SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
With Brexit "done" [...] the starting position for the future relationship has been published (PDF) and, as expected, it appears the UK will have access to the Public Regulated Service (PRS) of Galileo required by the military.
It just won't be able to participate in developing the thing, and its use must also not "contravene the essential security interests of the Union and its Member States", which will doubtless set the "take back control" crowd a-frothing.
[...] Galileo was one of those moments of awakening when UK lawmakers realised that if you leave a club, you also lose access to its toys.
The UK was also blocked from working and bidding on sensitive parts of the system, much to the outrage of politicos taken by surprise at the prospect of not having access to a system into which [it] had poured funds.
[...] UK [announced] that it would build its own version.
The UK military already has access to sensitive bits of GPS, and Galileo's PRS would, certainly initially, be a handy backup. Access to PRS could also render redundant the proposed multibillion-pound Brexit Satellite (BS) system to give the UK its very own sat-nav system.
[...] And then there is the question of national ego. Dr Bleddyn Bowen, lecturer in International Relations and Space Policy at the University of Leicester, told The Register: "I don't know what prestige will be gained as the UK GNSS or Brexit System is widely seen as a waste of resources."
He added that the BS was regarded by many in the space community as "a political vanity project".
The final paragraph (136, b) of the section on Space also requires reciprocal access should the BS go ahead. Never let it be said that Eurocrats don't have a sense of humour.
[..]Should the UK find something better on which to spend the BS billions, and make use of the Galileo PRS instead, Dr Bowen observed that "the GNSS industry can fall into line with all the other industries that are finding it hard going thanks to Brexit".
[...] It wouldn't be the end of the world if 2021 rolls around and quivering fingers are pointing. "Britain could still try to negotiate on it separately again in future if it and the EU wishes," said Bowen.
"It is in the EU's defence and security interests to have the UK able to use the PRS element of Galileo as a passive user." ®
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 06 2020, @04:53AM (7 children)
You can't be a truly independent nation without a fully capable military. That means you need navigation and nukes, among other things. You also need complete internal supply chains for everything: food, electronics, electric power, petroleum, aluminum (or aluminium), steel, and so on.
Brexit isn't such the big deal either side makes it out to be. People in the UK aren't suddenly going to get the 1st and 2nd amendments. Police will still go grab people for politically incorrect tweets like misgendering and saying "Islam is right about women". Shooting home intruders will still result in the arrest and conviction of the victimized home owner. The birth rate of the natives will still be below replacement. The UK is fucked. So is the rest of Europe. It doesn't matter if they circle the drain together or separately.
(Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Thursday February 06 2020, @06:30AM (3 children)
(paraphrasing an old joke) you seem to say that, with its 1A and 2A, USofA seems to be one step ahead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 06 2020, @07:50AM (2 children)
> The UK is fucked..
I'm not sure. It would be nice to see some swift comeuppance for the foolishness of Brexit. However when push comes to shove (as it regularly does) the country has fields to produce food and an ocean border. When "push comes to shove" on the continent, shit gets real fast. The landmasses of Europe, Russia and Middle East are actually one land mass it turns out. When shit gets real, that is.
If the EU decided to start bombing in Central America we might see shit get real in the USA too. That might be fun.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday February 06 2020, @08:12AM
And the shover you have in mind would be?
This is why UK imports most of its staple food [theguardian.com], right? Since 1846, some brits say [independent.co.uk].
I really like how we judge the things in terms of "can be raided by a determined enough horseman"; those were good times, right?
Various wannabies learned that land access is not quite everything. Napoleon is the first to spring in mind. And so was Hitler, if my memory serve. Not to mention, the Ottomans before them [wikipedia.org].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 06 2020, @08:18AM
The fuuuck? Where this popped up from?
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 06 2020, @07:15AM (1 child)
Tell that to Costa Rica, you war-mongering shill for the Military-Industrial complex! We will kill you with peace and lack of business, by not being afraid. Now go fuch a Marine. Tell him "thank you for your service."
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 06 2020, @07:23AM
Costa Rica exists because the USA would crush any foe that dared to touch Costa Rica. It's the Monroe doctrine and more.
Costa Rica is thus not really independent. The USA can push it around without even threatening a war. Costa Rica's survival depends on keeping the USA happy enough to provide protection.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 06 2020, @07:16PM
True... just like you can't be a truly independent human unless you can grow your own food, build your own tools (from materials you harvest from the land yourself, mind you), and can defend yourself, etc.
A better question is... are there any "truly independent nations" (or indeed True Scotsmen) in the world? I would suggest there are not. Even ones which theoretically could be independent (the United States, among others) aren't, given how much of an benefit trade and other things provide.
http://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=2118 [yourdailypoem.com]