Tumor - I think you'll find Fylingdales would be key to Rumsfeld's NMD program. I perhaps wasn't very accurate in my description of its distance from my location - it's much less than 100 miles, perhaps closer to 70. As an overvierw FYI:
"As well as its Early Warning Function, Fylingdales also forms part of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), an intelligence network that tracks and maintains a catalogue of space objects (military and civilian satellites and space debris).
Fylingdales is therefore a significant command, control, communications and intelligence installation. Information gathered by the radar installation is fed directly to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. From there information is passed to the National Command authorities and to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command (SAC). In time of war, it would provide the US President with information on what has and has not been attacked, monitor trajectories of both surveillance satellites and incoming ballistic missiles and allow prioritising and accurate response and targeting on "enemy" satellites and ballistic missiles. "
Considering Flyingdales is one of only 3 stations covering the North Atlantic (the others being in Greenland and Alaska), I'd say it's pretty damned important to US defence. Which is why even suggesting that Britain wouldn't pass information on to the US is a little stupid to say the least.
