I was involved, peripherally, with GPS thirty-odd years ago, so know something about it.

America can indeed switch it off in seconds. I still oppose funding Galileo, which could be jammed, not very easily but easily enough, by an enemy or a US concerned to protect its own interests; and, worse, this vulnerability cannot be eliminated.

Noel Falconer, COUIZA, France

Oh poor James 'Your defense budgets are laughable.' 'It would be more expediant of the US citizen if he/she analysed international relations even at the baseline level, instead of feeling a heavy heart every time Europeans care too take a decision based on National and or EU interest. Just like the States we have national interests and they are not losely based on US pogroms and the like. The EU is blighted by limpwristed politicians Blair and Brown examples as such. They at the drop of a hat to impress big brother would sell our interests as a common thief sells burgled household items at the car boot sale. The EU has finances and historically has been kind to the US economic and military Iron Triangles. America has ran it's course as a superpower much like the Soviet Union did and as Europeans know well we have very little appitite for another Cold War on our doorsteps. It's a symptom of perocialism, geographical isolation and ignorance betraying US understanding of the EU.

Baz, UK, Europe

I'm concerned at the way we are treated as the fifty first state, but without the vote. We vote in the European elections, but not the American elections where the real life and death decisions are taken on our behalf without our consent.
We go to war when Washington tells us to, not Brussles. Our press and politicians have adopted the "poodle position" as far as the U.S. is concerned while furiously condemning anything to do with the E.U.

Joe reilly, Spalding, England

For David Cunard in LA - The UK paid back the US for all its "help" in WW2. It is not that long ago that the last payment fo War debt was was made. Yes America helped us prior to its entering of he war but everythng was Paid for, and only once Britain's available resources had ben spent did they move onto Lend / Lease - oh ... and read those words .. Lend/Lease NOT give!

The UK ended the war financally broke, did the US??

And the Marshall Plan helped Europe not the UK.

Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, UK

Fernandez, San Jose, California- Have you ever been to Britain? Do you know anything about the British you didn't get from Rush Limbaugh? Despite being the population roughly the size of California they have the 5th largest economy in the world. They have fought two brutual world wars in which their very exsistence was threatened. I suggest you Google "Battle of Britain" as a starting point.

Jonathan, Raleigh, NC USA

Galileo is essential to the independence of the UK and of the EU. We need to vigilant of our much cherished sovereignty and that means watchful of the US and well as a the EU!

Farook, The Hague, Netherlands

The Brits and the Yanks have one of the few reliable alliances in the world. As a Yank, I value this relationship above all others. Seriously, as a Brit, can you possibly imagine any other group dying in large numbers in defense of your vital interests. Do you really imagine your EU buddies doing so? Such a relationship as ours was hard one and is very rare. Let's accord if the value and mutual respect that it clearly deserves.

Greg, Hudson Valley,

Excellent article. The Britsh government needs to push ahead with this project. Independence may cost a little extra, but usually comes with no strings attached.

Hamad Lone, ex-pat brit, Middle East

"If asked for a modest additional contribution towards the costs of proceeding with the Galileo project, our Government should not hesitate."
The immediate interim contribution required is 730 million euros. This will no doubt treble or quadruple before the Gallileo system is in operation. God only knows what the subsequent annual upgrade and maintenance costs will end up being.
Move to France or Germany and pay it if you want to. Most of the work is being done or financed from there anyway.

chaplain, canterbury, kent

Dear Mr. Parris,
do you descover only now that we Europeans are all a satellite of the United States?

paolo, rome, italy

Britain is not a satellite of the United States. The United States is a satellite of the British Enlightenment. Its not America's fault that you British have forsaken your finest principles. We'll try to soldier on and protect you in your senesence. We may not all believe in the Trinity, but most of us still believe in Locke, Hobbes, and Churchhill.

Marc Silver, Phoenix, Arazona

Silly,childish & much anger or pretended anger about nothing.You may want to develop your "private Galileo" & spend money for a double, in order to just proclaim to the universe " hey I`m no longer a poodle of America." Wow, what a big boy you`re! Almost an Empire again. Who`re you kidding? In time of real crisis especially from the East "you know what 2" I mean, where would you expect & receive help, quick help, if not from the umbrella of the U.S.A. Save your money for health service. It would benefit all rather than satisfy the perrential disgruntled . Sorry to sound angry but I am.

rocar newl, winnetca, u.s.a. ill

Yes, let's squander billions duplicating the free GPS system. Why not waste money making our own version of the internet while we're at it?

Greg Martin, Dundee, UK

Dear afp from Columbia SC, aren't you having a laugh talking about our improving our education system ? The health is highly debatable but not education mate.

I was educated in both GB and US so don't even think about claiming superiority in that area. I 'm not saying that the US is inferior either but certainly not superior.

