The Times backs an INKSNA extension

An editorial in today’s New York Times endorses efforts to extend NASA’s Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA) waiver in Congress. The editorial argues, in effect, the members of Congress upset with Russia’s behavior in recent months, including its invasion of Georgia, should accept a waiver extension that is in “the clear interest of this country”. The editorial also rejects arguments that extending the shuttle is an alternative, noting that the orbiters can only remain docked to the station for a couple weeks at a time. “The shuttle program’s future is a separate argument that will need to be resolved by the next administration and Congress,” the editorial concludes. “The waiver needs to be extended right now. The House did so on Wednesday. The Senate needs to do the same before it adjourns.”