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26 March 2005 |
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Duncan Campbell’s excellent investigative article uncovered the US National Security Agency’s surveillance operations at RAF Digby. Duncan’s analysis gives rise to a number of questions
relating to consequences for Britain and the local community. Is the Base here in Britain for our protection or should we be concerned about its presence? Can we believe the propaganda that
the US Bases defend Britain against attacks by terrorists and Rogue States? Can we assess the consequences, not only for the people living in the area, but also globally? If we are
concerned, what could we do about it? Oh help, not placard-waving ‘rent-a-mobs’?
Duncan revealed the connection between RAF Digby and RAF Menwith Hill. The latter is one of the two Bases in Yorkshire identified with the controversial USA Missile Defence programme,
popularly dubbed ‘Son of Star Wars’. Does this mean that RAF Digby might somehow be involved? Should we recognise that the ‘Star Wars’ involvement of these Bases makes them a target for
enemies of the USA? How do the people living near RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales feel?
Digby is a US spy Base, apparently involved with Menwith Hill’s ECHELON programme, intelligence-gathering by intercepting communications; not apparently monitoring hostile intercontinental
ballistic missiles, nor guiding interceptors to shoot them down. It is not equipped with early-warning radar like Fylingdales. It does not have ‘golf balls’ containing satellite dish
receivers like Menwith Hill. Digby’s aerials collect ground-ground radio transmissions, apparently from Europe, some from moving sources like ships at sea. What has that got to do with ‘Star
Wars’? Although Digby will not identify the launch of, or track, hostile missiles in flight, it could collect information about the development of missile sites and advance preparations for
a launch – it is impossible to launch a rocket secretly.
There is one item of equipment at Digby that possibly puts it into the ‘front line’ - an insignificant white structure resembling a giant nasal inhaler, or a pepperpot, mounted on a
windowless building. The pepperpot appears to be identical to the MILSTAR antenna at Fylingdales. MILSTAR is the latest electronically secure, top-secret US military communications’ system.
MILSTAR plays a role in ‘Star Wars’, the communications’ link transmitting data from Fylingdales to US Strategic Command, hidden under Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado, USA will use MILSTAR.
The Sleaford Civic Trust may be interested in furthering an investigation of RAF Digby’s operations. If somebody from the Civic Trust could phone and visit the local authority's Planning
Department to inspect all the planning applications for RAF Digby, we might get verification of the MILSTAR antenna and other information about installations. Menwith Hill’s ‘Star Wars’
developments were submitted as a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Department in June 1997. The identification of Fylingdales’ pepperpot as MILSTAR was obtained
from a planning application submitted to the North York Moors National Park Authority.
Has anybody noticed any cable-laying activities in the area in recent years? Oughtn’t there to be a fibre-optic link with Menwith Hill?
Somebody could write to the Base Commander, the Ministry of Defence and the local MP.
Questions about the impact of the Menwith Hill and Fylingdales Bases are continually being addressed by the local authorities and peace campaigners. Leeds City Council was instrumental in
setting up the Menwith Hill Forum (MHF) to address local concerns. It comprises MPs; Councillors; representatives from Otley Town, Harrogate Borough and York City Councils; delegates from
interest groups and local people. The Forum has met with Members of the European Parliament investigating ECHELON, the Environment Agency, the Primary Care Trust, organised public meetings
in Harrogate - the hall was full to hear Duncan Campbell. The Forum has made probing enquiries about emergency planning in the event of a terrorist attack on the Bases, the effects on public
health, environmental impact, archaeological impact, the cost to the community, etc. For further information see the website at
http://menwithhillforum.org.uk
Duncan’s information about RAF Digby, published in the last Newsletter, will come up as an item for discussion on the Agenda at the next MHF meeting. Perhaps the Sleaford Civic Trust could
keep Duncan and the MHF informed about any recent developments at RAF Digby and consider participation.
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25 May 2005 |
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Menwith Hill, Yorkshire
I thought it was an excellent piece of investigative journalism by Duncan Campbell. I photocopied several Sleaford & District Civic Trust newsletters and distributed them to other interested folks. Duncan revealed the connection between RAF Digby and RAF Menwith Hill. Digby’s aerials collect ground to ground radio transmissions, apparently from Europe, some from moving sources like ships at sea. There is one item of equipment at Digby that possibly puts it into the ‘front line’ – a white structure resembling a giant nasal inhaler, or a pepperpot, mounted on a windowless building. The pepperpot appears to be identical to the MILSTAR antenna at Fylingdales on the moors near Whitby (not to be confused with the early-warning radar also at Fylingdales). MILSTAR is the latest electronically secure US global military communications system. A visit to the local authority’s planning department might get verification of the MILSTAR antenna and other information about installations. Menwith Hill’s ‘Star Wars’ developments were submitted as a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council in June 1997. Has anyone noticed cable-laying activities in the Digby area in recent years? Oughtn’t there to be a fibre-optic link with Menwith Hill? Menwith Hill Forum was set up to address local concerns and includes local MPs and councillors as well as a variety of interest groups . We organised a public meeting in Harrogate and the hall was full to hear Duncan Campbell. The Forum has made probing enquiries about emergency planning in the event of a terrorist attack on the base and also the effects on public health [See the website at menwithhillforum.org.uk] Perhaps Sleaford Civic Trust could keep Duncan and the Menwith Hill Forum informed about any recent developments at RAF Digby and consider participation.
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