If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
French block airlift of British troops to Basra
French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41]
The French government has told an airline that it is not to ferry British troops to Basra, a ban that will be seen as reflecting Paris's opposition to the occupation of Iraq. Corsair, which has been chartered numerous times to transport UK forces around the world, pulled out of a contract to fly reinforcements to Basra at the weekend. About 1,400 more troops are being sent to Basra as part of an attempt to prevent the "strategic failure" predicted by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, with a similar number expected to be announced within weeks. A Corsair Airbus A330 was chartered to fly troops of the Royal Green Jackets from Brize Norton, Oxon, but at the last moment the French transport ministry grounded the aircraft citing safety concerns. Transport ministry officials were reported yesterday as saying the move had nothing to do with safety but was a result of the intervention of the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry denied the report, saying there was "no political motive". But British defence officials appeared to confirm that the ban was political and not technical. "We have used them time and time again to fly troops into trouble spots," one said. "They have been everywhere for us. We always thought they were pretty robust." A Corsair spokesman said most of the flights undertaken for the MoD took troops to training exercises. For security and insurance reasons they rarely flew to war zones. "We did fly to Pristina during the Kosovo crisis, but only once it had been cleared for civil aviation." Basra is already open to civilian aircraft. Source: Telegraph.co.uk, UK |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Michael Petukhov" wrote in message m... French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41] Sooner or later there will need to be some serious payback for France and Germany. The French government has told an airline that it is not to ferry British troops to Basra, a ban that will be seen as reflecting Paris's opposition to the occupation of Iraq. Corsair, which has been chartered numerous times to transport UK forces around the world, pulled out of a contract to fly reinforcements to Basra at the weekend. About 1,400 more troops are being sent to Basra as part of an attempt to prevent the "strategic failure" predicted by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, with a similar number expected to be announced within weeks. A Corsair Airbus A330 was chartered to fly troops of the Royal Green Jackets from Brize Norton, Oxon, but at the last moment the French transport ministry grounded the aircraft citing safety concerns. Transport ministry officials were reported yesterday as saying the move had nothing to do with safety but was a result of the intervention of the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry denied the report, saying there was "no political motive". But British defence officials appeared to confirm that the ban was political and not technical. "We have used them time and time again to fly troops into trouble spots," one said. "They have been everywhere for us. We always thought they were pretty robust." A Corsair spokesman said most of the flights undertaken for the MoD took troops to training exercises. For security and insurance reasons they rarely flew to war zones. "We did fly to Pristina during the Kosovo crisis, but only once it had been cleared for civil aviation." Basra is already open to civilian aircraft. Source: Telegraph.co.uk, UK |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
YES, But US and Brits and others are yet paying a high toll for their
stuborness "Christians for Cheeseburgers." a écrit dans le message de news: ... "Michael Petukhov" wrote in message m... French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41] Sooner or later there will need to be some serious payback for France and Germany. The French government has told an airline that it is not to ferry British troops to Basra, a ban that will be seen as reflecting Paris's opposition to the occupation of Iraq. Corsair, which has been chartered numerous times to transport UK forces around the world, pulled out of a contract to fly reinforcements to Basra at the weekend. About 1,400 more troops are being sent to Basra as part of an attempt to prevent the "strategic failure" predicted by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, with a similar number expected to be announced within weeks. A Corsair Airbus A330 was chartered to fly troops of the Royal Green Jackets from Brize Norton, Oxon, but at the last moment the French transport ministry grounded the aircraft citing safety concerns. Transport ministry officials were reported yesterday as saying the move had nothing to do with safety but was a result of the intervention of the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry denied the report, saying there was "no political motive". But British defence officials appeared to confirm that the ban was political and not technical. "We have used them time and time again to fly troops into trouble spots," one said. "They have been everywhere for us. We always thought they were pretty robust." A Corsair spokesman said most of the flights undertaken for the MoD took troops to training exercises. For security and insurance reasons they rarely flew to war zones. "We did fly to Pristina during the Kosovo crisis, but only once it had been cleared for civil aviation." Basra is already open to civilian aircraft. Source: Telegraph.co.uk, UK |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"NEMO ME IMPUNE" wrote in message ...
