I'm not quite sure what to think of this....

[fleetfootmike]

US troops ordered to avoid London.

"While it's important for some to carry on business as usual, the interests in keeping the air force out of harm's way until we have a bit more knowledge about what has happened is greater than the need to send them back into the city."

And yet, President George W Bush has said the US would "not retreat in the face of terrorists".

*shrug* I dunno.

[ EDIT: and lo... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4673987.stm - amid concerns that it 'sent the wrong signals' the ban gets lifted. *chuckle* ]

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

It's clear you're not an American. Any intelligent person who lives here has learned that "George W. Bush" is a reasonable alternative to "lawyer" in the old joke about how you know he's lying. (His lips are moving.)

In Bush's case, though, it's not always malicious. At least half the time, it's either stupidity or ignorance.

[occams_pyramid]

Over paid, over sexed, and, um, over there somewhere.

[rinioth.livejournal.com]

and "over cautious"

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

A whole new image to attach to the word "chickenhawk".

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

I think it's the right decision. (Shock, horror, H M Bateman cartoon etc) What happened on Thursday was not an act of war, it was a crime. Letting the armed forces get involved would be sending the wrong message both to the perpetrators and to people in general. And let's face it, if they were in the area and something else happened and an American serviceman broke a pinky nail, they'd be involved.

[armb.livejournal.com]

This isn't about not sending the troops in. This is ordering the troops to stay out of the area even when off duty. "American servicemen mustn't risk breaking a pinky nail" isn't sending the right message either.

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Well, *I* know that...

[rdmaughan.livejournal.com]

They aren't retreating, just not advancing very much.

[tnatj.livejournal.com]

"We're not retreating! We're advancing to the rear!"

Or in this case, the exterior suburbs.

Never expect sensibility from this administration.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

They're not retreating, they're just not coming any closer. The phrase "ten foot bargepole" springs worryingly to mind... ah Dubyah how we love and trust thee when you talk about support and commitment and sorrow and actually giving a damn about, well, anything to be honest.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, does anyone want the USAF to come any closer?

Even the US Army gets nervous.

[(Anonymous)]

The phrase in news reporting is "controlled explosions".

Definitely not the USAF, then.

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

You forgot to log in :)

[aunty_marion]

I can't somehow now help picturing Dubya as The Duke of Plaza Toro.

"He led his regiment from behind / he found it less exciting..."

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

And then we have this (and thank you, hobbitblue, for bringing it to our attention). And now we know exactly where we stand in regard to the moulders of public opinion in America, and, presumably, to its government.

"Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts. Only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of Idiot fights a war on twelve fronts." (Londo Mollari) I don't know what made me think of that.

Do you suppose anyone in the Labour Party reads the Guardian...no, of course not, never mind, silly question.

[demoneyes.livejournal.com]

Do you suppose anyone in the Labour Party reads the Guardian...

I thought they did the proofreading...? ;-)

[occams_pyramid]

and lo... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4673987.stm - amid concerns that it 'sent the wrong signals' the ban gets lifted.

"Our presence in Great Britain is our voice of saying we stand with the British people. We have a long historic relationship and we will stay here to stand by the British people."

And here was me thinking that the USAF presence in Airstrip One was something to do with military operations.