CONSERVATIVE leader Iain Duncan Smith says RAF Fylingdales and Menwith Hill are unlikely to ever be involved in America's plans for a missile defence system.
In an exclusive Evening Press interview, Mr Duncan Smith gave his backing to President George W. Bush's proposals for the system - dubbed "Son of Star Wars" - which would develop technology capable of shooting attacking missiles from the skies.
However, Mr Duncan Smith, who discussed the plans on a visit to Washington last week, said it was wrong to assume the two North Yorkshire bases would be involved.
He did not give details of the systems under active consideration by the Bush administration, which blocks the development of missile defence.
But he added: "It is not the system everybody assumes it will be, and I am not sure Fylingdales or Menwith Hill will ever be used by it. The system we are talking about is quite different."
His comments have not changed the attitudes of campaigners opposed to the Menwith Hill spy base and its possible use in the Son of Star Wars project.
Opponent Anni Rainbow said: "There has never been any certainty that the base would be used, but I don't see that Mr Duncan Smith saying that he believes it won't be changes anything.
"We are opposed to Star Wars full stop, and until we see definite plans that Menwith Hill won't be used, we will change nothing. We always like to be able to substantiate something, and a rumour from Mr Duncan Smith is not enough to be able to do that."
Mr Duncan Smith said it was important that, if the U.S. did go-ahead with the plans, it was important for Britain to be "on board".
He warned rogue states such as Iran and Iraq could have the capability to reach Western Europe and North America with nuclear weapons within the next
five years.
Mr Duncan Smith's comments came as the U.S. gave a strong signal it was about to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with Russia.
A White House spokesman said that "the time is near" to abandon the treaty and that President Bush would announce the decision in the next few days.
Speaking earlier, Mr Bush said the U.S. must "move beyond" the treaty that bans testing of missile defence systems.
Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, December 12, 2001
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