YES, But US and Brits and others are yet paying a high toll for their stuborness Much better to be a toll payer than a freeloader like France. When was the last time France paid its own "tolls"? That would have been about 1918, right? Brooks "Christians for Cheeseburgers." a écrit dans le message de news: ... "Michael Petukhov" wrote in message m... French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41] Sooner or later there will need to be some serious payback for France and Germany. The French government has told an airline that it is not to ferry British troops to Basra, a ban that will be seen as reflecting Paris's opposition to the occupation of Iraq. Corsair, which has been chartered numerous times to transport UK forces around the world, pulled out of a contract to fly reinforcements to Basra at the weekend. About 1,400 more troops are being sent to Basra as part of an attempt to prevent the "strategic failure" predicted by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, with a similar number expected to be announced within weeks. A Corsair Airbus A330 was chartered to fly troops of the Royal Green Jackets from Brize Norton, Oxon, but at the last moment the French transport ministry grounded the aircraft citing safety concerns. Transport ministry officials were reported yesterday as saying the move had nothing to do with safety but was a result of the intervention of the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry denied the report, saying there was "no political motive". But British defence officials appeared to confirm that the ban was political and not technical. "We have used them time and time again to fly troops into trouble spots," one said. "They have been everywhere for us. We always thought they were pretty robust." A Corsair spokesman said most of the flights undertaken for the MoD took troops to training exercises. For security and insurance reasons they rarely flew to war zones. "We did fly to Pristina during the Kosovo crisis, but only once it had been cleared for civil aviation." Basra is already open to civilian aircraft. Source: Telegraph.co.uk, UK |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
"Christians for Cheeseburgers." wrote in message . net...
"Michael Petukhov" wrote in message m... French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41] Sooner or later there will need to be some serious payback for France and Germany. Not while US forces in Iraq are still dying and the new election year is looming ahead. President Bush has recently praised German forces for their participation in Afghanistan and their evolving role in the region. Berlin for its part would be willing to send German troops to Iraq should the US properly cede military and political control of that nation over to the UN. The US could still have the biggest piece of the peace dividend/restoration contracts... but Berlin wants a share plus the reestablishment of its business contracts and monies owed. Sounds fair enough to me. But then again, we live in the US and consume an awful lot of gas. Iraq currently holds the second largest oil reserves and when its industry and resources are properly developed will surpass Saudi Arabia. For the US to relinquish control of such a strategic asset now in the midst of unprecedented international terrorism and national vunerability makes that proposal unlikely. Despite the rising death toll we will still probably arrogantly refuse to budge until Bush's numbers start to seriously fall or another conflict breaks out that requires calling up all the reserves. US troops are already grumbling and we still have no exit strategy. This can't go on forever with Bush merely asking Congress for ever-increasing funds for a failed mission. We can't go it alone no matter how powerful we are and we look foolish on the international scene with the conspicuous absence of any WMD proof or link of Saddam to 9/11. Simply waving a flag and invoking 9/11 memories won't last forever. The US is still vunerable, our missions in Afghanistan and Iraq are failures (no Osama, no Saddam, no WMDs, no restoration), Saudi Arabia is not our friend and seeking nukes now, Iran is right next door to our forces and has a nuclear weapons program, and the DPRK situation remains unresolved... not to mention the Mideast roadmap is in ruins. So when do you propose payback on France and Germany? And why? Shouldn't we be striking Syria, Iran, and the DPRK first? Shouldn't we find Osama and Saddam? And shouldn't we stop meddling in Israel, allow them to rid themselves of Yasser, and sit down with a real Palestinian PM candidate willing to disarm Hamas and accept reasonable terms with Israel that guarnatees them a state and Israel security? I think you have your priorities mixed up. Rob |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"Kevin Brooks" wrote in message m... US troops are already grumbling and we still have no exit strategy. US troops always grumble; part of what makes US troops unique, I guess. Hardly. The old maxim that probably goes back beyond the Romans is "you start to worry when the troops stop bitching". |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Berlin for its part would be willing to send German troops to Iraq should the US properly cede military and political control of that nation over to the UN. Not gonna happen, not even in your wildest Wagnerian dreams, Actually, Schroeder's latest offer is for troops but no money! To be sure, the troops would be used for training Iraqi police and military, not for active use. What's the German army like these days? Is it anything like Holland's, over-weight, over-aged, and the troops in hair nets? all the best -- Dan Ford email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9 see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Cub Driver" wrote in message ... Berlin for its part would be willing to send German troops to Iraq should the US properly cede military and political control of that nation over to the UN. Not gonna happen, not even in your wildest Wagnerian dreams, Actually, Schroeder's latest offer is for troops but no money! Schroder's current offer is to kiss GW's ass and beg forgivnance. To be sure, the troops would be used for training Iraqi police and military, not for active use. Works for me. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Stupid Americans! -- Stupid... Stupid... STUPID!!! __________-+__ ihuvpe | Chris | Instrument Flight Rules | 43 | December 19th 04 09:40 PM |