Parliament set to debate new missile defense system

Parliament set to debate new missile defense system
By Bryan Mitchell, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, January 10, 2008

RAF MILDENHALL, England — The British Parliament will consider arguments Thursday on a controversial new missile defense system proposed to be installed in part at RAF Menwith Hill.

The British Ministry of Defence rankled activists across Britain last year when it published a press release on Parliament’s last day in session before the summer recess saying that RAF Menwith Hill would host a section of the missile defense program.

Ahead of the debate, a far-left British lord has accused the British government of failing to inform the public about the potential risks of hosting part of the controversial missile defense program.

The comments from Lord William Wallace, a member of the House of Lords from the Liberal Democrat Party, came as Parliament prepares to debate the missile defense program for the first time.

“Part of the problem is that our government has been essentially dishonest with Parliament and the public,” Wallace said in a Tuesday interview with Stars and Stripes.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51527