We have the military getting ready to fire 5 missiles at the dead spy satellite in hopes to destroy it, before it falls to earth. So what happens if they shoot these five missiles and miss it? It would be an embarrassing blow to the missile defense system, which has already been met with a lot of scrutiny. Also since China successfully did the same thing last year, it would be an embarrassment on the international front.
I bet there are some nervous people at the DOD right now.