Does the average American know the facts about missile defense systems know the facts and figures?

No, they don't. Like what you said they confuse the effectiveness of missiles during the Persian Gulf war with the Patriots and the SCUDS. They don't know the difference between that and ICBM systems. With the instability in a lot countries I think having rogue state hit the US with a dirty bomy or biological attack is more likely then Korea sending nukes over to the US. What the Bush administration should of done and what the obama administration needs to do is make sure our boarders and ports are protected from those type of weapons from coming.