Post by account_disabled on Feb 22, 2024 20:53:22 GMT 10
Three Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee asked the Pentagon for information about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and whether he “ordered the unilateral deactivation or Pakistan Phone Number impediment of operation of the Starlink satellite communications terminals used by the Forces Ukrainian navies in southern Ukraine in 2022″. » or ever had the authority to do so. Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois wrote a letter Friday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to express their "serious concerns about whether Mr. Musk has personally intervened to undermine a key partner of the United States at one time. critical juncture." Their questions arise after the publication of a biography of Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and automaker. tesla, and owner and CTO of the social network formerly Twitter.
In the book, author Walter Isaacson wrote that a Ukrainian drone submarine attack on Russian warships was interrupted by a Starlink disconnection, ordered by Musk. Excerpts from the book raised alarm bells in Washington, among NATO allies and in the Ukrainian capital. After his post, Musk described himself as a peacemaker and wrote on social media that he did not disconnect Starlink in Crimea, but rather denied a request from Ukraine to provide it there. He wrote: "If he had accepted your request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and an escalation of the conflict." Isaacson has posted a correction to his bio stating that connectivity had already been disabled in the affected area and that Musk had simply declined a request to activate it.
That Ukraine should sign a "truce" with Russia. Musk's "peace plan" argument was denied by Putin's officials, politicians and experts in Ukraine. On Tuesday, in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box," Isaacson discussed SpaceX's development of a military-grade version of Starlink, which would help address concerns expressed by Musk about the use of satellite networks in warfare. CNBC asked the Defense Department several questions related to SpaceX, including whether the department would reevaluate any of the company's government contracts, whether Musk's calls for a truce between Ukraine and Russia reflect the US government's position, and whether Musk's conduct, including having had personal meetings with Putin in the past, had been consistent with the terms of contracts.
In the book, author Walter Isaacson wrote that a Ukrainian drone submarine attack on Russian warships was interrupted by a Starlink disconnection, ordered by Musk. Excerpts from the book raised alarm bells in Washington, among NATO allies and in the Ukrainian capital. After his post, Musk described himself as a peacemaker and wrote on social media that he did not disconnect Starlink in Crimea, but rather denied a request from Ukraine to provide it there. He wrote: "If he had accepted your request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and an escalation of the conflict." Isaacson has posted a correction to his bio stating that connectivity had already been disabled in the affected area and that Musk had simply declined a request to activate it.
That Ukraine should sign a "truce" with Russia. Musk's "peace plan" argument was denied by Putin's officials, politicians and experts in Ukraine. On Tuesday, in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box," Isaacson discussed SpaceX's development of a military-grade version of Starlink, which would help address concerns expressed by Musk about the use of satellite networks in warfare. CNBC asked the Defense Department several questions related to SpaceX, including whether the department would reevaluate any of the company's government contracts, whether Musk's calls for a truce between Ukraine and Russia reflect the US government's position, and whether Musk's conduct, including having had personal meetings with Putin in the past, had been consistent with the terms of contracts.