One wonders who would have the will and the means.
As the author said, it's going to take a costly and sustained effort over time to do this. Who can?
On the negative, the US seems to be entering a longer and deeper recession than anyone thought, there is $3 trillion for Iraq and Afghanistan (would that have paid for it?), trade deficits, sinking dollar and so on. AKA The Bush Legacy.
On the positive, if the US is made to believe someone else is going to do it that just may be the incentive.
A Sino-Russo partnership could do it, as could an EU committment with either or both of those. My guess is the US would insist upon being a partner if it looked to be a real effort.
But the US isn't going to have a lot of money for space exploration when this administration is done with the economy.
Arf