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THE MENWITH HILL SITE |
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 MENWITH HILL- The STAR WARS Role |
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 From the Guardian [ 51 ] |
The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) [ 52 ] have continually monitored the planning applications made by the Ministry of Defence Land Agent (Defence Estates' Organisation, Catterick Garrison - on behalf of the US Government) for Menwith Hill to Harrogate Council for over 10 years. Planning applications are submitted to Harrogate Council for information only, they have no power of veto. It may, however (if it receives sufficient objections) initiate proceedings which may lead to a public enquiry. In 1996 CAAB learned that a significant development was to take place at MHS. Some time later they found a press release tucked away in a file for two radomes, which said: |
"HMG [Her Majesty's Government] and the United States Government are pleased to announce that the European Relay Ground Station (RGS-E) for the new Space Based Infra-Red System (SBIRS) will be established at RAF Menwith Hill. The RGS-E will provide additional relay capability of SBIRS, and its establishment at RAF Menwith Hill will capitalise on the existing infrastructure. HMG welcomes the opportunity to strengthen US/UK co-operation in this field. |
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SBIRS is the world-wide satellite-based system providing early warning of ballistic missile launches. It has been developed to upgrade the ageing US
Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite system. Construction will include a one-storey 10,000 square feet concrete and steel building adjacent to and architecturally blending with the
existing building. Up to four new radomes approximately 60 feet in height and similar to the existing radomes will also be required. Local planning consent will be sought in the usual
way." Menwith Hill would soon be the home for the European Relay Ground Station for the New Space Based Infra Red System [
53
].
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This system is part of the US plan to adopt "Son of Star Wars" [
54
]. The radomes for the Space Based Infra Red System (SBIRS) [
55
] are now built. General Howell M. Estes III (Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Space Command and Air Force Space Command, Commander) has said in a speech
urging the US Congress to "help fulfill the promise of space" [
56
] that:"Our SBIRS system consolidates DoD's non-imaging infrared systems that fulfill national security needs in areas of missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization. It consists of high and low components. We need to get SBIRS High on-orbit first as a replacement for the Defense Support Program (DSP). We're going to put four satellites up to replace four DSPs. This will improve our location identification and tracking capabilities by better identifying the missile launch point, impact point and azimuth. It will also give us another level of refinement in those areas as we work the missile defense issue. The advantage of SBIRS Low is that it can track "cold bodies" in space. SBIRS Low is important for the ballistic missile defense systems. With SBIRS High, you can only track infrared signatures which means the rocket motor has to be burning. These systems will significantly improve our ability to provide much more precise launch and impact point of theater missiles to forces in a theater of operations. They are key to our ability to cue systems that we'll use for active defense as part of both theater and national missile defense." |
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In December 1998
the Star Wars role of MHS was further exposed on television by Richard Sadler [
57
] and in October 1999 Lindis Percy of the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases made an application for a Writ to stop this construction. The Writ (later a Claim) was issued by
the High Court against four defendants:
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SBIRS dishes and radomes (project GRAPNEL) at Menwith Hill (photos by Craig Stennett for CAAB) [ 52 ] |
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The American Base Commander successfully claimed immunity from UK court proceedings under the "Visiting Forces Act". The other defendants contested that the claim be struck out on
the grounds of 'Abuse of Process of the Court'. However, the High Court decided the Claim should be heard. Eventually however, President Clinton's decision on 1 September 2000
to leave the fate of the NMD programme to his successor, forced CAAB to withdraw the writ after all [
58
]. The First Defendant is now claiming £16,173.06p costs and the 2/3/4 Defendants are claiming £11,000 costs against Lindis. However, CAAB will still continue with this action, and
Fylingdales was later included in the Claim as another base to be used as part of 'Son of Star Wars' [
59
].
On 18 January 2000 , Ann Cryer (Bob Cryer's widow) now also a Member of Parliament, made a speech in the House of Commons that highlighted the US Space Command's vision to be "Masters of Space" [ 60 ]. Now - with the election of George W Bush to the US presidency and the appointment of Dennis Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense - the US development of a Star Wars (or National Missile Defense) programme is almost certain. Menwith Hill's role in these plans is well recognized - the debate and protest continues [ 61 ]. Two radomes for SBIRS [ 98 ] were in fact built even before the US gave notice to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia. However, the SBIRS High infrared detection system has become one of the US Defense Department's biggest white elephants - the SBIRS-High Increment 1 software was finally installed at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., almost two years late, but the satellites themselves are plagued with problems involving the infrared detection system. In 2002 the name for SBIRS Low infrared tracking system was changed to: "The Space-Based Tracking and Surveillance System” [ 99 ]. There is no doubt that, through its communication, relaying and eavesdropping capabilities, Menwith plays an important role in helping the US military in its plans to dominate and control space, despite the effects on International Treaties (such as the ABM Treaty, the Outer Space Treaty and the Non Proliferation Treaty) and the mistrust and concern expressed by people and their governments all over the world [ 62 ]. |
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"No-one concerned about civil liberties can ignore Menwith Hill. Despite many attempts to get answers to questions, it is quite clear that Menwith Hill is not accountable to MPs and therefore not to the British people" - Alice Mahon MP.
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