-Caveat Lector- Although this seems like quite an issue, there is only one reference to it in the British press, and the NYTimes doesn't mention it at all. Seems the liberal media is letting us down again. Prudy Protesters still at large in UK 'Star Wars' base By Karen Matusic LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Two demonstrators kept up a protest on Wednesday inside a British radar base that could play a key role in the U.S. "Son of Star Wars" missile defence system, officials said. Overnight, military police had managed to remove a dozen protesters from buildings to which they had chained themselves at the Menwith Hill base in Yorkshire, northern England. One New Zealand activist escaped to a radio mast, however, where he was joined by three other protesters -- part of a group of 20-25 who tried to storm the base on Wednesday morning, Greenpeace said. Two of the four had come down from the masts by midday due to illness and lack of supplies. Waving flags proclaiming "Star Wars Starts Wars," and blasting the theme tunes of "Mission Impossible" and the "Thunderbirds" over a sound system, some 100 Greenpeace activists entered the front gate of the base on Tuesday, demanding Britain reject U.S. President George W. Bush's proposed missile plan. The ease with which the protesters entered the sensitive installation set off alarm bells within the British government. A Defence Ministry official said Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon "was very concerned at what is a breach of security." Most of the activists were expelled from the site on Tuesday and seven arrests were made, a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said. "The arrests have been mainly for causing damage but the protesters have not been particularly offensive," she said. Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman slammed the protest as a "publicity stunt" and said demonstrators should remember that the base is a key NATO base and has an important role in "defending this country from missile attack." Bush's proposed shield system is intended to protect the United States and its allies from long-range missile attack. Blair has said he has not yet decided whether to back the project but his spokesman has signalled broad support. Many Europeans are sceptical about the proposed missile shield's capability after some test failures. They are also concerned that the United States should not tear up key arms control treaties with Russia that limit such defences. Blair's spokesman said on Wednesday that Britain recognised the concerns of the U.S administration regarding the threat from countries who have the potential to develop weapons of mass destruction, but said no firm plans had yet been proposed. "The U.S. have said that they will consult with their allies (on national missile defence). U.S. thinking on this is still in the developmental stage," he said. Greenpeace spokesman William Peden told Reuters the group intended to keep up the protests until Britain abandons Star Wars. The demonstrators, who included Britons, Danes and Americans, painted "Stop Star Wars" on the base's water tower. Greenpeace said that if Britain gave the go-ahead, Menwith Hill would be used as a ground relay station to transmit information on missile location and trajectory back to the United States to help with targeting of interceptor missiles. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
