JDN and Lynn: It was notable that in the Gulf War of 1991, there were more British than American casualties. The largest number of British casualties were the result of "friendly fire" from the Americans. The largest loss of British materiel in that war resulted from the relatively more dangerous missions flown by the British planes required to bomb Iraqui airfields from low altitudes. The airfields were well defended with anti-aircraft guns and the British pilots had to fly through a curtain of steel. I mention this, not to be controversial, but to emphasise that in joining the US in this latest adventure, the UK Government had to overcome some hard feelings about the 1991 conflict. In addition, there was deep-rooted ideological opposition to the policy from within the governing Labour party, and from within sectors of the business community and the old Tory right wing interested, above all, in cultivating good Anglo-Arab relations. Relations with the other European countries was also difficult - they are already very critical that Britain works so closely with the US and suspicious that Britain will never be fully European while it maintains these American links. Some countries, like France, have former Arab colonies and large immigrant Arab populations; they also have a vested interest in selling to Arab countries, including Iraq. In standing apart from these very complicated interests, the UK was using up a great deal of its political and diplomatic capital. The Prime Minister was quite passionate yesterday when he said the claims that the attack was motivated by Clinton's desire to disrupt the impeachment process was "grotesque and deeply offensive" to him and to the British forces.
The debate continues to rage in Britain but at the end of the day, the British do have a visceral belief that tyrants have to be contained before they go too far - a lesson learned in the Second World War - and that America, not Europe, is the tried and trusted ally in matters of defence.
I hope that Britain will gradually develop a common defence policy with Europe and a common military, but I don't think this will ever be at the cost of its special relationship with the US. |
