While I think there is no bigger wasteful sump than the missile defense program, on their limited behalf I think it's understandable, a bit.

Anything that complex takes development. The Wright brothers first airplane wasn't any prize, and had no practical use. Opponents of flying could have had a field day.

The only mistake would have been if Orville and Wilbur had suggested that based on that flight, that aviation was a wild success, viable and here to stay.

I think when those folks are developing that stuff it's easy to get into a "us vs. them" mentality, get defensive about the developmental problems, and figure the end justifies the means and overstate the results. The siege mentality takes over, and the bad guys become whoever is critical. The public relations war takes over.

And if they fudge data, that's an overstatement too far.

Arf