Brits not yet talking about hosting U.S. interceptors

Published: Apr 12, 2006
Source: news.monstersandcritics.com



British Defense Minister John Reid has denied that Washington and London have discussed the possibility of Britain hosting missile interceptors as part of the U.S. missile defense program, the London Financial Times reported.

U.S. Lt. Gen. Henry 'Trey' Obering III, the head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, told a conference in Washington last month that Britain was one of three candidates -- along with Poland and the Czech Republic -- to host missile interceptors in Europe. Pentagon and British defense officials said at the time there had been no discussions between the countries.

The missile interceptors, which would be placed in Europe by 2010, would be part of the ballistic missile defence system, for which U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is a strong advocate. Any European site would be the third location for interceptors, in addition to Alaska and California.continue..