When I first read this I thought it was an April fools joke that somehow got accidentally re-posted to the BBC News website's front page. I'm 100% serious.
The Ministry of Defence says it is evaluating sites for surface-to-air missiles for the Olympic Games, and could place them at residential flats.
Residents at an estate in east London have received a leaflet saying soldiers could be placed there during the Games.
It says part of an air defence system might be based at a water tower on the estate, where 700 people live.
Is it just me or does deploying surface-to-air missles in a residential housing estate seem a tad over the top? It's a good thing the country has plenty of spare cash to waste on all this. Oh wait...
...well I guess this must be what all the benifit cuts and austerity measures payed for. This is definately preferable to making sure disabled people, the elderly and the unemployed don't starve or freeze to death.
The document also states that "having a 24/7 Armed Forces and police presence will improve your local security and will not make you a target for terrorists".
Oh really? As someone who grew up in Northern Ireland I beg to fucking differ.
Also, stationing troops in a residential area like this in general just seems a bit...wrong somehow. If I was a more paranoid person I'd be concerned the troops might still be there long after the olympics are over.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17884897