NEWS: USAF Brass Orders UK-Based Troops to Stay Out of London

It was almost definately a knee jerk reaction by the local commander. He saw what was happening, and got nervous about losing troops and pulled them home.

Personally, I think the initial order was right. On Friday no one knew what was going on and it was only prudent to let it stand over the weekend

I disagree.

If there had been advice to personnel on leave over the weekend to try and stay away until things apear to settle down, That makes sense. Its what anyone would do in the immediate aftermath.

However an order to stay, not just away from central London, but outside the M25 (!) that is only 'being reviewed' today because of the stink that is being kicked up about it (and might otherwise be left in force) is quite different and we have every right to be upset about it.

I don't know enough about London and the area to know where any of that is. The order to stay out of London I agree with, but I think he left it on for too long. He could have easily rescinded it by Sunday at the latest.

Zaphod, I agree with you there, but I also think the 'M25' bit was totally OTT.

As you can see, this covers a huge area incorporating many towns when the geographical area affected by the bombings was very small.

Ok, now that I have a better idea, he definately went overboard. London makes sense, but the rest of it doesn't make any sense at all. I don't know what on earth he was thinking.

Originally posted by djohnsto77
Wow, I didn't know the UK had thousands of troops stationed in the U.S.

So its a number game now?

Only if you want it to be. But how can they ban troops from Ground Zero that weren't even here to begin with? That's the point that *I* was trying to make.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
Only if you want it to be. But how can they ban troops from Ground Zero that weren't even here to begin with? That's the point that *I* was trying to make.

What do you mean if you want it to be?
British troops are in the US practically all the time, for cross training etc.


[edit on 26/02/2005 by devilwasp]

Originally posted by devilwasp
British troops are in the US practically all the time, for cross training etc.

Well I seriously doubt there were any British troops stationed anywhere near NYC on 9/11 in any number that would require a directive similar to this if commanders so desired them to stay away.

Prove me wrong and I'll eat crow.

I mean that I'm not trying to make it a numbers game. Yes, British troops come to the US to crosstrain, etc, but there aren't thousands of them stationed on a permanent basis, travelling into US cities, like there are US troops in England. And the numbers of British troops that come to the US aren't THAT high. If there HAD been thousands of British troops stationed in the NY area, then you may very well had seen the same thing happen until they knew for sure what was going on, and how long it would be going on for.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
I mean that I'm not trying to make it a numbers game. Yes, British troops come to the US to crosstrain, etc, but there aren't thousands of them stationed on a permanent basis, travelling into US cities, like there are US troops in England. And the numbers of British troops that come to the US aren't THAT high. If there HAD been thousands of British troops stationed in the NY area, then you may very well had seen the same thing happen until they knew for sure what was going on, and how long it would be going on for.

It doesnt matter if its a thousand or its section.
If there had been thousands of british troops there they would have been helping.
PS, try and remember the UK isnt just england.

Well I seriously doubt there were any British troops stationed anywhere near NYC on 9/11 in any number that would require a directive similar to this if commanders so desired them to stay away.

So yet again I ask, its a numbers game?


[edit on 26/02/2005 by devilwasp]

I'm sure most troops would normally go out on the lash within the confines of the base or local bars, and view this order as OTT.

Whatever the reason I'm sure the base commander will receive a commendation for fearmongering, and a huge pat on the back from GWB.

I guess it plays into the hands of the terrorist whatever your perspective.

[edit on 12-7-2005 by Koka]

Originally posted by devilwasp
So yet again I ask, its a numbers game?

Well to a certain extent it has to be. It wouldn't make world news if you had 3 soldiers here that decided in private not to go to NYC due to the threat. You have to have a significant presence to make some kind of public declaration that would make it the press...

It's not that uncommon. Even here in the states, units post lists of locations (sometimes several blocks in size) where troops are under no circumstances to be found. Apparently the US Military got sick of having multi-thousand dollar investments stabbed, ruined with drugs, etc etc.

I can see why some would feel insulted, but US troops in the UK aren't there as a flattery. They are there to be on station in case the UK and US need to smack the hell out of somebody, and they do that best when they haven't been blown up.

In a sense, it's almost a compliment. Our guys would probably love to go to London and have a good time, but their commanders are saying that their entertainment comes second to them staying safe so that they will be ready if called upon to fight for the common interests of America and our British allies.

The decisions just been reversed.

CX.

Am I the only Englishman that doesnt see this order as a problem? Seriously, does it really matter that American service men were ordered not to go within the M25 due to these bombings?

Does them putting their lives at risk, while off duty, really show a sign of solidarity? Or just a lack of rationality? Do you really think American service men would WANT to go into London right about now?

Its not a slap in the face at all.

Was there some kind of bandwagon that rolled through ALL British cities so we could all go down to London to show "our solidarity" as well? Did I miss that one? Am I not showing my solidarity because im safely up north and about 200 miles from London?

[edit on 12/7/05 by subz]

Originally posted by CX
The decisions just been reversed.

CX.

interesting...

did they elaborate on anything?
i would sure like to know more about whats going on lol

anyways im still wondering why we have such a huge percentage of our AF near london...because we have dozens of AF bases

is the AF base near londen super huge or something?
what they got like 200jets there ?

Originally posted by CX
The decisions just been reversed.

CX.

Confirmed:

The ban on US Air Force personnel entering London following last week’s terror attacks has been lifted, the US embassy said today.

The move followed criticism from police, politicians and tourism officials in the capital.

Around 10,000 US servicemen and women based at two RAF stations in Suffolk were given the order not to go inside the M25 after the bombs brought London to a standstill on Thursday.

Ireland On-Line

This is more like it, "if you cant stand the heat, stay outta the kitchen" as the saying goes !

Can't see why the US told its men/women to stay outta OUR City of London in the first place...................thought they was backing us not running from us ?


US forces lift London travel ban

The US military has rescinded an order to its personnel to avoid London in the aftermath of the bombings.
Personnel, most of them from US Air Force units at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, were told last week not to go within the M25 motorway.



RAF Lakenheath was one of the bases affected

But there was criticism that it sent out the wrong signals at a time when the emphasis was on "business as usual" in London after the attacks.

The US embassy said the order had been reviewed and had now been lifted.

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.


BBC NEWS

I think when the commander said London he really meant to say Brixton. That be more than understandable.