Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

This Yorkshire CND report is written by Dr Steve Schofield and highlights the rapid growth of the US Spy Base, Menwith Hill, over the last decade and its widening role in new forms of intelligence-led warfare. The report lifts the veil of secrecy surrounding the activities of the base near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, including its role in the wider US missile 'defence' programme, and lays bare the lack of democratic accountability and negative economic impact of this US Spy Base on British soil.

This 2003 briefing gives a comprehensive introduction to the issue of US missile defence and indicates the UK involvement in this.

Clusters of enormous radomes (giant golf balls which cover the satellite dishes) mark out Menwith Hill, the US spy base set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Yorkshire. The base is run by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and is part of a global network of bases used to spy on all international telecommunications. For the US it is vital in intelligence-gathering necessary for any US-led military attack and is part of the US missile 'defence' system. Yet it is operates outside US law and is not accountable under British law.

For these reasons, on the crisp, sunny day of 16th October 2011, around 70 CND members and supporters joined together there for a Day of Action. This included a demonstration, peace picnic and walk around part of the base to view the radomes. CND Chair Dave Webb handed in a letter to the RAF Base Commander (whose role is 'to provide advice to the US Base Commander' there). Anne Lee, a long-time dedicated and knowledgeable activist against the base, told how the different areas of the base were used. On many occasions she has managed to break into the base and gather useful information about its secret workings.

Read more about the US missile 'defence' system and Menwith Hill.

This briefing from May 2004 discusses US plans for space exploration under George W Bush and the military implications pertaining to this, including those relating to missile defence.

This paper outlines how space has already become militarised, and how loopholes in the Outer Space Treaty could lead to weaponisation of space.

It sets out evidence that the US is already considering this, ostensibly for the purposes of protecting existing satellites, but really in order to ensure dominance of space. Both Russia and China are formally opposed to space weaponry, but there are signs that China and the US may enter a space-based arms race. India may also follow suit, further provoking China and Pakistan

This briefing discusses the implications of the US National Missile Defence programme, which it argues is designed to allow US first strike capability. As a result, it has alarmed Russia and China and increased the chances of a new arms race.

The possibility of the NMD leading to the full-scale militarization of space is also discussed, as is US resistance to legal constraints on their ability to place weapons in space.

The role of the UK is also discussed, including the implications in terms of cost, the risk of UK-based facilities becoming military targets, and the effects on the sites' surrounding localities.

A Q&A introducing the issue of the US Missile Defence system, this outlines the evidence that this is an offensive, rather than defensive, system that allows the US first-strike capability anywhere in the world.

It explains how the UK is involved in this, despite public opposition, and describes how this system will make the UK a more likely target in future wars. Tips are given on how CND’s supporters can get involved in the campaign. 

4 June 2007: for immediate release

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today expressed deep concern that the proposed deployment of the US Missile Defence system in Europe will return the continent to the days of the Cold War – shown clearly by Russia's announcement that it will target missiles at European locations if the US plans go ahead.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, “For years we have warned that the US Star Wars programme will spark a new arms race – tragically we are being proved right. This totally unnecessary system will protect no-one, but threaten all – by giving the US the ability to strike with impunity, resulting in missiles once again being aimed at sites in Europe.”

The majority of the public in both the Czech Republic and Poland oppose plans for the system to be based in their countries. A recent poll shows 68% opposition to the plans in the Czech Republic, with 77% wishing there to be a referendum on the issue. A further poll showed 67% of the British public opposes any involvement in the missile defence programme [see note 2]

Kate Hudson continued, “This system is not intended to defend Europe. It is being imposed against the will of the people who will be in greater danger as a result of its presence. At the G8 summit our Government must make it clear to the US that destabilising the security of Europe is unacceptable. It cannot be the price for countering an imagined ‘missile threat’ from states like North Korea and Iran - they do not have anything like the technology to strike as far as the US. Tony Blair should use his last few weeks in office to defuse this potential crisis, and should withdraw British support for the US programme.”

ends

Notes to Editors:

1. For further information and interviews please contact Ben Soffa, CND's Press & Communications Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859

2. For full poll results on British views on Missile Defence, visit http://cndyorks.gn.apc.org/md/index.htm . Czech results are at http://jurnalo.com/jurnalo/storyPage.do?story_id=31220

3. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 35,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere. www.cnduk.org

Menwith Hill is run by the US National Security Agency (NSA), operates outside US law and is not accountable under British law. It is part of a global network of bases used to spy on all forms of international telecommunications - including private phone calls, emails and faxes - and is crucial for the intelligence-gathering necessary for any US-led military attack.

In 1996, Britain announced that the European Ground Based Relay station for the Space Based Infra Red System (SBIRS) would be established at the base. SBIRS is another aspect of the Early Warning and tracking system and building for it has begun.

In 2002 the UK Defence Select Committee expressed its concern that Menwith Hill would be used for US Missile Defence without permission. The then Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon assured them that it was for early warning only and would be handled 'entirely separately from missile defence.'

In early 2007 the then Prime Minister Tony Blair promised a full debate 'when we have a proposition to put,' regarding UK involvement in the US missile defence system. Yet,  just a day before parliament closed for summer that year, and without democratic debate, consultation or accountability the government announced that Menwith Hill would become part of the US Missile Defence system. This angered a number of MPs whose letter to the press called for a full parliamentary discussion. This has never happened.