United States and Britain in Diego Garcia
Subtitle: military presence, rendition, and global climate change
By: Peter H. Sand.
Publisher: Palgrave-Macmillan
Published: 2009
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 210
ISBN-13: 9780230617094
Subjects: Military bases, American -- British Indian Ocean Territory -- Diego Garcia; Military bases, British -- British Indian Ocean Territory -- Diego Garcia; Prisoners of war -- British Indian Ocean Territory -- Diego Garcia; Climatic changes -- British Indian Ocean Territory -- Diego Garcia; Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) -- Strategic aspects; Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) -- International status; Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) -- Environmental conditions; United States -- Armed Forces -- British Indian Ocean Territory -- Diego Garcia; Great Britain -- Armed Forces -- British Indian Ocean Territory -- Diego Garcia
Description: The coral atoll of Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) today is a pivotal US naval and air base for all Middle East operations (Afghanistan, Iraq, and potentially, Iran). This book, largely based on hitherto unpublished source material, describes the build-up of the base - starting with a secret US-UK bilateral deal in 1966; the deportation of the native island population in the 1970s; the clouded new role of Diego Garcia as a destination for Guantenamo-style 'renditions'; and the impacts of military construction on the environment of the island - which because of its average elevation of 4 ft above sea-level is at direct risk from climate change.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.