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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 8153122" data-attributes="member: 177">As you later note, the treaty was not made to address ship to ship combat, or protect bases in space.&nbsp; It was designed to keep space from being militarized against the Earth.&nbsp; Insofar as the treaty also states that no country can claim territory on any celestial body, that is the case.&nbsp; We plant flags, but those do not indicate ownership.Nations do retain sovereignty over things they put in space.&nbsp; That's a reason why weapons are allowed - to allow self-defense.&nbsp; Plus, in space what qualifies as a &quot;weapon&quot; in general is a bit difficult to classify.&nbsp; Anything that might puncture a space suit may be considered a weapon, after all.There is no such penalty.&nbsp; Even wars do not provide such a penalty.Your personal guarantee?&nbsp; I guess that serves to spell out your emotional stance, but even then, it isn't like anyone can or will hold you to that.&nbsp; But I don't think that's convincing.&quot;Neutral ground&quot; is a concept of tense nations in conflict.&nbsp; Space won't be &quot;safe&quot; to develop in meaningful senses unless we are past that, into a state of cooperation, rather than conflict.Given that any permanent base on the surface is apt to be using frozen water and other resources on the Moon (or Mars), you are now allowing for free competition for resources - resources that are life and death to the occupants of those stations.&nbsp; Water and range wars ensue.&nbsp; Blood flows.&nbsp; So, sorry, but &quot;everybody do what you want&quot; will tend to lead to violence.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 8153122, member: 177"] As you later note, the treaty was not made to address ship to ship combat, or protect bases in space. It was designed to keep space from being militarized against the Earth. Insofar as the treaty also states that no country can claim territory on any celestial body, that is the case. We plant flags, but those do not indicate ownership. Nations do retain sovereignty over things they put in space. That's a reason why weapons are allowed - to allow self-defense. Plus, in space what qualifies as a "weapon" in general is a bit difficult to classify. Anything that might puncture a space suit may be considered a weapon, after all. There is no such penalty. Even wars do not provide such a penalty. Your personal guarantee? I guess that serves to spell out your emotional stance, but even then, it isn't like anyone can or will hold you to that. But I don't think that's convincing. "Neutral ground" is a concept of tense nations in conflict. Space won't be "safe" to develop in meaningful senses unless we are past that, into a state of cooperation, rather than conflict. Given that any permanent base on the surface is apt to be using frozen water and other resources on the Moon (or Mars), you are now allowing for free competition for resources - resources that are [I]life and death[/I] to the occupants of those stations. Water and range wars ensue. Blood flows. So, sorry, but "everybody do what you want" will tend to lead to violence. [/QUOTE]

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