Harley, I was only using the scud as an example that there are other types of ballistic missles than the ICBM's. And if you think the Phalanx is going to help defend our borders with it's range of about 2,000 yards your nuts. That's why it is called CIWS (close in weapons system). With the stuff that ballistic missles can carry (nukes, bio's and chemical weapons), we might want to intercept those things just a bit more than 2000 yards from US soil.

Dan S. "Like I said several times now........the idea has merit, but the cost isn't worth the security"

You obviously lost nothing or anyone on September 11 did you? 7 or 8 years ago would you have said that the Government doesn't need to be spending billions of dollars on airport security? If it isn't worth the cost, at what price do you set the security of our nation and the lives of our people?