How does this thinking affect the possible use of space to support U.S. missile defense activities? One barrier to using space to support missile defenses has been the belief that the United States should not use space to provide overwhelming U.S. advantage or in any way contribute to a strategic imbalance between the United States and other great powers. Nonetheless, the above paragraphs indicate that the United States quietly crossed this space threshold at the end of the last century in ways that did not pertain to missile defense. The United States now leverages satellites to fight battles in ways that overwhelm adversaries. Our satellites allow field commanders to see the entire battlefield, communicate globally and instantaneously, attack targets precisely, avoid threats, and warn of aggression in ways that no other nation in the world can match. Arguing that space already affords the
United States an overwhelming military advantage is no overstatement.

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McLaughlin, Kevin. "Would Space-Based Defenses Improve Security?." Washington Quarterly. Vol. 25 (Summer 2002): 177-191. [ 3 quotes ] [ page 186 ]