US refuses to hand over its Iraq rules of engagement to inquest

[cal04]

American defence chiefs yesterday refused to hand over their rules of engagement for operating in Iraq to Ministry of Defence officials, in spite of a demand from a British court.

The move was condemned by the constitutional affairs minister, Harriet Harman, as regrettable and disappointing.

A coroner investigating the death of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull in a so-called friendly-fire incident in March 2003 said the US refusal meant that British forces were fighting "in a situation where they do not know the rules of engagement of the American forces they are working alongside".

US defence staff also refused to provide the full report of their investigation into the incident in which two A10 Warthog pilots shot at a convoy of British Household Cavalry reconnaissance vehicles. They rejected requests for witnesses to attend court or for the coroner to be allowed to interview them in the US. They dismissed a demand for the pilots' training records as well as copies of their flight data. Ms Harman had requested that they make all the evidence they had available to the court.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2032372,00.html

[Miss Chybil]

1. If I were Britain, I'd say, "No rules, no game. We're outa here!" nt

[frogcycle]

2. hey tony, happy you cast your lot with us?

god we are international pariahs

even treat our best ally like dirt

[northofdenali]

3. What rules? n/t