US-British Dialogue In Iraq Was 'Alien'

[English Noodles]

British commanders viewed their American counterparts as "a group of Martians", enduring what now appears to have been a difficult working relationship in Iraq.


Tensions between the allied forces have been revealed in leaked documents taken from interviews with Army figures upon their return from peacekeeping operations.
The details have emerged on the eve of the first public hearings of the Iraq War Inquiry.
Some of the strongest criticism comes from the British chief of staff in Iraq, Colonel J.K. Tanner, who told the Ministry of Defence that "dialogue is alien" for some US officials.
"Despite our so-called 'special relationship', I reckon we were treated no differently to the Portuguese," he said.
The senior UK commander in the country, Major General Andrew Stewart, also gave a stark assessment, saying he spent a significant amount of his time "evading" and "refusing dumb orders" from his US superiors.
He added that Britain's ability to influence US policy in Iraq "seemed to be minimal".


The first public hearings of the Iraq War Inquiry begin on Tuesday



Maj Gen Stewart also said the absence of a secure communication line between his base in Basra and the US commander General Rick Sanchez in Baghdad was "incredible".
The frank comments come from Army figures involved in Operations Telic 2 and 3 during the first year of "peacekeeping" operations in Iraq, from May 2003 to May 2004.
Transcripts of the discussions, along with "post operational reports" by British commanders, were obtained by the Daily Telegraph.
Meanwhile, the head of the Iraq War Inquiry, Sir John Chilcot, has promised he will not shrink from criticising individuals or organisations if justified when filing his final report.
The first public hearings of the inquiry are due to begin on Tuesday.
Senior military and diplomatic figures will appear in the run-up to Christmas, and former Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to give evidence in the new year.

Iraq Leaks Reveal US-British Splits: Ministry Of Defence Interviews Exposed On Eve Of War Inquiry | UK News | Sky News

[Butterfly]

"Despite our so-called 'special relationship', I reckon we were treated no differently to the Portuguese,"

that special relationship only exist in the mind of the British. Americans don't give a rat ass about Brits, they see them as cute pets.

I am always laughing when brits mention that special relationship. You should hear what they say on the other side. We had a few samples here already from Tex and friends.

[beazalbob69]

Sadly if your country doesnt have something that the US wants you are useless. If you have oil the US will invade you and if you oppose the US you get
A-BOMBED!

[StrontiumDog]

Why am I not surprised by this.....?

Tony Blair giving evidence...isn't that an oxymoron? Wouldn't it be accurate to say he'll grin inanely and lie lavishly and without consequences.

[slackula]

Ugh. I hate it when I have to agree with Butterfly.

[StrontiumDog]

He's a strange one that Butterfly...says a lot of good shit, but then loses his mind completely over Mac's.

[StrontiumDog]

"Despite our so-called 'special relationship', I reckon we were treated no differently to the Portuguese,"

that special relationship only exist in the mind of the British. Americans don't give a rat ass about Brits, they see them as cute pets.

I am always laughing when brits mention that special relationship. You should hear what they say on the other side. We had a few samples here already from Tex and friends.

Not surprised. Sad though. What does that say about the yanks though?

[crazy dog]

Ugh. I hate it when I have to agree with Butterfly.

I hate it when i have to agree with strontiumdog, right about Blair and butterfly!

[Norton]

Some of the strongest criticism comes from the British chief of staff in Iraq, Colonel J.K. Tanner

Spoken by your typical CYA career military officer. Anytime there is a military operation where more than one nation is allied, you will inevitably hear this sort of criticism. Was rife during WW2.

[chitown]

Americans don't give a rat ass about the French, they see them as cowards and cheese eaters

True that!!!!

[SueB]

Americans don't give a rat ass about the French, they see them as cowards and cheese eaters

True that!!!!

At the time, the French were doing their utmost to deter us from going to invade Iraq.

At the time, the French were derided by us and the yanks, as the aforementioned cowardly cheese eaters.

At the time, the French kept hold of the ball. They were trying to tell us that it was not Iraq that caused 9/11.

At the time, the British public were being lied to in Parliament, whilst Blair's sinister spin machine was doing its best to smear and ruin those that stood in Blair's way.
RIP David Kelly.

At the time, Bush was whipping up patriotic fervour across the pond with his "freedom fries" in the White House, and threatening to boycott French goods.

At the time and in spite of being labelled cowards on the world stage, the French firmly held the view that there was no good reason to go in and kill Iraqis. They were quite clear in saying that we (the so called coalition) were wrong to even consider invasion.


So....after all the deaths on each side, the civil unrest that ensued and the evidence now that there were never any WMDs, who would you say was the sensible voice in all of this?

And who would you say were the warmongers with several hidden agendas?


Personally, I wish that the French were in charge of the whole situation at the time, rather than a devious shite who was more than willing to play poodle to an ignoramus with a score to settle on behalf of his Dad.

All those poor boys lost - and for what, exactly?

[superman]

All those poor boys lost - and for what, exactly?

So America could be the biggest consumer of Iraq's oil, of which they are, would be my take on it.

[Rural Surin]

Friends and allies. When have the Yanks ever ever secured such properties amongst so-called peers??

[Marmite the Dog]

"Despite our so-called 'special relationship', I reckon we were treated no differently to the Portuguese,"

that special relationship only exist in the mind of the British. Americans don't give a rat ass about Brits, they see them as cute pets.

I am always laughing when brits mention that special relationship. You should hear what they say on the other side. We had a few samples here already from Tex and friends.

Not surprised. Sad though. What does that say about the yanks though?

It's been going on for years. If it wasn't for all the British (and European) ideas they stole, then they'd still be living in wigwams.

[kebabbaro]

All those poor boys lost - and for what, exactly?

To sustain the American way of life based on a steady supply of cheap oil.

Yanks consider cheap oil a God's given right, and they're ready to fight with tanks and warplanes to secure a stable supply.

Capitalism US style, ya know...