I changed my mind recently on this one - I was against it (and am still against the principle of a shield) but pragmatism won the day - if it's happening, I want in. Consider this:

* Russia is no longer a threat
* The greater threat is no longer ICBMs, but terrorist bombs
* The US will pay quite handsomely for the upgrade, providing local jobs, money for the Treasury and increased spending from Us servicemen.

We should be laughing all the way to the bank about how we fleeced the Americans in return for a system that's not really worth much at all!
Phil, York

I think it a good idea to keep fylingdales as a defence system for uk. these people who are protesting ,I question what would we have done about Hitler in last war if everyone was a objector against our freedom. we would not be allowed to demonstrate as a democracy as we do now ,we would be shot or locked up and tortured ,think of your duty to the country and support it.
Geoffrey Powell, Tamworth staffs

The decision to allow the US to use RAF Fylingdales is the first step towards acceptance of the US National Missile Defence system. This system designed to shoot down enemy warheads is not defensive it is a thinly veiled attempt to militarize space.The British Empire relied on the domination of the seas. If we let them, the Americans will build an empire based on the domination of space. Star Wars will allow the US to attack anywhere on Earth with no fear of retaliation. We must not become party to American Imperialism. It is not over yet:interceptors on British soil next or space-based lasers or maybe space projected microwave weapons. The fat lady hasn't even finisned the prelude yet.
Neil, Castleton

As a kid/child I hiked by the Golf Balls on many occassion. The system was orrigionally built to warn us of attack from the Russians, who are now of no apparrent threat, yet there are those madmen in the world that unless we are prepared to stand up to will always be a threat to world peace. If your soft enough to let them! I say we definetly still require to use the Golf Balls for what they were orriginally meant to do give us Early Warning in order to defend ouselves.
Ian Parker, Edmonton AB Canada, Born Guisbrough NYorks.

There's a great deal of energy going into objections to the use of RAF Fylingdales, especially when you consider that the decision has been made, the debate is over. Can't campaigners come up with any fresh ISSUES? At least something that ISN'T a done deal!
Helen, Skipton

This crazy idea of George Bush's will put Britain in the forefront of any terrorist attack. The percieved enemy for the USA is North Korea, but if they want to attack the USA, there is a much shorter route across the Pacific rather than three-quarters of the way round the world. So I say, No to a US presence in Fylingdale.
Nazim Merchant, Ayr

The U.S. will put everyone living within twenty miles of Fylingdales at greater risk of nuclear obliteration. They should pay us all 50,000 pounds per year compensation
Mark Stannage, Robin Hood's Bay

We should not allow Fylingdales to be used for Star Wars. Missile "defence" is only needed to facilitate attacks on strategic targets, to further the expansion of America's miltary and economic empire. We urgently need to work towards a world in which problems are solved through negotiation amongst a community of nations, not through unilateral use of extreme violence.
Fif Robinson, Whitby

The U.S. will put everyone living within twenty miles of Fylingdales at greater risk of nuclear obliteration. They should pay us all 50,000 pounds per year compensation
Mark Stannage, Robin Hood's Bay

all you idiots , who campaign against fylingdales are fools. i live in sight of the place, and am well aware it has kept ME safe, from other countries' threats. THANK YOU FYLINGDALES
tom stanforth, egton

The way forward to world peace is through justice, tackling poverty and social injustice, diplomacy, negotiation, discussion. Not through the proliferation of arms, so called 'defence', and aggression against other countries. The US doesn't care if Britain becomes a sitting duck for terrorist or other military attack, we're just a pawn in their game, and a very scary game it is too!
Theresena Amber, Sheffield

Under no circumstances should Fylingdales be used by the USA
maureen galvin, yorkshire

Take this dangerous monstrosity away!
Ian Wallace, Sheffield

Peace is a precious commodity. The American escalation of arms and their fear of attack leads only to more discord in the world. I do not feel that we should allow the Fylingdales base to be used in the way they wish.
Jean Osborne, Birmingham

this development will make us even more of a target; its bad enough with Menwith Hill and the US using this for gathering information for their commercial needs; they area law unto thmselves and even our MPs cannot go on the sites; its crazy.
val, shipley

We in the UK must dissociate ourselves from the warmongering of the US which appears to have learnt nothing from the twentieth century's ghastly history of violence or from their own disastrous support for Osama and Saddam in the past (what makes anyone think their aggression is right this time?). The Fylingdales plan is based more on the plots of James Bond fantasy movies like Diamonds are Forever and Goldeneye - both have madmen trying to dominate the world by lasers from space.
Steve Hills, Sheffield

Britain has no interest in assisting the Bush administration to achieve it's stated objective of "Full Spectrum Dominance" as its global military strategy. The real reasons for the US interest in Fylingdales are spelled out in documents such as the US Space Command's paper "Vision for 2020" which states" Global Engagement is the application of precision force from, to, and through space. USSPACECOM will have a greatly expanded role as an active warfighter in the years ahead as the combatant command responsible for National Missile Defence (NMD) and the space force application." This is clearly not a defence policy in the normal meaning of the term, unless you accept the Bush doctrine justifying pre-emptive strikes against potential enemies. The medium and long-term strategies behind the rush into "Missile Defence" is more fully set out in the report published in September 2000 by The Project for the New American! Century "Rebuilding America's Defences - Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century" which is a detailed blueprint for US global domination drafted for and by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and others now occupying key positions in the Bush administration.
Alan E. Wilkie, Currie, Midlothian.

This is a crazy and dangerous escalation of US hegomy. 'Star Wars' is an offensive system for US military and economic interests only. When talking about Fylingdales also bring in NSA Menwith Hill - two Space Based Infra Red System radomes are already built - these two bases are essential to the American Missile Defense System. We in the CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB) were the first campaign to find out about the role of Menwith Hill in 1996 and later Fyligndales in the American Missile Defense System. It has nothing to do with a defence for the UK but everything to do with US domination of space for it's own interests.
Lindis Percy - Joint Co-ordinator CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUTNABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB) Hull UK

I would ask all those who have written, either in support of the upgrade or who state it does not bother them either way,to go into a search engine and type in the words - full spectrum domination - and be prepared for a shock when you start to learn more about what the ruling class in America has planned. I oppose the base, the initial use, as a Ballistic Missile Early Warning Sataion, was never the subject of parliamentary debate. This in my mind does make it illegal, but no matter, when you have read a little more on the issue you too will agree with me that it is immoral and the issue of legality is minor. I would also hope that BBC North Yorkshire enables this debate to run its course which may be sometime yet
Mick, Leeds

Missile defence is part of the 'total spectrum dominance' sought by the US to enforce US interests across the global. Use of Fylingdales in this system will be of no benefit to the people of the UK. I vote no to its use.
Heather Williams, Shropshire