I've been involved in this discussion for many years. Without going into too much detail, the same anti-defense people who were writing this stuff when Reagan was president are writing it now. And yes, their motives are political, not scientific. I would not label it "treason," myself, although I'm sure their obstructionism does not do our defense much good.

Of course a boost-phase defense that is not space-based requires close proximity. So does a Patriot missile. So does the laser-plane concept. This is why a space-based system was needed to do boost-phase for the Soviet Union, which launched missiles from far inland. For a small rogue nation with access to its borders, the problem would be a lot easier.

Whenever this argument is raised, remember one thing: a system that has a one-in-ten chance of stopping a missile is infinitely better than no system at all.