"US commander in Iraq orders UK forces to attack Iranians" (last year)

[Mairead]

Does anyone remember seeing this? I don't.

America's military commander in Iraq ordered British troops to prepare a full-scale ground offensive against Iranian forces that had crossed the border and grabbed disputed territory, a senior officer has disclosed.
...
The incident was disclosed by a senior British officer at a conference in London last week {third week in June last year} and is reported in today's edition of Defence Analysis. The identity of the officer is not given.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/30/wiran30.xml

Yes, it's the Torygraph, but it comes close to being a declaration against interest, so I don't see any reason to doubt it.

[tocqueville]

1. mmmm not the first time...

The incident is reminiscent of the exchange during the Kosovo conflict between the American general, Wesley Clark, the supreme allied commander Europe, and Gen Sir Mike Jackson, the British commander.

When Gen Clark told Gen Jackson to send British troops into Pristina airport to prevent Russian troops from taking control Gen Jackson refused. He was reported to have said: "I am not going to start World War Three for you."

from same article