This really raises my blood pressure. I served at an Army Nike-Hercules battalion in the early 60s - a proven anti-missile/aircraft defense system. So, we lingered in limbo for decades until recently when it was decided we need to spend billions creating what we could've had all along as the systems were naturally updated and improved.
LBJ was president at the time. Enough said?
From Lockheed PAC-3 missile-defense system successful in demo