This is the third of five articles about Commander Rob Green's
transition from trained nuclear killer and to a leading international peace activist. Be sure to read the
previous articles in the series.
Hilda's Fatal Three Mile Island Connection
Why was Hilda Murrell murdered? She was a 78 year-old woman
devoted to the conservation of the best in life - a
former successful professional rosegrower, a botanist of
considerable skill who was currently working on the hazards of
radioactive waste. Fascinated by the rich history of the
British Isles, she was a true patriot, passionately striving
to preserve the British cultural heritage for future generations.
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Rob Green
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After thirteen years research, Rob says he has reason to believe - but no
proof - that she was murdered "because of what the nuclear industry thought she knew. It was not her
criticisms of the government's policy on nuclear waste, which were no threat. It was what she was thought
to know (but didn't) about the main cause of the meltdown at Three Mile Island: a fundamental design flaw
in the pressurised water reactor - namely the low melting point of the alloy in the control rods - which
had been covered up." This design was adopted by the British government after strong pressure from Mrs
Thatcher. A retired scientist, whom Hilda had approached for a brush-up on her nuclear physics, had
stumbled on this design flaw. He was spied on and intimidated by the nuclear industry, which prevented
him from pursuing it. The industry then moved against Hilda because of her connection with him - though
he never briefed her on his control rod fears. Rob claims that "the inquest was a farce. The police
refused to let me see the autopsy report; frightened witnesses let me know they were under pressure to
frame any petty criminal; Hilda's phone had been interfered with professionally. Then I began to
experience harassment in my pursuit of the truth.
Taking up Hilda's Torch
Rob
went on: "This whole process radicalised me. I realised that the entire British system had been corrupted
and poisoned by nuclearism." Then Chernobyl happened, followed by a big planning inquiry into a second
pressurised water reactor to be built not far from where Rob lived. He attended as an independent
objector and used Hilda's money to bring in expert witnesses. He also researched the control rod design
flaw with the retired scientist whom Hilda had interviewed, and they testified as a team. They learned a
lot more about the nuclear industry and the design problem, and this hardened Rob's resolve to pursue it
further.
Rob Feared Nuke Use in Gulf War
He tried to keep clear of nuclear
weapons; but this became harder with the break-up of the Soviet Union and the difficulties for the Navy
resulting from the Trident decision. But it was the Gulf War which finally forced Rob to speak out.
"Here was a scenario where nuclear weapons really could be used. My Naval Intelligence training told me
that, if provoked by a Western punitive expedition, Saddam Hussein would be tempted to attack Israel in
order to split the coalition and draw Israel in. If he used chemical-headed Scud missiles, then nothing
could stop Israel from retaliating with nuclear weapons." But Rob feared that the entire Arab world would
then erupt in outrage, and Israel's security would be destroyed forever:"The ultimate own goal."
Two
days before the air war began, Rob spoke out against nuclear weapons to 20,000 anti-Gulf War demonstrators
from the foot of Nelson's Column ("of all places!"). It was very traumatic: "I felt I was going through
the intellectual equivalent of withdrawal from hard drug addiction. I was breaking out of not just my
pro-nuclear brainwashing: I felt I was committing high treason, and would be branded disloyal by my former
naval friends. The British military establishment is deeply tribal, and has powerful ways of discouraging
heretics." He was therefore much relieved when the only criticism came from an ex-Colonel pundit before
appearing with him on TV. "He said:'Of course you're entitled to your views, old boy; but do you have to
wear your heart on your sleeve?' I replied:'It's not my heart - it's my brain.' He just walked away."
Vindicated
Rob continued:"In the event, Israel suffered 38 Scud attacks. For the
first time, a nuclear-armed State had been attacked and its capital threatened - and by a non-nuclear
State too. Israelis cowering in gas-masks in their basements must have wondered what had happened to their
nuclear deterrent. Meanwhile, in London the IRA came close to wiping out the British Cabinet with mortar
bombs fired from a van. Polaris was not only totally irrelevant in dealing with such a terrorist attack:
it encouraged terrorists to try to get hold of nuclear weapons."
One of Rob's inspirations came from
another former British naval officer. As early as 1979, in the last speech before he was murdered, Admiral
of the Fleet Lord Louis Mountbatten had stated:"I have never been able to accept the reasons for the
belief that any class of nuclear weapons can be categorised in terms of their tactical or strategic
purposes... the nuclear arms race has no military purpose. Wars cannot be fought with nuclear weapons."
Rob points out that, even when a nuclear state is facing defeat by a non-nuclear state, the nuclear
state has been known to accept such defeat rather than escalate the conflict by using nuclear weapons. The
USA withdrew from Korea and Vietnam, and the USSR from Afghanistan, rather than resorting to nuclear
revenge.
In spite of Israel's nuclear capability Saddam Hussein attacked it with Scud missiles. It
became increasingly clear to Rob that nuclear deterrence doesn't work!
Read the next article to find out where he
found an alternative
deterrent that he believes can work.
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