Because There's No Defense Like A Good Offense
The Crossbow Project
lives:
The world's most powerful airborne laser capable of shooting down a ballistic missile is being re-assembled by Northrop Grumman and the US Missile Defence [sic] Agency (MDA).
The laser is being integrated onto MDA's Airborne Laser (ABL). High-power system testing will follow completion.
As they said at
Ace of Spades:
If you can burn down an incoming missile, you ought to be able to burn down some miscreant 50 miles away too, right?
And make a lot of popcorn.