Jeff Foust has a good summary of the current state of planetary defense.

In the same issue of TheSpaceReview, Robert Shapiro demonstrates he hasnt paid attention:
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/832/1
astonishment that NASA, and most supporters of space, have overlooked the one goal ...insuring the survival of our species
Nobody has overlooked anything. Its simple, NASA cannot offer such justification for their jobs preservation program with a straight face.
They'd be laughed out of the room, because in no way does the ESAS plan address the survival of the species issue.

If they had implemented the VSE differently, in a way that would actually lead to siginficant human presence in space, they could use that justification. And i presume with great popularity, if it would be presented right. Taking a clue from the Colliers magazine and the promises that it presented, decades ago.

But with ESAS, i recommend they stick to the tired old vague "science & advanment of knowledge". Congresscritters might spin that BS for a while longer, so the interested employed armies can peacefully retire.

Earthstorm wasn't 'pretty awful'...it was downright hideous. Augh!

The UN, though, “has to be in a position to make a timely decision” and then contract the actual task out to NASA or another organization or consortium.
Suppose country A is in danger of suffering a moderate strike. Country B decides that would be just lovely and proceeds to gum up the procedural process. Does anyone really think the UN could possibly straighten out such a problem before it was too late? jjs