European Star Wars

The Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar System (BMEWS) at Fylingdales, U.K.

The ongoing debate on the proposed missile defense shield in Europe is heating up. Poland and the Czech Republic are among the possible sites and the UK is now showing interest in supporting the missile shield.

According to recent commentary: 'Fears over the destabilising effects of such a shield was confirmed by a Russian general who said that they would target the system' -

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, said America would trigger an “inevitable arms race” if it deployed interceptors in Europe to knock ballistic missiles out of the sky. A senior Russian general rumbled that Russian missiles would target any interceptors in eastern Europe. Poland’s prime minister told his people that Russia was trying to “scare” them. The Czech foreign minister (a prince with a splendid moustache) complained of Russian “blackmail”.

“The aim is to break ground on a European site in 2008, and for its interceptors to become operational in 2012. This week the Polish and Czech prime ministers said they were keen on hosting the missile-defence sites. That is a change: talks with the Poles have dragged on for years, thanks to elaborate Polish demands for things such as extra missile defences for their own country. Yet both Mr Blair and his Polish rivals face objections from three sources: from Russia, from many of their own voters and from fellow European leaders.”

Source: “Missile-defence systems: Expect Fireworks”, Economist.

“In 2003, the U.K. agreed to allow the U.S. to upgrade radar stations at the Fylingdales Royal Air Force Base in northern England, one of the steps to allowing the missile shield. At the time, then-Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said the U.K. would keep its options open about Britain taking the U.S. missile shield.”

Source: “Blair Wants Part of U.S. Missile Shield Based in U.K.”, Bloomberg.

Read more about the RAF Fylingdales base from Wikipedia

The Militarization of Science and Space

There is alot to be said about the way in which science and space is being co-opted into the military-industrial complex. This is huge topic worthy of much research - especially the vast amounts of money going into the weaponisation of space, some of this filtered through scientific agencies and covert funding.

Some initial noteworthy links here:

1. A Google Video from Noam Chomsky speaking at MIT on The Militarization of Science and Space

2. A short yet informative article titled 'Master of Space' by Karl Grossman

3. A site with some good resources called 'Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space'

And I'm sure there's more to come...

Oil, Smoke & Mirrors

Oil, Smoke & Mirrors is a documentary film (50 mins) that discusses the issue of Peak Oil in the context of the US foreign policy and global climate trends.

This video is a sober and insightful discussion, with interviews with notable figures in both the Peak Oil/Environmental movement, such as Richard Heinberg, as well as political figures.

Definately worth a watch - and opens up the debate on civil unrest in a potential future of further resource scarcity and wars.

You can watch here via Google Video - or via the home page

Manipulation of Will

Today we are living through a battle of Wills - can people be fooled as easily as the foolers want us to be? Do we give permission?

Conflict in developed regions is less about physical cohercion and more about covert manipulation. The real objective of war - as well as these days since we are living in 'days of war' - is the imposition of Will.

Prussian military strategist von Clausewitz called war 'an extension of diplomacy by other means. Imposition of will, not physical destruction, is the appropriate measure of success'

For example, look into this influential US military document that did the rounds - O'Neill, Richard P. (CDR, USN). Toward a Methodology for Perception Management. Newport, RI, Jun 1989. 58 p. (Naval War College (U.S.) Center for Advanced Research. Paper)Doc. call no.: M-U 41662-6 D58t

As Retired Colonal John Alexander puts it:

'The fact is, perception management has become a well-honed, fine art in the civilian sector. We call it politics!...Perception management is ubiquitous in today's society...and the target of information warfare is the human mind. The only logical solution is to acknowledge perception management and execute it well' (Future War - p. 112-3)

Our we literally losing our minds...???