Britain lets more US arms flights land in Scotland

[spindrifter]

The Times July 28, 2006

By Philip Webster, Political Editor

THE Government will allow more American aircraft carrying arms to Israel to stop over in Britain despite private concerns that the Pentagon was “playing fast and loose”.

The US has asked the Government to let two aircraft with missiles and bombs on board stop at Prestwick in the next fortnight. However, Labour MPs are furious with the US for breaking the rules governing the use of British airports as staging posts when demands on Israel for a ceasefire in Lebanon are growing stronger.

The Times has been told that two aircraft that landed at Prestwick last weekend carrying “bunker-busting” bombs had been designated as civilian flights and that the US failed to notify authorities in advance of their hazardous cargoes, as the rules demand.

<snip>

The munitions are part of a multimillion-dollar arms sale approved by the US that Israel is able to draw at will. Last week Israel asked the US to deliver satellite and laser-guided bombs. This was described as unusual by some military officers, and as an indication that Israel still had a long list of targets to strike in Lebanon.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2289241,00.html

[SeaBob]

1. Those are some mighty expensive

civilian passengers!

[mom cat]

2. Poodle jumps back on lap, then rolls over and begs.

[Vidar]

3. So much for British objections. Impound the planes if you're serious.