Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: UK MPs demand debate on 'Son of Star Wars' base in Yorkshire Dales

MPs demand debate on 'Son of Star Wars' base in Yorkshire Dales 
By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor 
Published: 03 August 2007 
Angry MPs challenged Gordon Brown to live up to his promise of more
Parliamentary accountability by allowing a Commons vote over the use of
the US listening post at Menwith Hill, in the Yorkshire Dales, as a base
for the anti-nuclear weapon programme dubbed "Son of Star Wars". 
Their protests are reinforced by a YouGov poll today showing that 54 per
cent of the public believe that stationing the US radar and communications
stations, and possibly interceptor missiles, in this country increases the
threat of attack on the UK.
The MPs, including former Labour cabinet minister, Clare Short, are
furious that the decision to go ahead with the use of Menwith Hill was
slipped out by the Defence Secretary, Des Browne, on the night before the
Commons rose for the summer recess. It was buried with more than 30 other
statements.
There are also fears among some locals that the town of Harrogate, which
is near Menwith Hill, could become the focus for a second Greenham Common-
style protest. That airfield was for years a site of protest against the
presence of US Cruise missiles in the UK during the Cold War.
The deployment of interceptor missiles at forward bases in Poland and the
Czech Republic has already increased tensions with Russia and led to
threats by its President, Vladimir Putin, to site Russian weapons targeted
at the West. Menwith Hill will be used for tracking incoming missiles and
sending interceptor missiles to their target.
Mr Browne announced on 25 July that the upgraded early warning system at
Fylingdales on the North Yorkshire moors would be become operational this
month and "equipment will be installed and operated by the US Government"
at Menwith Hill to allow the receipt of satellite warnings of potentially
hostile missile launches. The information will be fed into the US
ballistic missile defence system in their response to any missile attack
on the US. Mr Browne said there were no plans for interceptor missiles to
be based in the UK, but the situation would be kept under review.
In a joint cross-party letter to the Prime Minister, 22 MPs warned: "The
UK's continued and increasing involvement in US missile defence
potentially puts the UK on the frontline in future wars."
One of the leading signatories, Phil Willis, the Liberal Democrat MP for
Harrogate and Knaresborough, said his constituents were alarmed that
having the early warning system sited near them could also increase the
threat of terrorist attacks in the area.
He said: "Locally, Harrogate has had a long and very happy relationship
with the US people on the base. There is no animosity towards them but
they feel this does make them more vulnerable.
"It stands to reason if you are going to have the threat of terrorist
attacks or we are going to be on the front line in a major conflict, this
has strategic importance. Slipping this out in a written statement is
wholly unacceptable."
A large majority of the public - 68 per cent - said a Commons vote should
be allowed, in the online poll commissioned by the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament (CND). The poll included responses from 2,049 adults between
26 July and 30 July. Kate Hudson, the CND chairwoman, accused the Prime
Minister of "craven behaviour".
The MPs warned that the decision suggested Mr Brown would be as
subservient as Mr Blair to the US President, George Bush, in spite of Mr
Brown's impressive performance in Washington earlier this week.
Mr Willis said: "It does not augur well if this is part of the new
relationship The least we deserve is a full debate and a vote on it."
US in the UK
Fylingdales, N. Yorks - radar facilities used for early warning missile
detection.
Menwith Hill, N.Yorks - US spy base that detects infrared radiation from
enemy missiles.
Fairford, Glos - British airbase used by B-52 bombers.
Molesworth, Alconbury and Upwood, Cambs - Home to 423rd Air Base Group
part of Joint Analysis Centre.
Barford St John, Oxon - Small US airbase with three runways.
Croughton, Oxon - Major communications station. Rumoured CIA use.
Feltwell, Norfolk - Housing estate for many personnel stationed nearby.
Mildenhall, Suffolk - Largest US airforce base in the UK, including
refuelling, reconnaissance, special operations and intelligence units.
Lakenheath, Suffolk - Key US combat air units including F-15 fighter jets. 
da 
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2831107.ece
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*.sergio.* :

أفاد مراسل الجزيرة في أفغانستان بأن وفدا كوريا جنوبيا أجرى أول اتصال مباشر
مع عناصر من طالبان في مسعى للإفراج عن الرهائن الكوريين وسط أنباء عن صفقة
بين الجانبين لإنهاء الأزمة. من جانبها لم
-- 
R.