The United States continues to deploy intercontinental nuclear forces having the power to utterly devastate foreign lands. Yet few maintain the this force-in-being is "provocative," and many, especially in the arms-control community will argue vigorously that the mutal assured destruction capability is actually stabilizing. Indeed, the United States continues to carry on routinely with its international relationships in a multitude of forums despite fielding and exercising with forces capable of atomizing its enemies. The logic of deterrence and the disciplined, responsible display and use of U.S. military power is accepted internationally and even praised and courted by allies - except as a U.S. power might be manifested in space. Or so it is often protrayed.

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Lambakis, Steven. On the Edge of Earth: The Future of American Space Power. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2001. [ 5 quotes ] [ page 245 ]