I thought we should straighten that out and then leave the royals out of it. They generate far more in tourism than they cost and they maintain a certain standard wouldn't you say ?

Now, what was that about GPS ? :)))

MD, Stratford / Shanghai, GB/China

Having read various reports over the objections towards Europe having its own GPS system it's apparent that American administrations wanted full control to the exclusion of everyone else. As far as the radio spectrum is concerned, since when did the US have a monopoly of the frequencies. The US has quoted repeatedly the risks from rogue states and yet even with selective availability turned on GPS is accurate enough to locate any small town for a burst from a dirty nuclear bomb. Firing a tomahawk missile or laser guided bomb down a 10 foot hole may be impressive but to frighten the population of any large city even an accuracy of a mile or so is more than good enough. Just as Airbus gives a good dose of competition to Boeing so an EU GPS system makes Europe self dependent and not reliant on America all the time. In any respect, the US system is dated and the newer EU system offers greater accuracy which will encompass many more peaceful applications not available at the moment.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

Marty, London, says "the US got strong as a result of shafting us in and after WW2" - I hardly think providing US $3,297 Million under the Marshall Plan qualifies as shafting us, not to mention the assistance given before America entered the War. It was in everyone's interest that Britain and Europe be rebuilt - and post-war governments in Britain and the US viewed future life in different ways. While the Labour Government made available council housing and cheap rents, the US Government guaranteed mortgages for its returning military, with no down payments. What a difference there would have been had Attlee & Co pursued property ownership for the recently demobbed rather than the serfdom of perpetual tenancy. Far too late did Britain make home ownership something to which the common man could aspire - even now Labour talks of more council estates. If anyone gave Britain the shaft, it was the economists of 1945!

David Cunard, Los Angeles, USA

If Europe puts Galileo into operation (which I'm sure they eventually will) then I believe that it will not be used as much as GPS. I suspect that Galileo will end up suffering from the same handicap as the old British "Decca" hyperbolic navigation system, that competed against the similar U.S. "Loran" system. Decca was more accurate, if shorter on range and with less comprehensive world coverage. However, the biggest disadvantages of the Decca system was that it's users were required to rent the receiver from the Decca company. In contrast to that, anyone could buy a Loran receiver.

If, as I suspect, Galileo users will be forced to pay a user's fee, as Decca users were, while access to GPS is free, then the only incentive to use Galileo will be European chauvinism. That is not an incentive that will appeal to many customers.

Robert Guttman, New York, USA

Russell: "It is a shame that the UK did not attempt to engage in a Common Market with the USA and Canada"
Answer:
1. It is no longer the Common Market, but the EUROPEAN UNION
2. It is the EUROPEAN Union not the United States of NORTH AMERICAN
3. England is in Europe not North America.
Fairly easy to work out!

Peter Goddard, Le Rouret, France, EU

Yeah Britian, remain distracted with the big boggieman across the pond and less so on those in Brussles. Take some technically complex topic like GPS and blow some smoke about the US and watch everyone run for their pitchforks. Are we to believe that British patriotism has boiled down to the issue of a GPS system owned and operated by the US of A and not... say, I don't know, the myriad of rights Britian gives up to the technocrats in Brussels. Judgeing by the response the only way that the Brits can be excercised is by putting the US in the equation. Power to the people !! Give me GPS or give me death !! The man of Europe is sick indeed.

Joe Daddy, Atlanta, Ga./USA

Britain has been unable to exercise an independent foreign policy since December 1941.

Adrian Cunningham, Vancouver, Canada

I have always admired the way people in the UK bash the USA when appropriate. However, whether or not the UK is a member of the European Common Market there remains a sense of brotherhood and lasting friendship between the UK and the USA. Those of us who know the real stroy say that Great Britain is the only nation truely allied with the US. Remember the Falklands etc. etc. It is a shame that the UK did not attempt to engage in a Common Market with the USA and Canada.

Russell, Huelva, Spain

rex carpenter said "The essence of US objections to the Galileo programme is ... [because] Galileo proposes to run over a number of radio spectrum frequencies also desired by the US."

I thought that Galileo only uses similar radio frequencies *at the request of the US*, specifically so that the US can more easily jam them in the middle of a battle-field (like they can do with their own GPS to avoid its use by enemy forces)?

David, Guildford, UK

The modern Galileo technology is also supposed to be more accurate than GPS, in general... and will also broadcast a better service to higher (eg, European) lattitudes than GPS currently does.

David, Guildford, UK

Britain currently has "Dominion status" within the Anglosphere. As a Canadian, I find this amusing; but you folks really should get used to it.

S.M. Stirling, Santa Fe, NM

We are on our own! - the US got strong as a result of shafting us in and after WW2 - the Europeans have no love for us - we have been foolish for far too long and now have to try to navigate a path between them both and hope that it doesn't cost us anymore than it has already.

