Taking friendly fire to new heights

Last night, three Navy warships waited in the Pacific for orders to shoot down a crippled U.S. spy satellite, using weapons designed for missile defense. The Bush administration said the goal was to prevent the satellite's 1,000 gallons of toxic fuel from falling on populated areas. But at about 7:30 p.m, when the order came, the administration put at risk multiple U.S. security interests -- a high price to pay to offset that highly unlikely danger.

By Bruce W. MacDonald and Charles D. Ferguson

February 21, 2008