CIA is undermining British war effort, say military chiefs

[cal04]

Confidential report speaks of 'serious tensions' in the coalition over strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan


British intelligence officers and military commanders have accused the US of undermining British policies in Iraq and Afghanistan, after the sacking of a key British ally in the Afghan province of Helmand.

British sources have blamed pressure from the CIA for President Hamid Karzai's decision to dismiss Mohammed Daud as governor of Helmand, the southern province where Britain deployed some 4,000 troops this year. Governor Daud was appointed in mid-year to replace a man the British accused of involvement in opium trafficking, but on Thursday Mr Karzai summoned him to Kabul and sacked him, along with his deputy.

"The Americans knew Daud was a main British ally," one official told The Independent on Sunday, "yet they deliberately undermined him and told Karzai to sack him." The official said the Defence Secretary, Des Browne, was "tearing his hair out".

Meanwhile, a confidential assessment of the situation in Iraq, seen by the IoS, has reported "serious tensions" in the American-British coalition. American commanders in the country are believed to oppose the British strategy for handing over Maysan and Basra provinces to Iraqi control as part of an exit strategy.



http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2062489.ece

[jannyk]

1. Well, the Iraqi Oil was a bust...

so we'll take Afghani Opium to make up the shortfall :sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

2. So, did the British know CIA were mofos before they didn't know?

Give me a break.

[leveymg]

3. Making friends and influencing people. Way to go, Georgie!

Making us Proud to be part of this team!

:applause: :patriot: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot: :woohoo: :sarcasm: :yoiks:

[Vidar]

4. No ally goes unscrewed.