Marty, London, England

Europe may need an independent positioning system for security but it doesn't need to be based on an expensive satellite network. Existing mobile telephone networks can be used for postioning with 10-20m accuracy using systems such as the Cursor system developed by Cambridge Positioning Systems. Similar systems are also being developed that use wifi hotspots. At sea the Loran system, which many vessels already use, is already being enhanced to provide similar accuracy.

Rather than cutting other European R&D projects to fund a political white elephant, wouldn't it be better to stimulate European researchers to develop innovative systems to meet all of our diverse needs for positioning?

Tony Hay, London, UK

The major factor involved in the creation of your competitor to the US GPS is the technological ability. An in-depth analysis of the current situation will inform you of the fact that Europe needs American technology to build your proposed Galileo system. The US Government balked at the idea of allowing American companies to provide Europe with taxpayer funded technological creations that would weaken our defenses since Europe said that it will never degrade, nor shut down the signal. The way I see it is that GPS is not a right and only a fool will completely deny themselves the ability to map read. That would be comparable to never opening a book to learn to read because there are audible books (a contradiction in terms). Every system of government is corruptible and Europe is correct in worrying about the current admin, but the beauty of the US is that while certain admins will take one or two steps backwards the people will ultimately correct these errors without total calamity.

Jeff, Weston, FL, USA

Absolutely right. What they say about absolute power applies equally to absolute dependence. It is an inevitable feature of the arrangement, not the particular parties. If the British insist on a nuclear umbrella independent of the US, as they do, then they definitely need an independent GPS.

Henry Percy, London, UK

Reliance on the USA in key areas of information technology is unwise. As the present administration in Washington has shown. the days when the views and experience of old friends and allies were taken into account on international policy and program issues are long gone . In the US, globalisation means 'America First' and pre-existing international agreements can simply be ignored if necessary to meet the Administration's domestic needs. In Canada, we have seen this with NAFTA and our own Government's rejection of Kyoto and an environmental policy [or lack of one] which is a carbon copy of Washinton's. It is essential that on this - and other - issues. the EU and individual countries in Europe develop their own voices as a counterweight to an increasingly maverick and isolated US.

john Nicholson, Mount Pearl, NL, Canada.

Since much is spent on supporting the royals, use the balance to overhaul your medical and educational systems. A healthy and educated population would be better for everyone. Find a niche in technology rather than duplicating something already established. This is a better use of limited $$.

afp, Columbia, SC

The US has no respect for the weak. We would be well advised to keep that in mind in our dealings with them.

Oh and another thing. Didn't Great Britain rely on US satellites during the Falklands war? Would that had been possible at all without the US infrastructure? Did we have to ask permission?

John, London, UK

"Meanwhile, a critical dependency is creeping up on us unawares. "

Yes, absolutely, although a hard-eyed critic might object to the progressive form of the present tense.

"Has crept" is closer to an accurate description.

"Eurosceptic" is the polite, unchallenging term.

In many cases, the more fitting term is "Euro Luddite."

Britain's destiny is with Europe, as any glance at the map will demonstrate. Britain's full participation in European affairs assures her more of a voice in affairs than she can possibly have being invited once in a while for hot dogs at the ranch.

As someone who grew up in the U.S., I truly believe few British people fully appreciate the xenophobia and arrogance that are part of the deepest identity of America's Establishment.

I didn't say, all Americans, although there is some truth there, but the country's Establishment governs with relatively little reference to ordinary Americans, the electoral system is that corrupt.

JOHN CHUCKMAN, TORONTO, Canada

Reading Moon Dust again reminded me of the military aspect of all space endeavours. China are getting very interested in space now...very interesting.

America see themselves as the global policeman, litteraly overseeing how things are going. The follow up logic is that you can only have one policeman so anyone else getting involved is seen as a threat. Nothing new in that. It's a bit like Ancient Rome, only with rockets.

Unfortunately, history has shown us that first there is technology then there is its militatry appication.

Do you want a European, American or Chinese world order? That is the way they see it. With recent world history you can perhaps see why.

Joe, Boders, Scotland

I await your GPS system like I await the European defense force and a successful European space mission. That is to say, I'm not holding my breath! The usual anti-American sound and fury signifying nothing.

You've fat and lazy living the good life of social programs - you'll never give it up. You're like crack addicts.

Fernandez, San Jose, California

I remain a fan of Matthew Parris but wish he would do away with his penchant for snide comments; "the Gallic taste for carelessly costed grands projets"??? Anyone for Olympics 2012??

Hafeez Anjarwalla, London, UK

we need to have our GPS systems and stuff the America with their lapdogs, UK and Germany.

fed up about America, europe,

Just a question really, what kind of pressure are they applying to our democratically elected governments to persuade them to abandon this project.

