US troops told to avoid going into London

[Stu M]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4673987.stm

 

Is this typical of Yanks shooting their mouths off without having a clue about the situation? I mean, it's OK for bank clerks, nurses, librarians, accountants, secretaries, etc etc etc to go into London, but too risky for plain-clothes US personnel...

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I don't see it as being any different from Embassies telling their Citizens to stay away from trouble spots anywhere in the world. As one of the replies stated, British troops were told to do the same in Ireland and Cyprus.

[Stu M]

Point taken, but wasn't that more because they were easily identifiable and prone to being kidnapped? As far as I know, no embassies have told people to stay away from London, our own government declare it business as usual, but the risk to American UK-based personnel seems to be no more than it would your average commuter... and sends the wrong message when Joe Public is getting up and getting on with things.

 

Or maybe I'm just taking an overly sensitive view on it.. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Big J R]

I hadn't even realised the Yanks were considering invading London ?

 

(Oh, the Irony !) <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/whistling.gif" alt="" />

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I agree with the business as usual policy, and anyone who knows me knows i visited London a lot during the IRA bomb campaign. I even got involved in a bomb left in Charing Cross Road.

I hope this order was given for the right reasons, as a safety measure.

[Barry Scott]

I think the reason is that they don't want drunk American servicemen getting in fights when drunk Britishmen start slurring "you got us into this bloody mess with that numb nut of a president". Or that could be just my view

[Big J R]

I'd sooner have an American as an ally, rather than any of that European riff-raff !

 

(Must make a note to teach the Yanks about which side is the enemy and which side are their friends !)

[Barry Scott]

Ban now lifted

[mala_D]

What a bunch of wimps in the first place!

[Stu M]

Quote:

Grimlock said:
Ban now lifted

The power of The Pub...!

Right, what'll we sort out next?

[Barry Scott]

Well I always thought that this section of the forum was an all-powerful tool for lobbying governments and changing world views so as a starter can we please do something about Hello! and magazines of their ilk?

[Moo]

Quote:

Is this typical of Yanks shooting their mouths off without having a clue about the situation?

Um.. not trying to start a riot here, but how could we possibly NOT have a clue what the situation was about? As I seem to remember, we went through a bit of the same situation ourselves a few years ago.

Quote:

(Must make a note to teach the Yanks about which side is the enemy and which side are their friends !)

Trust me, dear, we do.. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/tongue2.gif" alt="" />

[Rob_Butler]

like in the gulf they killed more british than the iraqis killed brits

[Big J R]

Hence, they give that sort of action strange titles, like,

 

"Collateral Damage", or, "Green on Green" !

[Rob_Butler]

whats that sorry?

[Big J R]

They are American expressions used to sanitize the action of killing their allies by mistake.

 

Surely, it would be far easier to say, "Killed by FRIENDLY fire...." ?