Somthing that didn't make National News but was funny when i saw it on Look North.
A peace activist breached security at one of the country's top RAF bases twice in 12 hours.
Juliet McBride says she got within five metres of nuclear missile warheads at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and wandered unchallenged.
Ms McBride, of Southampton, says she has tracked nuclear convoys, and in November followed one as it arrived at the base.
The RAF has confirmed an intruder got into the base in November, but would not comment on nuclear weapons.
Farmer's fence
She said: "I did find at one point a farmer's fence, but it was down, all I had to do was step through it.
"I got to what I thought was the perimeter fence, so I turned and walked along it and then after about 100 yards there was another compound.
"I walked a bit further and there was a road, and then I was walking up the road with compounds on my left and my right, and the one on my right said X-fighter squadron and I realised I was right in the middle of the base."
Ms McBridem, who is involved with the campaigning group Nuke Watch, said the base security did not see her, even though she was touching a fence without hiding in any way.
It is actually quite good she got in, in an afterthought, thank god it was some old lady who wander'd onto the base and not someone intent on doing damage, sabatoge etc.
I am highly dubious however that she was within 5 metres of nuclear weapons.
If a man has nothing he is willing to die for then he isn't fit to live.
She should get sentenced inmy opinion. What gives her the right to march, not just on private property but property belonging to the Armed forces and Head of State. What were her intentions, she could have destroyed na few F3's on her way!! Where were the Rock Apes, they would have shown her the door with a quick shaft of the SA80's.
Dont get me wrong, i believe in freedom of speech and all but not to go as far as she did!!
That isn't freedom of speak Falkens, thats Entering a restricted area, punishable by jail time, also on a second note does she have any proof she was within 5 metres of Nuclear weapons more than likely she wander'd onto the base and within a few minutes was grabbed and kicked off. A similar incident happened to us in 95 I think it was we were to be 'protesters' trying to infiltrade CFB Esquimalt. Running around with signs like "Down with up!" and such and Lieutenant Dodds and 2 other boys got in a row boat rowed around the fence then proceded to enter the base. Once inside he asked the head researcher how to get to DREP (Defense Research Establishment Pacific.) Then he sat in the middle of the lobby with a sign around his neck saying "I am a terrorist, You are dead."
If a man has nothing he is willing to die for then he isn't fit to live.
Fair enough, surely if the RAf police or whoever see her from say 100 yards away making to a hangar full of aircraft, missles, bombs etc, they are well within their rights to shoot her as there is no way of telling whether she is a dangerous terroist or mad museli and yogurt tree hugger? Shoot her anyway.
i would of shot her if i was a member of any military police force as the possible consiquences are much, much greater...a whole hanger of nukes in the hands of a terrorist...not a sniff would they be left alive if these were there was a risk like this.
cheers, davo
Forward Troop - CLRRM, Viking Operator and Maintainer. Viking Support Troop out in The Ghan.
A couple of points, just to bring a bit of a 'reality check' to this thread ,within OPSEC limitations:
A. What aircraft are based at RAF Leeming? - Tornado F3 fighters. When was this aircraft ever designed to deliver nuclear weapons? Think about it!
B. Take it from me, the UK does not store nuclear weapons in hangers!
C. This woman is a well-known protester. Also, she is mad as a fish! The only offence she has committed here is trespass.
D. The RAF Police can't shoot people on sight, there are such things as the rules of engagement. These rules differ slightly for the protection of nuclear material.
E. The RAF Regt does not protect RAF bases in peacetime. Day-to-day security is the role of the RAF Police. Bear in mind that the perimeters of bases can be as much as 7-8 miles, it is impossible to monitor every section of fence. Even in the days of Greenham Common, when that base was protected by US troops and UK paratroopers/RAF Regiment/RAF Police, the protestors still managed to break in.
