Skip to content or view screen version

Missile Defence Conference :: Threats, Responses and Projections

Nigel Chambelain | 13.03.2004 10:22 | Analysis


BASIC and Bradford Department of Peace Studies are co-hosting a Missile Defence Conference - 'Threats, Responses and Projections' - on the University Campus on Thursday 18 March 2004. This is an important initative given that both Fylingdales radar station and Menwith Hill listening station, both located in the region, will play a significant role in US plans for missile defense.

We will bring together knowledgeable people in the field who will both make presentations and participate in Q&A sessions afterwards. We are also planning to host a 'Question Time' open meeting in the evening in Bradford town centre.

There will be no registration fee but we ask that people register in advance by sending names and representive organisations or groups to the Conference Organiser, Nigel Chamberlain.




Conference Programme

The Conference will take place in the John Stanley Bell Lecture Theatre in the Richmond Building, Bradford University, Richmond Road, Bradford BD7 1DP. The evening forum will be held at The Priestley, 4 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford, BD1 5DL.

10.30 - 11.00

Registration and Coffee


11.00 - 11.30

'The Role of Missile Defence in US Strategic Thinking'
Keynote address by Professor Paul Rogers, Bradford University.


11.30 -13.00

Panel 1 'Assessment of the Perceived Threat'
Missile Defence from Cold War to Hot Peace - Dr Jeremy Stocker, Senior Principal, Centre for Defence & International Security Studies and Research Associate, Royal United Services Institute.
WMD capabilities of 'states of concern' - Charles Peña, Director of Defense Policy Studies, CATO Institute, Washington DC.
Proliferation of long, medium and short range delivery systems - Dr Mark Smith, Mountbatten Centre, Southampton University.

20-minute presentations followed by 30 minutes Q&A session


13.00 - 14.00

Lunch


14.00 -15.30

Panel 2 'Practical Assessment of the Response'
The Bush Administration and the MDA - Victoria Samson, Research Analyst, Center for Defense Information, Washington DC.
The UK Government and the MoD - Dr Michael Rance, BMD Associates and former MoD official.
Europe's role in MD - Dr. Gotz Neuneck, Hamburg Peace Research Institute and International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation.

20-minute presentations followed by 30 minutes Q&A session


15.30 - 17.00

Panel 3 'Space: 'Prudent planning or Full Spectrum Dominance?'
Weaponisation of Space as a Policy Objective & Implications - Rebecca Johnson, Director, ACRONYM Institute.
Space Programmes and their Technical Feasibility - Professor Dave Webb, School of Engineering, Leeds Metropolitan University.
The European Space Agency and Galileo - John Sheldon, co-editor of the Frank Cass journal Astropolitics, TBC.

20 minute presentations followed by 30 minutes Q&A session.


17.00 - 17.20

'Time for a Big Conversation on Missile Defence?'
Concluding remarks by Dr. Ian Davis, Director BASIC.


17.30

Close of Conference.


19.00 - 21.00

Time for a 'Big Conversation' on Missile Defence?

A 'Question Time' Forum in The Priestley, Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DL.
Tel: (01274) 820666

Charles Peña - Director of Defense Policy Studies, CATO Institute, Washington DC
Dr Michael Rance - Defence Consultant Professor Paul Rogers - Bradford University
Dr Jeremy Stocker - Centre for Defence & International Security Studies (CDISS) and Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)

There will be 10 minute presentations followed by Q&A. Please prepare written questions in advance on two cards, one to hand in to the chairperson, BASIC Director Dr Ian Davis or conference organiser Nigel Chamberlain, and one to retain and read out when called. Questioners will be given an opportunity to respond to the panellists answers and other comments can be taken before moving to the next question, in order to share more information and gather a wider range of views.

We were unable, despite repeated efforts, to encourage leading spokespersons from each of the 3 major parliamentary parties to outline their party's position on missile defence. Rather than cancel the event, we decided to put together an 'experts' panel drawn from the conference speakers list.


ENDS

Nigel Chambelain