Practically speaking, JustaPicker is right: " it's better to have some form of deterrent than none at all.." The Americans' deterrent in this case is the *perception* that starwars will work. It won't.

As a Canadian, I can understand why the American Empire is nervous. What, you didn't think you are an empire? Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico,Panama, Pacific Territories, a naval base in Cuba against the will of it's people, interventions in the Caribbean, Kuwait, and the Far East, Military bases in Korea, DEA interventions in Columbia...the list goes on and on. When I look at the new American Embassy in Ottawa,I see the future, and it's grim. The Embassy looks like a great grey battleship, surrounded by steel fences, and concrete emplacements. Makes me nervous every time I drive by. The only hope I see is in people like YOU americans in mudcat. Hopefully, you will prevail. Cooperation is better than competition and domination!