Bangladesh, April 28 -- Public policy, especially in national defense, is supposed to rest on clear facts, careful planning, and strong public oversight. Yet sometimes governments move in a very different way-guided less by proof and more by fear, pressure, and the need to act fast. Belgiums recent decision to spend fifty million Euros after reports of strange objects in the sky shows how quickly careful judgment can give way to costly mistakes.

The story began with reports of unusual lights seen over different parts of the country. At first, no one knew what they were. Instead of treating these sightings as something to study calmly, they were quickly described as drones. Soon after, some officials suggested they might even be linked to...