Why shouldn't the U.S. establish orbital space weapons?

theu.s. is a signatory to an international treaty prohibiting the deployment of weapons in space. this treaty was signed in the early '60s, i forget the name of it. also, space weapons and technology isn't as avanced as you might believe, it's very expensive to maintain and not more effective than conventional delivery systems

Spaceborne weapons sound coll, but you must first ask yourself how practical they are. ICBM's (inter-continental ballistic missiles) can be fired from undergound silos or by ballistic missile subs. From those platforms they can be maintained or modified. Once a weapons platform is in space it is probably too costly to go up and fix it or change it.

Additionally we signed that outdated treaty saying we wouldn't use spaceborne weapons. Although I stick to my question of practicality, I don't understand why the general global consensus is against it. They wouldn't do any more harm up there than they do on the ground. I'm sure it is defined in the treaty, but there is no boundary between space and the atmosphere. So is it really that much worse to have nukes at a slightly higher altitude in space than on a B-52? I don't see the difference.

The bottom line is that we already have the ability to reach out and touch someone without breaking the treaty so why rock the boat?

Is it time to force our selected form of government on the rest of the world too?

I don't think that this is a bad idea. It could save lives and help to protect our country. The problem is that when you click this "magic button" and destroy "our enemies" who exactly are you talking about? I am all for national security, but when it involves going into other countries to try and protect ours....I think the issues and lines get really fuzzy.

We should not impose our rules or laws on others. We can protect ourselves and our interests without this satelite, but IF the satellite would be as capable as you say it is, I would be proud to be the country in control of it.

Because even more countries will hate us. In the past years we have destroyed many nukes, and with each one other countries like us more. Makeing a satilite so we can destroy any enimy at any time will mae most of the world hate us. (also the UN will problobly have us take it down).

Because the Extra-Terrestial Aliens will simply laugh at those orbital space weapons and then say how very primitive the earth-men's weapons are.

Rabble rouser ha ha, your forgetting the Chinese a few months ago showed their capability's of destroying our orbiting satellites

Just because they havent reported about it on the news doesnt mean its not there. CNN and FOX dont have a TS.

What makes you think we haven't! There are some things still classified!

because its illegal, and defies all of the conventions regarding space based weapons?

Whatever the rant, rest assured, they're there.