Why not? Look at them in proportion to the threat. BM/CMs were entirely ineffective except as WMD delivery systems or as terror weapons. The WMD aspect was successfully deterred and the terror threat was countered by the sense of security offered by Patriots. In effect they canceled each other out in the psychology of the intended target audiences.
Now as the missile threat proliferates the capabilities of the counter measures are increasing to the point of being able to engage with reliability through all stages of flight. Looking back at the performance of BVR weapons, if this was 1980, would you be confident in the possibilities of a proposed AMRAAM? You would if you look at how much priority was given to a reliable solution. Today we are at the point were BVR is the norm rather than the exception. It took about 20-30 years to get there. We are at a similar point in the case of NMD/TMD. Follow the money.
DA
