British Establishment begins to distance itself from the US

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philjit
Arch-Enemy of Idealism

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

British Establishment begins to distance itself from the US

Today we had a statement by the Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon. It would seem that the UK Government is adament the pictures involving British troops are fake. On the issue that we are in a "coalition" and so the actions of all troops in the coalition be they US or British should be of concern to us all the British repsonse appears to be. "Pull the ladder up jack and sod the yanks"

When pressed on this issue Geoff Hoon basically said "the issue regarding US troops is for the US to deal with, Our troops are our concern and that is all" (paraphrased).

Some "coalition" huh? I'm actually quite impressed that the British government is distancing itself from the US on this specific issue... it's right bloody thing to do as well.

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05-10-2004 07:22 PM

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funkyrooster
King Leer

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Just to the right of the moon
Posts: 3141

The pictures may be fake but i have no doubt that some of our squaddies have been administering beatings, especially those from slightly more second tier infantry regiments

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05-10-2004 07:30 PM

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philjit
Arch-Enemy of Idealism

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

oh yeah no doubt. I just noted with interest that the statements being made seem to be distancing us from the US on this one.

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05-10-2004 08:09 PM

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CHiPsJr
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Registered: Sep 2000
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Not sure how this constitutes "distancing themselves" from the Yanks. I think it's pretty much everybody's position that torture is unacceptable.

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05-10-2004 08:18 PM

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Smug Git
Arrogance Personified

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

That the statement is absent a strong show of solidarity is the point, I think.

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05-10-2004 08:29 PM

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Trenchant_Troll
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Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:
Originally posted by CHiPsJr
I think it's pretty much everybody's position that torture is unacceptable.

Whoa, now hold on there...

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05-10-2004 09:13 PM

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philjit
Arch-Enemy of Idealism

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

quote:
Originally posted by CHiPsJr
Not sure how this constitutes "distancing themselves" from the Yanks.

as Smug said, it's the fact that statements being made are not showing any solidarity with the US over these torture claims. It seem pretty clear that the British Establishment is washing it's hands of the US as a "coalition partner" on this specifc issue. Every statement that has been made has avoided mentioning the US at all. Now considering officially we are a coalition, within a single command and control structure across Iraq that seems to me to be rather odd.

Also, there has been much talk about this Red Cross and Amnesty report that contained a "catalogue of abuse" by both US and British troops. Apparently though the US Dept of Defence didn't give it to the British Ministry of Defence until last week, but they received it back in January. I'm guessing that has prolly caused a slight diplomatic hiccup i.e. The MoD is very very pissed off with the DoD for not keeping it informed.

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05-11-2004 06:08 AM

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Mugtoe
Cuddly Puppy

Registered: Oct 2001
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Posts: 18155

I was just watchin Hoon bein grilled in parliament on CSPAN here (I love that stuff). By the way, wtf is "plaid cymru"?

yer govt is fun to watch. I especially liked the tall, thin Conservative guy who looked like he was an irate schoolmaster about to administer a whipping to Hoon.

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