Hit, and the MSM will blather endlessly (but not so loudly) about how the never-to-be-sufficiently-damned BOOOOOoooosh is an aggressive "cowboy", threatening the poor defenseless Russians (or somebody) with destabilization, and recklessly risking global thermonuclar war.
Of the two, I'd prefer the latter.
Agreed. I’m crossing fingers-n-toes for a hit.
Howsoever...I think what’s going to happen is what always happens.
Everyone will spin everything that does happen through their own preconceived notions.
All of the anti-ABM folks have always had a two tier shield:
(a) Missile Defense can’t work because it’s easily defeated
-and-
(b) if it does work then it is destabilizing, and will cause an offensive buildup to overcome it.
To be fair, pro-ABM forces (me incl) also have a backup:
(a) A good defense is more sane and peaceful than a doomsday offense
-and-
(b) If it doesn’t work yet, American technology can make it work someday.