Beware of aliances between madmen...

Russia Warns Against Space Weapons

Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:26 AM

MOSCOW -- The chief of Russia's space forces on Thursday said Moscow would have to retaliate if others deploy weapons in space -- a stern warning to the United States.

While Col.-Gen. Vladimir Popovkin did not name any specific country, he was clearly referring to U.S. plans for space-based weapons, which the Kremlin had vociferously opposed.

"We don't want to wage a war in space, we don't want to gain dominance in space, but we won't allow any other nation to dominate space," Popovkin said in televised remarks. "If any country deploys weapons in space, then the laws of warfare are such that retaliatory weapons are certain to appear."

President Vladimir Putin has criticized U.S. plans for space-based weapons, saying it could trigger a new arms race.

When China tested an anti-satellite missile in January, Putin said that the move was a response to U.S. plans for space-based weapons.

Russia and China have strongly pushed for an international agreement banning space weapons, but their proposals have been stymied by the United States.

"It's necessary to legalize the game rules in space," Popovkin said. He warned that the complexity of space weapons could trigger a war.

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Honestly, just who did you think is really controlling the chess pieces?