Tuesday, April 11, 2006

CONCERN GROWS AFTER STEALTH AND B-1B BOMBERS SPOTTED AT FAIRFORD

30th March 2006 updated 2nd and 6th April 2006

Greens fear we maybe witnessing the build up to an attack on Iran. Two B-2 Stealth Bombers and two B-1B multi-role bombers have been spotted at the Fairford RAF base over the last week (i). The base, in rural Gloucestershire, last saw action in 2003 when B-52 bombers flew from there to bomb Iraq. It is the largest USAF bomber base in Europe and the only one with maintenance facilities for the B-2. Photo: courtesy of the unofficial RAF Fairford website.

Martin Whiteside, Parliamentary spokesperson for Stroud District Green party, said: "This is very worrying development as B-2s are likely to be the strike aircraft used in any US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. This could just be an exercise, but much makes me wary - the US seems to be engineering a diplomatic impasse in Iran and their attack plans for the country, "CONPLAN 8022 (Global Strike)" now have operational status which includes a nuclear weapons option. We could be witnessing the build up to another war."

Martin Whiteside, who is also a District councillor and was at the vigil on Saturday 18th March to commemorate the third anniversary of the Iraq war, said: "We must not let us be drawn into supporting another illegal war to divert our attention from the problems Bush and Blair are having at home at the moment."

Martin Whiteside said: "It is hypocritical to single out Iran for possible future nuclear proliferation while doing nothing about India, Pakistan and Israel who have all developed nuclear weapons in secret. Add to this the hypocrisy of British plans to upgrade it's own nuclear weapons and no wonder we loose respect and trust around the World. We need a consistent approach to getting rid of all nuclear weapons and to insist on a nuclear free Middle East (iii). I would urge people to write to Mr Blair seeking assurances that we will not join another unjust war."

Updated 2nd April 2006:

Today Sunday 2nd April the news is much worse. The Telegraph reports that the Government is to hold secret talks with defence chiefs tomorrow to discuss possible military strikes against Iran (iv). The paper reports that "The belief in some areas of Whitehall is that an attack is now all but inevitable."

The Telegraph goes onto say: "...would enable attacks by B2 stealth bombers equipped with eight 4,500lb enhanced BLU-28 satellite-guided bunker-busting bombs, flying from Diego Garcia, the isolated US Navy base in the Indian Ocean, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Whiteman USAF base in Missouri."

Philip Booth, a Stroud District Green party spokesperson, commented: "This is even more disturbing news that another war could be launched from our doorstep here in Gloucestershire. In Iraq we've seen at least 35,000 civilians killed and the situation is getting worse not better: bombing is not the answer to solving problems."

Updated 6th April 2006:

The Wilts and Glos Standard (6/04/06) reports that defence chiefs have denied the visit of top-secret bombers to RAF Fairford last week have anything to do with a future operation in Iran. A spokesperson said: "That is complete rubbish. Fairford is not being used for that purpose." However no-one from US Air Force was available for comment on future deployment of the bombers.

However on the same day Paul Rogers writes that the timing and nature of a United States attack on Iran can be gauged by a close look at air traffic and base security in western England.

See: The Countdown to War by Paul Rogers

Source: Glos Green Party

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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:38 am

    How truely insane, to launch a nuclear "pre-emptive" strike upon another country, in order to prevent them developing nuclear weapons of their own!

    No doubt acting in "self-defence" and not out of aggression!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rory Winter3:31 pm

    The reasons they give for a pre-emptive attack are false. They're just rationales meant to persuade the public of the need for an unprovoked attack. The REAL reason Bush/Cheney & Co plan an attack is for 'regime-change' and to capture Iran, as they did Iraq, into their fold of oil-producing nations.

    To put it another way, It's the Oil, Stupid!

    A study of the neo-cons@ Project for a New American Century would soon reveal the rationale behind their military actions.

    ReplyDelete

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