Jon Henley's diary | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited: "We are saddened to learn from the United States of the retirement from public service of a true pioneer in that country's admirable drive to make outer space safe for democracy, namely General Lance W Lord, head of US Air Force Space Command and responsible for space weapons development at the Pentagon. Gen Lord first attracted our approbation when testifying to Congress that it was 'quite essential' to maintain funding for such fine weapons systems as the giant metal rod kept permanently in orbit and capable of being dumped on unsuspecting targets anywhere on earth because, 'Simply put, it's the American way of fighting.' He will be sorely missed."