Kris, London,

Patriotism, nationalism, so last season. Loyally to whom? Who buys that these days besides football supporters?

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Wolfgang have you ever been to Europe?

532Crown, London,

It also means that hikers and drivers and boaters should reacquaint themselves with map reading and compass use. I know lots of people that now use GPS for all kinds of navigation. If our children grow up using GPS for all things navigational, they will be quite helpless without it. And there is nothing more easily controlled and manipulated than a population where people no longer know how to find anything on their own.

Ian, Washington, DC

In answer to the question you pose in this article's title, why not ask the NatWest boys what they think? They'd probably love to hear from someone back home.

Tim Mougenot, LONDON,

I predict it will never happen. You don't have the money to spend on military projects. Your defense budgets are laughable. All your money goes for the socialist programs everyone demands. Strange that you can make anti-American comments on something which is given you for free. Americans just can't win. We will continue to do all the heavy lifting I suppose.

James, WILLIAMSBURG , Virginia

Parris is correct on Galileo. The US refined the resolution limits allowable on pix from its commercial satellites precisely to deter foreign competitors and retain a monopoly. So the sats could be switched off at Washington's demand. There is no reason to think the GPS constellation is subject to any different constraint. But there is a deeper issue. If Europe really wants to be an equal to the US in world affairs, then it has to equip itself to be so. Which means in military capabilities, too. Unfashionable to say, but true. Right now, the US, as it contemplates its Euro allies, is very very close to asking, as Stalin did of the Vatican: "And how many divisions has the Pope ?" With NATO --- still, recall, the main bond between the US and Europe --- coming ever more to seem a quaint anachronism. Europe would be deeply foolish to think that the Bush Administration's impatience with its old allies is not echoed across the poliitical spectrum. It is.

john barry, chevy chase , MD

Merkel is no poodle.

Richard, Plymouth, UK

I do not think Europe is well advised not to have its own global positioning system in place. Yes, independence has its price, but independence never was to be had for free.

Wolfgang, Boulder, Colorado, USA

There is no point in any of the fancy technology if we, like the US administration, believe fraudsters and hustlers (cf. Curveball; I'm sure they have someone like that for/agains Iran too) to interpret the data . We still need skeptics with common sense to do that. We don't want to be transfixed by the technology and then misinterpret it.

Also, "We the European Union" , i. e. the taxpayer, have paid for satellite technology too (though you wouldn't know that, since Murdoch makes us pay for it all over again in the case of satellite TV). By all means, let's get our own as an EU-wide public service, our satellites are already out there. We just need to put our foot down.

Julia Iskandar, London, England

The British need to do whatever is necessary to stay independent of the USA as long as people like King George and Robespierre are in charge of the US Government.

J. Wilson, Surprise, USA / AZ

I do not agree with all of the author's points, but his thesis is absolutely valid. I am an American, but I do not believe my country, my nation, or my people have a monopoly on "rightness." The U.S.A. is capable of great things, but not if all our planning and reasoning occurs in a vacuum. There are some things that only your closest friends will tell you ... and you count on them to do so. It’s a kind of safety net, or feedback loop. I want the United Kingdom to remain strong, independent, and opinionated because that's good for the U.S.A. It's good for Britain, too. I would rather see the British become a full and equal partner in the NAVSTAR GPS program than a mere element of Galileo, but whatever Britain chooses -- NAVSTAR, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, etc. -- it should be thinking about what’s right for the U.K., first and foremost. I have no doubt that the U.S.A. and the E.U. will also, then, receive due consideration. Our alliance will remain strong, in any case.

Richard Goodall, Honolulu, Hawaii

Well said! The laptop sychophancy of the British Establishment to American hegemony is truly depressing. Even more so is the poodle-like behaviour of the Merkel and Sarkozy regimes. I'm already longing for the French difference of Chirac and Mitterand.

oldasiahand, Guildford, UK

I agree, The project is essential

P. taylor, London,

To paraphrase Wittgenstein, if a GPS satellite could speak, would Mr. Parris understand it? The essence of US objections to the Galileo programme is not, as Mr. Parris would have it, a loss of US monopoly on global positioning technology (the Russian Glonass system is operational, but no commercial devices are based on it), but rather that Galileo proposes to run over a number of radio spectrum frequencies also desired by the US. As long as Neely Kroes is not the decider of this issue, I'm sure some compromise is possible. It should also be remembered that the principal backers of Galileo at its inititiation were the Chirac-era CNES, who, as a part of the force de frappe, are highly interested in a GPS-independent system, but are not prepared to show up to any truly international intervention with more than a symbolic force. Cast your lot with them at your peril.

rex carpenter, University Park, Maryland,