Comments on: Missile Defence http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/10/18/952 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:00:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Chris Lightfoot http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/10/18/952#comment-2270 Chris Lightfoot Mon, 18 Oct 2004 17:37:24 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/10/18/952#comment-2270 I suspect there's a crossed wire here somewhere. My understanding is that one of the RADARs for the ABM system is to be based in this country (at Fylingdales as an upgrade to the existing BMEWS site, I guess), but not the interceptor missiles themselves. Careful observers will note that this means that we will be a target for enemies of the US (who might want to blow up the early-warning system before launching their missiles at targets in the US mainland), but will be denied any protection that the system could offer. That said, the missile defence system isn't going to work anyway (it's too hard a problem, basically), and it's not like not building the RADAR will make other people dislike this country any less, so it doesn't really matter anyway. I suspect there’s a crossed wire here somewhere.

My understanding is that one of the RADARs for the ABM system is to be based in this country (at Fylingdales as an upgrade to the existing BMEWS site, I guess), but not the interceptor missiles themselves. Careful observers will note that this means that we will be a target for enemies of the US (who might want to blow up the early-warning system before launching their missiles at targets in the US mainland), but will be denied any protection that the system could offer.

That said, the missile defence system isn’t going to work anyway (it’s too hard a problem, basically), and it’s not like not building the RADAR will make other people dislike this country any less, so it doesn’t really matter anyway.

]]> By: Roger Huffadine http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/10/18/952#comment-2268 Roger Huffadine Mon, 18 Oct 2004 16:33:24 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/10/18/952#comment-2268 OK so the reports were 'rubbish' but what about answering the question? Are there to be any additional US missiles based in the UK? OK so the reports were ‘rubbish’ but what about answering the question?

Are there to be any additional US missiles based in the UK?

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