US military command in the UK - a laughing stock

[Benbow]

UK-based US military personnel, most of them from US Air Force units at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, have been told not to go within the M25 motorway, and their families have been strongly urged to stay away.

Did their base commanders realise what a gift this is to Al Qaeda? So much for "taking the fight to the enemy". Al Qaeda 1: US courage 0. What happened to standing should-to-shoulder, solidarity with the UK on terrorism - the UK does not need "allies" that stand so far behind us that we cannot see them? How brave is that? Millions of Brits - and ordinary Americans domiciled in London - are braver than that, carrying on with their normal lives.

US military commanders are wimps.

[Benbow]

1. "the American people stand with you " - but not the UK-based US military

F***** hypocrite!

Speaking at the FBI academy in Virginia, Mr Bush said: "We continue to take the fight to the enemy and will fight until this enemy is defeated."

<snip>

Addressing an audience of 1,000 FBI officials, marines and members of the emergency services in Quantico, Mr Bush pledged American support for the people of Britain.

"In this difficult hour, the people of Great Britain can know the American people stand with you," he said.

"And just as America and Great Britain stood together to defeat the totalitarian ideologies of the 20th Century, we now stand together against the murderous ideologies of the 21st Century.

<snip>

The UK is a major ally in the US "war on terror", having sent troops to back US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4672425.stm

[Benbow]

5. It was a logic failure, too ...

The move had been greeted with dismay by British officials and US expats, with Thomas Conlon, the UK director of American Citizens Abroad, saying it "beggared belief".

"These same people who are being restricted from London are being flown into Baghdad," he said. "If they're going into Baghdad, I can't imagine why they aren't allowed to go into London."

He said he estimated that around 80% of Britain's 250,000 expat Americans lived in London. "I'm surprised at the military that they would do this," he added. "If you go to the city, the American expats are all back at work now."

<snip>

There were few US casualties in Thursday's attacks. New Yorker Mike Matsushita has been missing since the blasts, and two sisters from Tennessee who were hit by shrapnel are in a stable condition in hospital.

The Conservative MP Andrew Robathan condemned the ban, saying: "I would have hoped our American allies could show a little more courage.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1526894,00.html

Of course, Baghdad is "under the control" of the US military there. And London isn't. Please note - we do body-counts, we even count non-Brit casualties.

[Oversea Visitor]

2. Ooops

Think they feel it is better to :hide: from the London Brits a bit hey. No telling what response you get when good old London Brits tell them in their face what they think hey.

[Benbow]

3. Order now rescinded - announced on midday news

The US military has rescinded an order to its personnel to avoid London in the aftermath of the bombings.

<snip>

The Commander of US Forces in Europe, General James L. Jones, based at Mons in Belgium, said in a statement: "<We have> lifted all travel restrictions for US personnel stationed in the United Kingdom.

"While all personnel are encouraged to be vigilant, we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by the acts of terrorists. All US personnel are encouraged to continue with their normal routine."

<snip>

Defence Secretary John Reid told BBC News he had been "trying to get to the bottom of this".

[auburngrad82]

4. I think the US is worried about Brits beating the crap out of our troops

American troops on the street would be easy targets if you wanted to take out your frustration on someone.