EQUIPMENT vital to the proposed U.S. missile defence scheme has already been assembled at a North Yorkshire spy base, a veteran investigative journalist claims.
Duncan Campbell, who has researched activities at military surveillance bases for more than 25 years, visited Harrogate last night to talk to the peace campaign group, the Menwith Hill Forum.
The Menwith Hill base, near Harrogate, is thought to be vital to the proposed "Son of Star Wars" system, which is designed to shoot nuclear missiles out of the sky.
He said that as well as the missile defence facilities being in place at Menwith Hill, work on equipment to test satellites vital to the system has already begun there.
The equipment he claims is in place comprises two satellite tracking dishes, connected to a new control centre and linked to two as yet unlaunched satellites.
"These are the first stage of the new Star Wars system," Mr Campbell said.
The UK government's official line on the system - which the Evening Press is campaigning against - is that no decision has been made.
Mr Campbell also said that extra U.S. staff and equipment are coming to Menwith Hill after a similar base in Germany closed.
He said: "There will be an expansion of American activities at Menwith Hill. The German station is being closed because the German government places restrictions on the Americans which they find unacceptable - restrictions that won't be placed on them here."
Mr Campbell said discussions about a missile defence scheme are "just politicians playing with words".
He said: "As far as Menwith Hill is concerned the facilities for this system have already been built - the work started before Blair was elected.
"Work to adapt Fylingdales has not started. That would be a very serious international move, as it would be extremely threatening to the world order and to the security of North Yorkshire and the rest of the UK.
"And it would all be for nothing - a system of this kind could serve no useful purpose in world security."
Updated: 10:57 Saturday, September 08, 2001
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