http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6631239/Hostility-between-British-and-American-military-leaders-revealed.html
British chief of staff in Iraq, Colonel J.K.Tanner, described his US military counterparts as “a group of Martians” for whom “dialogue is alien,” saying: “Despite our so-called ‘special relationship,’ I reckon we were treated no differently to the Portuguese.”
Col Tanner’s boss, the top British commander in the country, Major General Andrew Stewart, told how he spent “a significant amount of my time” “evading” and “refusing” orders from his US superiors.
At least once, say the documents, General Stewart’s refusal to obey an order resulted in Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Sir David Manning, being summoned to the State Department for a diplomatic reprimand - of the kind more often delivered to “rogue states” such as Zimbabwe or the Sudan.
The frank statements were made in official interviews conducted by the Ministry of Defence with Army commanders who had just returned from Operations Telic 2 and 3 – the first, crucial year of “peacekeeping” operations in Iraq, from May 2003 to May 2004.
A set of classified transcripts of the interviews, along with “post-operational reports” by British commanders, has been leaked to the Daily Telegraph.
The disclosures come the day before the Chilcot inquiry is due to begin public hearings into Britain’s involvement in Iraq. Among the issues it will investigate is the UK-US relationship.
The leaked documents paint a vivid picture of the clash between what General Stewart described as “war-war” American commanders and their British counterparts, who he said preferred a “jaw-jaw” approach.
General Stewart bluntly admitted that “our ability to influence US policy in Iraq seemed to be minimal.” He said that “incredibly,” there was not even a secure communication link between his headquarters in Basra and the US commander, General Rick Sanchez, in Baghdad.
Top British commanders angrily described in the documents how they were not even told, let alone consulted, about major changes to US policy which had significant implications for them and their men.
When the Americans decided, in March 2004, to arrest a key lieutenant of the Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr – an event that triggered an uprising throughout the British sector – “it was not co-ordinated with us and no-one [was] told that it was going to happen,” said the senior British field commander at the time, Brigadier Nick Carter.
“Had we known, we would at least have been able to prepare the ground.” Instead, “the consequence [was] that my whole area of operations went up in smoke… as a result of coalition operations that were outwith my control or knowledge and proved to be the single most awkward event of my tour.”
Among the most outspoken officers was Col Tanner, who served as chief of staff to General Stewart and of the entire British division during Operation Telic 3, from November 2003 to May 2004.
He said: “The whole system was appalling. We experienced real difficulty in dealing with American military and civilian organisations who, partly through arrogance and partly through bureaucracy, dictate that there is only one way: the American way.
“I now realise that I am a European, not an American. We managed to get on better…with our European partners and at times with the Arabs than with the Americans. Europeans chat to each other, whereas dialogue is alien to the US military… dealing with them corporately is akin to dealing with a group of Martians.
“If it isn’t on the PowerPoint slide, then it doesn’t happen.”...
Gen Stewart added: “I spent a significant amount of my time ‘consenting and evading’ US orders… Things got sticky…when I refused to conduct offensive operations against [al-Sadr’s] Mahdi Army as directed [by the US]. This resulted in the UK being demarched by the US, by [Paul] Bremer [the US proconsul in Iraq] through State [the US State Department] to the UK Ambassador in Washington.”
A “demarche” in this context was a formal diplomatic reprimand of a kind not normally handed out to friendly allies such as Britain. Gen Stewart said that the US military “were mortified” that it had got so far and said he “was always fully supported in the UK by the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Joint Operations.”
Advance Technology Gets A Boost From Shell
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/advance-technology-gets-a-boost-from
Polluted Groundwater Runs "Downstream" For All Citizens
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/polluted-groundwater-runs-downstream-for-all
Smoking guns on mining operations have been around for a long time, and fought just as long. The issue with mining is the byproducts of materials from minerals, copper, gold, coal, or uranium, being harvested out of the Earth. What does this mean for all towns/cities, etc., who rely on groundwater? It is the age-old battle of “hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil” positions taken from all levels of those in a position of power to do the right thing. The astonishing fact though, the local politicians happen to ingest the byproducts themselves as well, but continue to turn a blind-eye.
BREAKING: Leaked UK government plan to create "Pirate Finder General" with power to appoint militias, create laws
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/19/breaking-leaked-uk-g.html
Britain's new Internet law -- as bad as everyone's been saying, and worse. Much, much worse.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/20/britains-new-interne.html
What isn't in there? Anything about stimulating the actual digital economy. Nothing about ensuring that broadband is cheap, fast and neutral. Nothing about getting Britain's poorest connected to the net. Nothing about ensuring that copyright rules get out of the way of entrepreneurship and the freedom to create new things. Nothing to ensure that schoolkids get the best tools in the world to create with, and can freely use the publicly funded media -- BBC, Channel 4, BFI, Arts Council grantees -- to make new media and so grow up to turn Britain into a powerhouse of tech-savvy creators.
Lobby organisation The Open Rights Group is urging people to contact their MP to oppose the plans. "This plan won't stop copyright infringement and with a simple accusation could see you and your family disconnected from the internet - unable to engage in everyday activities like shopping and socialising," it said.Government lays out digital plans
The government will also introduce age ratings on all boxed video games aimed at children aged 12 or over.
There is, however, little detail in the bill on how the government will stimulate broadband infrastructure.
Can Meditation Curb Heart Attacks?
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/can-meditation-curb-heart-attacks
After following about 200 patients for an average of five years, researchers said, the high-risk patients who meditated cut their risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from all causes roughly in half compared with a group of similar patients who were given more conventional education about healthy diet and lifestyle.
Among the roughly 100 patients who meditated, there were 20 heart attacks, strokes and deaths; in the comparison group, there were 32. The meditators tended to remain disease-free longer and also reduced their systolic blood pressure by five millimeters of mercury, on average.
Beautiful Landscape of Italy
http://gallery.xemanhdep.com/2009/09/beautiful-landscape-of-italy
Kennedy son 'denied communion' in US abortion row
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8374297.stm
( Don't tell me Rome doesn't promote exactly the reverse of Jesus' teachings : Theocracy. What is it alleged about Muslims - they are so publicly religious that they are extremists ?
What's sauce for the Goose should be sauce for the Gander. If Religion is 'protected' in the U.S. ... is interference with politicy by a foreign based church official by commanding political obedience included?
Henry ( VIII ) Bolingbroke had an answer : that included a historic bloodbath. for Tudor England : Not Recommended.
Then again...why should Israel involved electioneering funding and hogwash be the only pressure group : AIPAC ?
Interesting how them dominating the British electoral scene as well might help explain 'special relationship.'
Soon enough we may regret not debating this ongoing fraud. )
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER
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