Not content to only step on toes here on Earth, Washington is alienating even more allies with plans to prohibit other nations to float intelligence satellites around the planet. The concept of "negation" first frothed from the mind of Defense Secretary Donny Rumsfeld in 2001, when he warned of a "space Pearl Harbor" that could only be avoided through U.S. rule over near-Earth space. Talks have now commenced between the Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office on how to best go about ruling over the other side of the ozone layer.

While everyone, including Canada, agrees that negation is a flip of the bird to friendly nations, the U.S. has made clear it has little interest in negotiating the matter.

Last month, Air Force Secretary James Roche told a National Space symposium that allies will have "no veto power" and if they don't like it, they'll just have to accept it.

» Scott Saxon