Piracy and Spaceships

As long ago as 06/28/07, China has shot down a satellite. In keeping with Dr. Ross Anderson's anaysis that taking over an airship is Piracy, it looks attractive to call such an action (shooting down a large satellite, with a view to 'taking out' as many others as possible,) Space Piracy! It is easier to regulate Pirates on the ground than it is to regulate national boundaries in space. It is a spaceSHIP, and we can issue letters of marquis against the individuals that shoot the spaceship down. This is at least one diplomatic step to take before all out war, and does not preclude war, but rather makes it Constitutional. If letters of Marquis are not honored, war is the next step to take. It also keeps the US from being forced to go to war on a timetable not of her choosing. Feel sorry for the hapless individual that actually launches the rocket. also http://slashdot.org/~impengo/journal/190548 in re Dr Ross Anderson