Thanks, parkitup has the gist of where I'm coming from. Leon J - I suggest that a 9/11 type threat is far less likely to come in via the trans-Atlantic routes (if it did we'd have more than enough warning about it) The problem is far more acute for our capital city, seat of government, head of state, etc, etc. It doesn't need to be a hijacked airliner either - a 'private' twin entering UK airspace from the south would give so little warning time, a CGY jet would never make it in time.
Are you that confident in the capability of our European neighbours to totally guarantee that nothing of the sort could ever launch from their shores that we can leave southern England and our capital city devoid of the sort of protection that New York, Paris, Washington, Brussels, et al have available at just a few minutes notice? I still say that basing policy is a Cold War hangover; saving money has taken priority over logical planning
I wonder what sort of guarantee was given to the IOC about security?