The American perspective would at least suggest criteria from which to measure space policy options. The period 1949-1989 was a time when people lived in a world that they knew could be vanquished at any moment by nuclear war -- a prospect that would most certainly have destroyed tranquility, ruined general welfare and eradicated liberty. The issue at hand is clear. Does the international community, currently living in relative peace, want to re-instate a world again dominated by the continuous and immediate threat of destruction (through space weaponization) -- even if not total destruction? The case can be made that the United States has a window of opportunity. As a relatively benign sole superpower, it could posture itself as a space police force and ensure the use of space 'for the benefit of all mankind'. But by design, the US Constitution was written to ward off such unchecked power -- regardless of who would wield that power. Applying the same wisdom George Washington demonstrated when he declined the offer to become the first American king, the United States, bound by constitutional intent, must resist the lure of becoming the first space hegemon, and pursue this unique leadership opportunity to create the international environment that will lead to the assured use of space for the benefit of all humankind.

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Deblois, Bruce M. "The Advent of Space Weapons." Astropolitics. Vol. 1, No. 1 (Summer 2003). [ 15 quotes ]