U.S. Must Consider the Political Implications of its Actions on the International Community
In today's globalized society, the United States must balance its security needs with the implications of U.S. actions on the international community. Despite the changing geopolitical environment, the United States should act only after careful consultation and negotiation with its friends and allies. Earnest consultations do not guarantee agreement, however, and the United States may have to act unilaterally to protect its interests. Such actions may animate other nations to conclude that the United States is too powerful and must be opposed at every level to reduce the level of U.S. dominance ina particular domain. In particular, the idea of using space in support of U.S. missile defense capabilities will quite likely meet with skepticism and disagreement abroad. How can the
United States, then, pursue its own interests in a manner that might engender support or at least bring about neutral reactions on the part of others?
McLaughlin, Kevin. "Would Space-Based Defenses Improve Security?." Washington Quarterly. Vol. 25 (Summer 2002): 177-191. [ 3 quotes ]
[ page 187 ]