Possible Clues:

• Patriot's target in the Gulf War
• A cloud might do it
• First of all swirling clouds unerringly do this
• Missile variety
• (Of a cloud) move very quickly
• Type of ballistic missile developed by the Soviet Union during the cold war
• Missile succeeded -- copper died
• Skim
• Missile Soviets introduced — something to chew over?
• Move quickly (as if running before a gale)