Bombs bursting in air (Blair wants UK missile defense site) - The Economist

[Eugene]

Missile-defence systems
Bombs bursting in air

Feb 23rd 2007
From The Economist print edition

Britain is bidding to host the new phase of America's missile-defence shield
in Europe. Expect fireworks

FOR British onlookers this week's ferocious rows over plans to extend America's
fledgling anti-ballistic missile shield to Europe have seemed a blast from the
cold-war past. Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, said America would trigger an
“inevitable arms race” if it deployed interceptors in Europe to knock ballistic
missiles out of the sky. A senior Russian general rumbled that Russian missiles
would target any interceptors in eastern Europe. Poland's prime minister told his
people that Russia was trying to “scare” them. The Czech foreign minister (a
prince with a splendid moustache) complained of Russian “blackmail”.

It is all very exotic. And now the British public is about to be thrust into the
heart of the row. Tony Blair has been discreetly waging a campaign since last
autumn to secure the missile-interceptor site for Britain, The Economist has
learned. The prime minister has led the lobbying in person, apparently convinced
that missile-defence technology—long derided in polite European circles as an
expensive “Star Wars” fantasy—now works. Mr Blair believes that hosting the
interceptors will make Britain as well as America more secure.

With his time in office coming to an end this summer, Mr Blair is understood to
have involved Gordon Brown, the chancellor of the exchequer and his probable
successor, in the campaign. He needs allies: domestic reaction will be stormy
before any missile is placed in a British silo.

-snip-

America has yet to announce where in Europe it wants to install its silo. Months
of discussions about interceptors between Britain and America have been a closely-
held secret. But last month hints and cryptic references to the talks began
slipping out in Washington and Brussels.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8744629

(BBC News)

Last Updated: Friday, 23 February 2007, 07:28 GMT

US, UK 'in missile defence talks'

The UK and US governments have been holding discussions on the possibility
of positioning a US anti-ballistic missile defence system on UK soil.

An article in The Economist claims UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has lobbied
the US president for the system.

But government sources have told the BBC that talks are "to keep Britain's
options open", not a lobbying effort.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6388713.stm

[Lasher]

1. Junior's Maginot Line in the sky

What's the difference? It doesn't work. This boondoggle has cost $50 billion during Junior's tenure and they can't hit anything with the missiles - even if they can get them to launch.

[Briar]

2. What this nonsense

about us Brits being used to having US bases all over our country? A lot of us would like the US bases shut down and the US presence removed. There has been no justification for it since the end of WW2.

[Benhurst]

3. Then flush that nasty little turd Blair.

:hurts:

[Briar]

5. It's more than one man

Every PM since WW2 has laid out the welcome mat for the US Air Force and its missiles. Every protest against it (I remember particularly Greenham Common) has garnered the ridicule, scorn and contempt of the country's MSM and commentariat. No opposition party has ever made getting the US out a part of its manifesto. The US alliance is cemented into the very core of my country's establishment, without the people ever having been given a say in the matter. It's one of those elephants in the room we never mention.

[Benhurst]

6. True, but there was some justification for such policies before the

fall of the Soviet Union. Now? It's time for Britain to join forces with Europe and forget about its "special relationship."

[marmar]

4. And to think I once thought highly of Tony Blair.....

He's nothing but a Neocon with a cool accent.

[maddezmom]

7. Britain in talks with US on hosting 'son of Star Wars'

LONDON (AFP) - Britain said Friday it was consulting with the United States about possibly hosting part of a US "son of Star Wars" shield against a feared missile attack from rogue states like Iran and North Korea.

Washington announced in January it had begun negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic to install a radar and 10 long-range missile interceptors, angering neighbouring Russia and stirring unease in some European countries.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said the US-British talks were at a very early stage as Britain bid to be "kept in consideration" as a possible location for the system.

"The prime minister thinks it is a good idea that we are part of the consideration by the US," a spokeswoman for Blair said.

"We believe that it is an important step towards providing missile defence coverage for Europe, of which we are part."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/pl_afp/britainusdefence_070223151856