In terms of gaining influence, sure, maybe they're ethically on par. But saying it's reasonable they're weaponizing space because "they need to counteract US ca

In terms of gaining influence, sure, maybe they're ethically on par. But saying it's reasonable they're weaponizing space because "they need to counteract US capabilities" is a flawed argument. They could counteract US capabilities by investing in the education and economic well-being of their populace, which, if enacted in 2000 when Putin came into power, would have given enormous dividends to technological and military capability by now. Instead they spend their human capital luring college graduates into troll farms in Siberia with the promise of bare minimum shelter and food. Internally, Russia is a deeply shitty regime, run by mobsters and thugs and preying on its populace. The US has a lot of problems too (and even more so since 2017) but its fundamental framework still prioritizes individual rights and freedom of expression without fear of punishment (although, unlike its allies, it doesn't do much to provide healthcare or education). I would much rather have a world that's dominated by the US than one dominated by Russia or China.