will this be Blairs last ditch at stupidity?

Should Blair's bid for hosting the system be accepted, his government will likely face opposition from the British public, the Economist predicted, noting that many British citizens are against lending any further support to what is often dubbed the American "war machine."

Britain wants to host U.S. missile defence system: report
February 23, 2007 CBC News

Britain has been urging the United States to set up one of its controversial anti-ballistic missile systems on British soil, the Economist reported Friday.

The news magazine said Prime Minister Tony Blair has been lobbying the United States government in person, asking the U.S. to pick Britain as a site for a system capable of destroying long-range missiles mid-air.

The United States has said it wants to set up a system somewhere in Europe, a plan that has drawn ire from several countries, especially Russia.

The Economist, a weekly publication based in the United Kingdom, said news of Britain's desires has been noted by America's ambassador to NATO.

The magazine said Victoria Nuland wrote a letter to her fellow envoys in January, stating: "The United States has also been discussing with the U.K. further potential contributions to the system."

The U.S. government also makes mention of talks with Britain in its 2008 budget submission to Congress, the Economist said.

The magazine reports that Blair has enlisted Chancellor Gordon Brown to help him in his quest for the missile system. Brown is considered to be the likely successor to Blair when he leaves office by the end of the summer.

Britain's desire to play host comes two years after the British Ministry of Defence denied all rumours that the U.S. had asked Britain to get involved.

The United States began its quest for a missile-defence shield in 2001, claiming it wants to protect itself and its allies against missiles fired from so-called "rogue" states like North Korea and Iran.

Anti-missile systems have already been set up in Alaska and California, and the U.S. aims to build a system in Europe in 2008 that will be functioning by 2012.

The system, which fires blocks of metal that can travel at 26,000 km/h, will have the power to knock down 10 missiles. The metal blocks hit the missiles in space, destroying them through impact. The debris should then burn up in the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Canada opted out
In 2005, Canada opted not to take part in the U.S.'s missile defence program.

The U.S. has not announced where it wants to locate a system in Europe, but the prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic have declared their interest.

Russia has condemned all sites in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said setting up a system in Europe will trigger an "inevitable arms race."

Should Blair's bid for hosting the system be accepted, his government will likely face opposition from the British public, the Economist predicted, noting that many British citizens are against lending any further support to what is often dubbed the American "war machine."