I don't think that we should be held to ransome by the dogooders of the North Yorhshire moors committee, however, we should think very carefully about our involvement in a US war. Bush does not have a lot of idea about what is going on and is easily influenced by his advisors.
G W Hopkinson, Scarborough

The unlawful and'temporary' US bases at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill have nothing to do with Britain's security. on the contrary they are a threat. One would have hoped, with the ending of the Cold War, that they would have gone. Soviet bases in East Europe were closed long ago. Put Britain's interests first.
B.Ormondroyd, North Yorkshire

Bormondroid from skipton fails to notice that the bases are not illegal they are working upon the nations property and therefore should get his facts right. It is in the best intrests of the nation to have a sheild up with the current changes in international affairs.
paulus, harrogate

I think the Fylingdales defence shield is a good thing, surely having it would bring the uk extra protection,as the USA would surely want to look out for such an important part of their defence system, and not let any so called rougue states attack it and knock it out of action. Surely with the system at Fylingdales, stepped up security from the USA would be an overall advantage to national UK security.
Darren, Teesside

I couldn't agree more, Andrew from York. The US should not impose its double standards on countries whose way of life it doesn't understand and belittles. It is these enemies they want the UK to help protect them from
dani, Australia(ex burley in Wharfedale)

The missile defence system initiated by the RAF during WW2 and added to by our ground forces saved many lives. Unfortunately we could not get an anti balistic missile system developed soon enough so many people died from the V2 rockets. If we can get a modern ABM system with the help of our American friends then the sooner the better. Some writers to this site appear to be scornful or even offensive about Americans; these same people are happy enough to use American designed computers and software to try to force their views on the more moderate and knowledgeable.
Ian Scott, Thornton Dale

I would be concerned that further military identification of the UK with the US can only be to our detriment; having a government that so readily identifies with the US is a national embarassment. There seems little benefit to the UK in this act which the government seems to be very keen to "pin to the coattails" of other pieces of news in the hope that it won't get caught in another stink. There are enough domestic issues and enough domestic causes for Mr Blair to concern himself with
David, Sheffield

If there had been the same objections to the chain of radar stations built before WWII we would not have the option of protesting now. Just because we are not being attacked now does not mean that defensive measures are wrong. The whole point of sites like Fylingdales is deterrence and so far it seems to work.
Ganpa, Scarborough

The only reason the US requires a missile defence system is to protect itself from the consequences of its military actions around the world. If the US stopped interfering in the affairs of other countries it would not end up having to protect itself against the countless enemies it makes. We should have no part in the missile defence system, and should stop joining the US in its imperialistic attacks on other countries.
Andrew , York

Will it make any difference to the outcome no matter what our protestations? Very Sad but true. I conclude that the decision was already agreed before the information was manufactured for the press and subsequently fed to the peaceful folk of North Yorkshire
Julie, York

Nothing annoys me more than these do gooders saying stop wars, peace, everyone happy. Very nice in theory but wake up and smell the coffee. There are nasty people with leathal weapons out there and someone needs to keep an eye on them. Prevention is better than cure.
Jared, Spain (Ex Scarborough)

Gail, Selby, you are mistaken. It is called RAF Fylingdales and is currently manned by RAF personnel and a handful of USAF personnel.
Robert White, Leeming, N. Yorks

I have spent several weeks covering the Firefighters strike and Christmas on Guard duty. Instead of looking forward to spending time with my family we are faced with conflict in the Gulf. Please support British Servicemen, We are proud to be British and are working very hard to serve our country with little recognition.
Steve, Harrogate

Fylingdales and Menwith Hill should be closed down now and the Americans kicked out of the UK for good. Our long term best prospects are within the EU and not as the 52nd state of the union. The US is an international bully and is guilty of cultural and financial imperialism on the grand scale. Also before we bang on about other states having Weapons of Mass Destruction. We've got them too and we have used them. Gas attacks in WW1, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the rest. How can we preach to other states what they can and can't have when the whole history of the advance of so called Western Civilization is written in the blood of indigenous people exterminated by imperialists and capitalists. And we're still doing it.
Graham, York

Lest we forget. Those who protest against the continued use of the Fylingdale radar site are able to do so precisely because that is what it is and has been since its creation. It was, and continues to be, part of a defence network that enables us to have the freedoms we have today. We do not live in a perfect world. There are those who envy what we have and given the opportunity, would take it in a nanosecond. Being prepared to defend our way of life comes at a cost and it is surely worth the minor inconvenience that Fylingdale reresents. Let us stop moaning about the place and be thankful that it is there doing what it does for each and every one of us.
Ron, Ontario. (Ex-pat. Kirbymoorside)

If Bush wants to put a defence system up then he should do it in his own back yard. If the UK wanted to use or erect a similar installation to protect us he would not look favourably upon our intrusion onto American soil. We need to think about the fate of the future generations with the proliferation of American government attitudes being taken on board by the UK government. NOT IN OUR BACKYARD GEORGE
rita and bill, scarborough (ex-whitby)

It is not a English base ,it is American so I cant see how us discussing it will change anything? It shouldnt change just because of the impending war. Personaly I think that Blair should shut his big mouth and instead of being interlinked with Bush he should start thinking of his Country and the people who sadly voted him in. We do not want War
Gail, Selby

The Ministry of Defence says it has had public meetings with North Yorkshire people on basing Star Wars technology here. This is intentionally misleading nonsense, Lawrie Quinn MP's secret meeting at Goathland and Hugh Bailey MP's meeting at York, both with Geoff Hoon, were by invitation only. Why bother with this sham of a debate, we might as well raise the stars and stripes now.
Sam, Scarborough

If we want to be protected by this defence system then we should be willing to offer our support where ever possible.
cyrus, Leeds

At present, I cannot support granting permission to the US. Can someone please produce a balanced view of what the defence benefits and downsides will be to the UK and our Continental European partners if our Government accepts the request?
Philip, Thornton Dale

My question is; who will this shield defend us against? or should that be, more correctly, who will it defend the USA against? We really should reclaim our independent spirit, our nation may not be powerful but it remains influential in the world.
Mick, Scarborough

Stop aggression. Stop wars. Imperialism should be destroyed from the civil societies. Oil and profits will destoy us all in the end. Lets stop now while there is time.
Carlos, England

A missile defence shield may or may not be a great idea - but this is not going to be used to defend Britain, is it? And the UK is not a part of the United States. It seems wrong to me that our military bases (paid for by our taxpayer's money) should become part of a foreign power's defence. What has the US done for us lately? If we have a missile defence shield it should be a EUROPEAN missile defence shield.
Martin, York

the illegal american bases at fylingdales and menwith hill should be closed forthwith. they do nothing for britain's security but put us in the front line of Bush's war of terrorism. Briain must pusue an independent line in european and world affairs. as such we would gain international respect.
bormondroyd, skipton

The use of of this base is for a defensive rather than offensive purpose. The idea of an effective defensive stragegy (rahter than offensive) should be welcomed.
Tim, Leeds

My question is whether or not the power emitted by the station will increase? Not very long ago there were problems with low flying birds being found dead, half cooked inside from the electromagnetic radiation sent out. The same thing that interferes with your car stereo as you drive past.

Surely the health of the nearby residents should be taken into account. We worry about mobile phone masts, but this thing blasts out far more power than any mobile phone mast.
Anon, Whitby