US turns back to Britain as its base for Son of Star Wars

[Judi Lynn]

The Times August 16, 2006

US turns back to Britain as its base for Son of Star Wars
From Tom Baldwin in Washington

THE Pentagon is turning to Britain once again as a site for its controversial missile defence system, The Times has learnt.

British officials have said that “discreet inquiries” are being made by American defence planners about whether the Government would accept the ten interceptor units, designed to knock out a ballistic missile fired by terrorists or states such as Iran before it reaches the US. America’s preferred option is to site the interceptors in Poland or the Czech Republic, but opposition within those countries has forced the Pentagon to look again at Britain.

The prospect will alarm Downing Street because Tony Blair has paid a heavy political price for being seen by voters as too close to George Bush over the Iraq war and unable to turn down any request from the US. One senior British source said: “A few weeks ago it looked like we were out of the woods on this one. That has changed because Central Europe no longer looks like such an easy option.”

Critics of the so-called Son of Star Wars system, a scaled-down version of the ambitious plan envisaged by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, say that the base for the interceptor units will inevitably become a target for America’s enemies and a magnet for terrorists and the host country would receive no protection from the shield.
(snip/...)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2315036,00.html

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

1. anyone that believes Ronnie R "envisioned" Starwars

is plain f-ing owned by the offensive defence industry's PR.
Weaponization of space was a wet dream long before Ronnie left the B movies for his warm up role as California governor en route to his performance of a lifetime as prez.

[qwertyMike]

2. Ronnie

who slept 12 - 14 hours a day said:
"I just say what
they want me to"

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

3. Ronnie was a great actor

He even acted like a Democrat before his mind was made up for him.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Why risk putting the missiles in Eurasia

when Airstrip One is available? After all, there may come a time when Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia, but Airstrip One has always been a vital part of Oceania.

[Dover]

5. Britain is potential site for US missile defence system

Britain is potential site for US missile defence system
Posted: 16 August 2006 1549 hrs


LONDON : The Pentagon is making inquiries as to whether Britain would allow the United States to set up in the country the European base for its new missile defence system, The Times reported.

American defence planners are inquiring whether the British government would accept the interceptor missiles and radar, designed to knock out any ballistic missiles fired by terrorists or Iran before they reach the United States, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed British officials.

The United States preferred to put its European base in either Poland or the Czech Republic, but has turned to Britain because of increasing opposition to the idea in the two central European countries.

"A few weeks ago it looked like we were out of the woods on this one," an unnamed senior British source was quoted as saying.

"That has changed because Central Europe no longer looks like such an easy option."

cont'd..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/225141/1/.html

[acmavm]

6. I wonder how the British public will feel about being made

a target because our missles are parked on their soil.

[truebrit71]

7. Probably the same way we did back in the 80's....

...This will be the straw that breaks Poodle's back if he agrees to this....The Brits are simply fed-up with being the Chimperor's foot-stool....