Maybe they can send scrambled signals from the moon and attack with long-range lasers; that would be inline with that disguised space exploration stuff.
Star Wars preparations.
We know that the defense, the airforce, the intel, the army and the navy are precious assets to any country, any leader, any president, anyone in touch with today's reality. To be powerless is to be weak, and with weakness comes great devastation.
So up to the moon, the conquest of space to build military base stations. ...Makes sense, I go for that.
Because I don't think anyone wants to start gardening on the moon and send their kids there to college.