Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the ranking democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, talked with Rumsfeld last week on President Bush’s position that the military needs a larger role in disaster relief operations—namely helping to restore civil stability. The upshot: The Pentagon “has no plans to recommend changes to the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the participation of active duty military forces in domestic law enforcement activities.” Skelton said that does not rule out greater military participation. Rumsfeld told Skelton the Pentagon has recommendations in the works that do not include changes to the Posse Comitatus law.
hinese satellites are engaging in “shenanigans” in geosynchronous orbit, maneuvering at high rates to practice orbital warfare techniques, study other spacecraft, and test new ways to evade threats, officials said—warning that the U.S. needs to be able to maneuver its satellites in response.