Realpolitik

The Russians think that the US's intention to shoot down a disabled spy satellite is a cover to test a "new space weapon."

Gee, you think? The Cold War may have ended 16 years ago but that didn't mean everyone stopped amassing arms and creating new weapon technology. The US pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty under our current president- hell, Mr. Bush all but re-instituted Regan's Strategic Defense Initiative (aka "Star Wars").

Political realism at its very best folks.