Missile Protection

With the Olympic Games coming up this summer, London is making it’s final preparations. The British Ministry of Defense is discussing placing surface-to-air missiles on a water tower in a very densely populated area of London. The missiles’ location is in the Bow Quarter private estate. The buildings used to be a match factory that was converted into flats and houses. "Ground-based air defense systems could be deployed as part of a multi-layered air security plan for the Olympics, including fast jets and helicopters, which will protect the skies over London during the Games," said one official. Leaflets were sent to the area warning the people of the possibility of the missiles. Site evaluations and exercises are currently taking place.

When the people of the neighborhood received leaflets explaining that there was a plan under consideration for placing missiles in the neighborhood the response was one of absolute shock. "This is a highly built-up area. I can't imagine any situation in which you could safely use a high-velocity missile over Tower Hamlets," one of the residents commented. He then went on to say that there should be concern for the security issue of the Olympics but, missiles were an over reaction. "This is meant to be reassuring, but it creates a lot of anxiety for me," he said.

When I first read the article about the placement of missiles in London I was shocked and thought, ‘What has the world come to? We now must place missiles to defend ourselves when the world comes together to compete in a friendly manor?’ Even though I fully understand that with the current circumstances around the world it is good to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, I still think that placing the missiles dampens the point of the Olympic Games. The Games are a time for all the nations to come together to compete without the rivalries that are happening back home. (I understand that there still is pressure between countries, but usually the athletes are able to put it behind them to compete in a fair game.) On the other hand I have to agree with the British Ministry of Defense, it is better to be safe then sorry. Since the nations will be coming together, attacking during the Olympic Games is a great way to make a statement and unfortunately not everyone in the world believes in the idea of putting differences aside for a month.

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Londoners Shocked by Olympics Missile Possibility
By: CNN Wire Staff