The New York Times is reporting that the Air Force is seeking President Bush’s approval of a national-security directive that could move the United States closer to fielding weapons in space. The directive–which is expected within weeks–is seen as a substantial shift in U.S. policy. The Times reports that the move would likely be opposed by the international community and that it could create an arms race in space. General Lance Lord — who leads the Air Force Space Command–recently told Congress “we must establish and maintain space superiority.” According to the TImes, the Pentagon has already spent billions of dollars developing space weapons and preparing plans to deploy them. Three years ago the Bush administration withdrew from the 30-year-old Antiballistic Missile Treaty, which banned space-based weapons.