspended for saying the wrong thing, the Babylon Bee being an obvious tipping point.
- kidme5 4y ago
  Read the links
  - georgeg23 4y ago
    Trump highlighted this program in his 2024 announcement yesterday, We will again have peace through strength, that's all it is. As events overseas have shown to protect our people from the unthinkable threat of nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles, the United States must also build a state of the art next generation missile defense shield, we need it, the power of these missiles and the power of a word that I refuse to say, nuclear, we have to have it, we need a defense shield. And we have to do it and we actually have the technology and we're gonna build it. Just as I rebuilt our military, I will get this done. We will plant our beautiful American flag very soon on the surface of Mars, which I got started. But we need everyone involved. We need everyone's help. We need to look out for one another. We need to be friends. And we need every Patriot on board. Because this is not just a campaign, this is a quest to save our country, talking about saving our country. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Most Republicans including DeSantis also support the program. I think Elon believed the Senate would go Republican last week and he could be called a kingmaker.
- itsoktocry 4y ago
  You honestly believe Elon spent $44B on Twitter because he was mad about accounts like the Babylon Bee? Billionaires buy media companies to control the narrative and push their politics, it's not much more complicated than that. Except he definitely overpaid and probably bit off more than he can chew.

danny_codes 4y ago

Space weapons is a pandoras box I don't think we want to open.

petre 4y ago
China and Russia will do it, just like with the hypersonic missiles and that nuclear torpedo/UUV designed to take out coastal cities.
- georgeg23 4y ago
  From my reading, China is only looking at it in response to the US.
  - UncleEntity 4y ago
    And the US is only doing it to protect the dollar being the global reserve currency from people like Musk. At least that’s what TFA is trying to pull out of their asses.
  - clouddrover 4y ago
    No, it's more simple. China wants to be world hegemon by 2049. Everything China does is aimed at that.
  - Attrecomet 4y ago
    Military technology is subject to very real, very dangerous prisoners' dilemmas. In a way it doesn't matter if one side is starting it or not, the real question is if it can be ruled out that either one of the sides could be doing it. And it's shit, because unilaterally declaring you're not gonna do it won't work at all, so there needs to be enough trust between the parties to institute a supervision regime, otherwise, if something is technological possible and promises military benefits, it will be done sooner rather than later.
georgeg23 4y ago
I agree space weapons are a bad idea, but I think Elon isn't JUST doing it for the money. He sincerely believes it's needed to stop nuclear war. The counterpoint is that it could start WWIII
- loceng 4y ago
  I suppose so long as whomever is control of the space superiority, and it's used only as a suppression system - similar to the Iron Dome providing a fairly effective wall to protest Israel, then it doesn't matter if someone gets annoyed that all of their missiles can be efficiently knocked down. If that system is however deployed and its controller launches its own missiles in attack, while suppressing others', then that's a very big problem - and probably very close to a total global tyrannical control state.
  - kidme5 4y ago
    We might all have to live underground in tunnels
  - Attrecomet 4y ago
    Satellite mounted weapons systems that can block ballistic missiles, i.e. reach at least into the upper atmosphere, but can't ever be used offensively? That seems like a tall order. In addition, anything making MAD impossible will have very, very far reaching consequences for world politics, many of which are offensive. Any state that can unilaterally deploy nukes without fear of reprisal is on it's way to the total global tyranny you mention.

yrgulation 4y ago

So, corruption basically?

Dig1t 4y ago

>Elon's primary motivation is quite well documented Huh? Where? I haven’t seen anything about buying Twitter being related to space missiles. This claim needs a lot more evidence, it sounds more like a conspiracy theory. All the evidence I’ve seen honestly just seems to point to politically moderate people like Musk genuinely being concerned about Twitter’s previously heavy-handed approach to banning/silencing people that disagreed with their political views. There are tons examples of popular right-leaning accounts being banned/suspended for saying the wrong thing, the Babylon Bee being an obvious tipping point.

kidme5 4y ago
Read the links
- georgeg23 4y ago
  Trump highlighted this program in his 2024 announcement yesterday, We will again have peace through strength, that's all it is. As events overseas have shown to protect our people from the unthinkable threat of nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles, the United States must also build a state of the art next generation missile defense shield, we need it, the power of these missiles and the power of a word that I refuse to say, nuclear, we have to have it, we need a defense shield. And we have to do it and we actually have the technology and we're gonna build it. Just as I rebuilt our military, I will get this done. We will plant our beautiful American flag very soon on the surface of Mars, which I got started. But we need everyone involved. We need everyone's help. We need to look out for one another. We need to be friends. And we need every Patriot on board. Because this is not just a campaign, this is a quest to save our country, talking about saving our country. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Most Republicans including DeSantis also support the program. I think Elon believed the Senate would go Republican last week and he could be called a kingmaker.
itsoktocry 4y ago
You honestly believe Elon spent $44B on Twitter because he was mad about accounts like the Babylon Bee? Billionaires buy media companies to control the narrative and push their politics, it's not much more complicated than that. Except he definitely overpaid and probably bit off more than he can chew.