LF: ‘Unreliable’ British officers left out of US meetings on Syria

Military sources have claimed that the role of senior British officers at the US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, has been downgraded because their American counterparts believe that they cannot be trusted with high-level intelligence about a conflict with which they are not involved.

This is because Britain is now “non-reliable as far as this operation is concerned”, one former officer claimed.

The news will be a blow to the pride of the Armed Forces, whose role alongside American troops has been usurped by the French, who John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, praised as America’s “oldest ally” last week.

Colonel Bob Stewart, a Tory MP and former UN commander in Bosnia, said that the news was a blow as we “gain so much from our relationship with the US”.

Others have noted that this is the first direct consequence of Mr Cameron’s Commons defeat last week.

Kevan Jones, the Shadow Armed Forces minister, described the news as the “first practical example of the strain which Cameron’s mishandling of the Syrian policy" is having on what has for years been known as the "special relationship". He added that the news will be "very uncomfortable for many in the senior military.”

A YouGov poll for the Times has found that half of voters would approve of a second Commons debate on Syria if the UN confirms that chemical weapons were used by the Assad regime against his own people.

The 30 officers will continue to be “embedded” at the US Tampa military headquarters, officials have confirmed, but they will now work on other areas of planning.

Central Command, headed by General Lloyd Austin, who was commander of US forces in Iraq until the end of 2011, has security responsibilities related to 16 countries, including Afghanistan and Iran.

Pentagon sources have played down the snub, claiming that it would be “normal” for any country which is no longer involved in an operation to stop being included in the planning process.

“I wouldn’t read much into this,” a senior source said.

The former officer, who has served alongside US forces, said that the exclusion of British officers was to be expected as it will be feared British officers could speak to their chain or command, who could in speak to politicians, about the information discussed.

“For all the Americans know, it is going to become a leak. We have become non-reliable allies in terms of this operation,” he said,

The Brits aren't crazy enough for the D&R Global Terrorism Brotherhood. (1 image)

This is either just a case of sensationalism to sell advertizing and papers,or a case of ignorance.

The truth is that the military operates on a "need to know" basis when it comes to classified things. ONLY the people directly involved in mission planning get to sit in on or read the mission briefings,regardless of who they are or what rank they hold.

This was just a case of the normal application of standard security procedures. It wasn't a slap to the face of anybody and the British military know this.

IMO, it's British war-monger propaganda, pushing for another vote in parliament to attack Syria.

British military chiefs are being ejected from US meetings about Syria as they are seen as “unreliable” following David Cameron’s refusal to join military action.