Warm War I: Ready for a new role in Space?

It seems to me that if we are doing it now as a counter to Russia and China, we are already behind. Weren't we the leader of the pack at one time?

SGM (Join to see) It would appear that we are not ready for a new role in space.
From the article you referenced:
Space, once a “virtual sanctuary,” must now “be considered a contested operational domain in ways that we haven’t had to think about in the past,” he said.

Haven't had to think about? Why not? Militarily, are we viewing the world through rose colored glasses? Shoot, our major weapons systems are typically not built only for current threat environments, but also threat environments that are anticipated over the expected service life of said weapon system. Since the '60's Soviet Union/Russia has been working on killer satellites. We have as well. The threat has existed for decades. To not pursue methods and systems to address that threat is pollyannish at best and criminal negligience at worst, in my opinion.