Monday, June 20, 2011

Space in Danger of Being Militarized?, June 20 2011

Flashback: Neo-Fascist Pigs In Space: Part One
Flashback: Neo-Fascist Pigs In Space: Part Two

Jamie Doward
London Guardian
A “star wars” inspired defence shield that will alert the US to the launch of ballistic missiles is expected to be operational from a North Yorkshire airbase before the end of the year. The Space Based Infrared System is seen as the successor to Ronald Reagan’s unrealised “star wars” programme, which would have detected Soviet missiles and shot them down using lasers.

The new system, which has cost more than $10bn, has taken almost two decades to build and has been subject to numerous delays and cost overruns. The imminent completion of the project at the RAF Menwith Hill base near Harrogate has revived fears that space is in danger of becoming militarised, with Britain in the vanguard.

“I find this disturbing to say the least,” said a local Labour MP, Fabian Hamilton. “It’s as if they are saying this is a place in the US and you are foreigners. But hang on one second, this is a bit of Yorkshire. We have no idea what they are doing. If they are developing star wars we have a right to know.”

Menwith Hill houses a major US military site that is shrouded in secrecy and is already known to provide a home for Echelon, the US eavesdropping system that intercepts communications from around the world.

Full article here

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