Elon Musk pondering Putin’s latest request.
Like many of you, I was appalled to discover that Elon Musk shut down Starlink to protect the Russian navy from an attack by Ukraine. I can’t imagine how many lives have been lost as a result of those ships continuing to rain missiles down on Ukraine. Not only that, but every day those ships control the Black Sea, people throughout Asia and Africa are subjected to more and more suffering as a result of Ukrainian grain being kept from their ports. In short, every day that Starlink is controlled by Elon Musk and the private sector is a day that suffering is multiplied in the world.
To that end, I wrote my representatives to ask that they investigate the possibility of taking control of Starlink for the good of the American people. My letter is reproduced below. I urge everyone to write their representatives to push this issue to the forefront for the good of both the United States and Ukraine. The safety of democracy may very well hang in the balance, and I truly wish that was hyperbole.
Like many Americans, I have been highly concerned by recent actions taken by Russia. From interfering in our elections, to supporting dictators such as Maduro and Kim, to the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia and its leadership has become a uniquely dangerous geopolitical concern. As such, I have been gratified to see consistent support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia from the Biden Administration, the Congress, and from a variety of American people and companies.
That said, recent news regarding Starlink and its CEO, Elon Musk, has been worrying and disappointing. As I’m sure you know, Elon Musk recently admitted to turning off the Ukrainian military’s access to Starlink with the express purpose of thwarting an attack on the Russian navy. (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/world/europe/elon-musk-starlink-ukraine.html) In so doing, Elon Musk has offered aid and comfort to a geopolitical enemy of the United States, a United States ally in Ukraine, and of the cause of democracy. In addition, a significant vulnerability in our support of Ukraine has been demonstrated; namely leaving control of vital defense infrastructure (Starlink) in the hands of a private corporation.
Given the importance of Starlink to our ally, and the usefulness of such a system for other vital government activities, both in war and peace, I believe it is imperative for Congress to explore the possibility of acquiring Starlink as a government asset and removing it from the hands of private industry. The danger posed by leaving this system in private hands has been clearly demonstrated. I hope that we can move to place its control in the hands of officials ultimately beholden to the American people in short order.
I left the link separate to facilitate a copy and paste into the forms often used by members of Congress to receive emails. You’re welcome to use my letter or write your own.
