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\f0\fs24 \cf2 (Image Source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://lucasfilm.com/"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul
\ulc3 Lucas Films Ltd.}})\uc0\u8232 \u8232 \b BY JOHN O\'92CONNOR
\b0 \ \pard\pardeftab720\sa240
\b \cf2 ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS \b0 \
Despite popular demand, the Obama administration has announced it won\'92t be building a \'91Death
Star\'92 anytime soon.\uc0\u8232 \u8232 That\'92s right, I said {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://lucasfilm.com/"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 Death Star}}, as in the gigantic, planet-destroying
space station in the Star Wars movies. \'a0\'a0\uc0\u8232 \u8232 The idea started as {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/secure-resources-and-funding-and-begin-construction-death-star-2016/wlfKzFkN"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 a petition on the White House\'92s
website}}. Those who signed it called upon the U.S. government to secure the funding
and resources to begin construction on a U.S. Death Star by 2016.\uc0\u8232 \u8232 The petition
reads \'85 \b \'93By focusing our defense resources into
a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur
job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more,
and strengthen our national defense."\'a0 \b0 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 The petition garnered
more than 34,000 virtual signatures, well above the minimum requirement to prompt {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 an official White House response}}.
But the administration said while it shares the petitioners\'92 desire to create jobs
and strengthen national defense, it will not be building a Death Star for several reasons
\'85\ \pard\tx220\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-720
\ls1\ilvl0 \b \cf2 {\listtext 1. }The construction of
the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're
working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
\b0 \ \ls1\ilvl0
\b {\listtext 2. }The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
\b0 \ \ls1\ilvl0
\b {\listtext 3. }Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental
flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?\'94 \b0 \
\pard\pardeftab720\sa240 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://mashable.com/2013/01/12/obama-star-wars-tribute/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 Mashable says}} the response from the White House is the quote \'93best
Star Wars tribute in history.\'94\uc0\u8232 \u8232
\b \'93Never mind giving George Lucas the National Medal of Technology, as George W.
Bush did; Obama would go a step further in honoring the $4 billion franchise that won
our hearts in 1977 \'85 \'a0He [made] sure its key phrases were read into the national
record for all time.\'94\'a0 \b0 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 Although the White House
shot down the idea of building a U.S. Death Star, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/death-star-petition_n_2460265.html?utm_hp_ref=technology&ir=Technology"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 they did say the government}} is supporting research to build robotic arms
like the one Luke Skywalker has in the Star War movies. No word yet on personal R2D2s.\'a0\
}