Spaceport Mongolia: 21st–Century Launching Pad?

So I'm strolling along just now, reading today's Washington Post, when on page 27 of the main news section I come upon a story by Edward Cody about Mongolia's lately becoming the new best friend of the U.S. in an attempt to find a haven of sorts between its two giant neighbors, Russia to the north and China to the south.

I look at a map that accompanies the article and see why Mongolia might feel threatened.

It is completely surrounded by Russia and China (above and below).

Then I come to the following paragraph, about halfway through the story:

"Some analysts have suggested that Mongolia's flat, broad expanses, along with an abandoned Russian air base, could also be valuable as the Pentagon seeks to position itself for the eventuality of conflict with China. But U.S. bases here would be impractical, because Russia or China would have to grant overflight permission for any U.S. planes coming or going."

Would they?

What if the planes came straight down, from orbit?

And how do you spell "space elevator?"

As far as I can tell, there's never yet been a claim to a country's space rights.

If you want to send a satellite over any other country, be the planet's guest.

It's open season up there.

So putting up a space station or satellite with the capability of becoming a depot for vehicles traveling straight up and down, not worrying about trivialities like close–in air space, would seem a most 21st–century solution to the problem of being landlocked.

Don't think others aren't already at work on this.

That's why the sight of the U.S. presidential limousine making its way through the Mongolian desert (below)

during President Bush's visit last November, marking the first–ever stop by a U.S. President in this once isolated land, may not be all that unfamiliar in years to come.