Comment Re:Why we want to preserve the status quo in space (Score 1) 550
4)Compliance with a space weapons ban is comparatively easy to monitor, because deployment of anti-satellite technology requires testing.
Actually, a space weapons ban is very difficult to monitor. How can you differentiate between a hostile attack and an errant bolt? How can you differentiate between harmful EM interference and a tech who accidentally configured his or her terminal incorrectly? Attribution is currently the most difficult part of enforcing any proposed space weapons ban.
So for the US, a space weapons ban is a no-brainer. The trick will be getting the Russians and the Chinese to sign on (at this point no one is suggesting a unilateral ban on space weapons and such a policy would obviously be inane from a national security standpoint.)
In fact, Russia and China regularly propose a space weapons ban to the UN Conference on Disarmament (CD). The U.S. is the only country to stand against Russia and China on this issue because they are the only ones with anything to lose.
