Military Transformation and Local Politics

Last night I chaired the public BEPJ meeting on the Middle East held in Carmarthen. The speakers at the meeting, Anne Dickinson, Maggie Nicols and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, spoke about the current situation in Palestine, the war and ceasefire in Lebanon and also the non violent direct action in Parliament Square by Brian Law. However it was when we got into the question and answer session that a lively debate ensued. A major issue was raised about whether the National Assembly For Wales has any powers to intervene in issues such as low flying military aircraft and other activities in West Wales. Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM (Plaid Cymru), who had delivered an excellent speech on Plaid Cymru's Middle East policy and also on the current position in Lebanon and Palestine, said that the Assembly were not involved in defence issues and had no realpowers to influence the Government on these issues apart from sending letters of protest etc. It was at this point that I raised the issue of the ASTRAEA project and NAFW commitment to invest £3 million in the Aberporth based project with him. Rhodri said that whilst he was aware of some of the developments in Aberporth he did not know about the commitment to fund the ASTRAEA project and was sure this had not been debated on the floor of the assembly. This project is extremely worrying for we ordinary mortals living in West Wales as most of us only get to hear about the WDA trumpetings of new jobs and economic development opportunities but nothing about what is actually being planned at Parc Aberporth. To put it simply, what kind of jobs are they going to be and what will the products arising out of this industrial development be used for? There was lively discussion about the way in which many of the areas where US, UK and Israeli forces are in action appear to be testing grounds for much of the new technology that is being developed by Armaments companies and also govt agencies around the world. It was generally accepted by the meeting that at the very least people have a right to know what their elected representatives are going to spend their taxes on BEFORE they spend them. It was suggested that a demonstration on the issue of UCAV research and development at Parc Aberporth and at the QinetiQ site in Aberporth be organised in the near future. This was a positive Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA) suggestion and one which will need some co-ordination between anti-war groups and others across Wales. I shall also be writing to Rhodri and asking him to pose some key questions on the way in which the National Assembly appears so keen to get into bed with the following partners:- EADS ( European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), FRL (Flight Refueling Limited), THALES , BAE Systems , all of which are amongst the major Armaments developers in the world. It is time that Andrew Davies AM, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Enterprise Innovation and Networks, began to understand that Wales is a fledging democracy and that the people of Wales do not want to be larded up with spin in the usual smoke and mirrors approach of Westminster style government. We demand better and we want to know that our industry in Wales is being used for other purposes than being part of the US led world domination inspired military transformation strategy that Bush and Blair have so completely bought into. So, what is this strategy and where does it come from? more info in next posting....