from the article:

"Scientists warn that the orbital debris environment may become even more dangerous if the United States proceeds with plans to develop a space-based missile defense system -- whether from testing the system in space or in actual conditions of a missile attack.

"In science fiction movies like 'Star Wars' there are constant explosions, but a few seconds later the screen is clean. It's not going to work that way near a planet," said physicist Joel Primack, with the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"The space debris aspect of a 'Star Wars' missile system is just not talked about in the public arena," said Primack, who was scheduled to present a paper on Friday at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization headquarters in Paris."

A missile, even an ICBM, isn't quite at orbital velocity, nor is it's trajectory anything like an orbit. Destroying a missile RV would only cause a momentary increase in space debris. Kinetic kill vehicles hit RVs head on, further reducing their velocity. All debris from such an impact will reenter the atmosphere in a matter of minutes. Other potential devices like space based laser (if it's ever built) won't likely impart additional velocity to or change the trajectory of the debris enough for it to enter orbit. Anti-satellite weapons are another story.

I'm disappointed with the decision to cut the space debris study. When I worked as the Space Surveillance Program Manager years ago, I helped coordinate Space Command's support for the Haystack Aux radar at MIT Lincoln Labs. That radar was used a lot by NASA for debris studies as well as for our particular needs. This is a project that needs to be funded. Unfortunately, budget overruns in other areas and Congress's lack of desire to give NASA more money mean something has to give.

As for the private sector taking over the mission, what would be their incentive? I'd like to see a consortium of universities and observatories take on the mission. That seems more likely than some private company, at least to me.