Posted on 01/03/2020 3:42:36 PM PST by RandFan
DOWNING Street was last night livid with Donald Trump for endangering British troops by assassinating Iranian military chief Qasem Soleimani without any warning.
In a serious breach of protocol between key allies, the US president didn’t tell Boris Johnson about the Baghdad missile strike on the terror mastermind.
The attack sparked immediate overnight concern for the safety of 400 British troops stationed in Iraq and fears they could be targeted for revenge.
In a snub to the White House, the British Government refused to give any public support for the killing yesterday.
As fears also rose for the precarious deal with Tehran to stop it building a nuclear arsenal, one angry senior British official even accused Mr Trump of behaving “like a mafia boss”.
In a pattern that has alarmed military bosses, The Sun can also reveal the US administration also gave London no warning about the raid to kill ISIS chief Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi in October.
Defence chiefs were forced to issue urgent orders in the middle of the night to halt movement in the country, as well as hike base security.
The UK service personnel are based in three locations across Iraq – at Camp Taji north of Baghdad on a traning mission, in the capital itself and in the Kurdish city of Erbil.
A further 500 British troops and airmen are operating in and around Syria, on Operation Shader.
While condemning terror mastermind Soleimani’s long and murderous career, the Foreign Secretary did not condone the attack in a terse public statement.
Instead, Dominic Raab called for calm, alongside France and Germany.
Mr Raab said: “We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qasem Soleimani.
“Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.”
The PM’s New Year holiday on the Caribbean island of Mustique was interrupted for a series of phone briefings throughout yesterday.
But the PM decided not to cut short his holiday after Mr Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace both rushed back to London yesterday morning to handle the crisis instead.
Mr Johnson is expected back in the country by Sunday morning.
Senior officials held a rolling meeting of the government’s emergency committee COBRA through out the day to closely monitor Iran’s response to the killing.
Dubbing it “a very fragile situation”, a No10 source added: “We are watching things very closely and the PM will intervene if and when we think we can help”.
Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat dubbed the White House’s failure to inform No10 of the assassination plan as “a concern”.
The senior Tory MP and former Army officer added: “Having allies means we can surprise our enemies not each other. I would urge our US allies to share more with us”.
Asked whether UK troops based in the region are in danger, former Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said: “Any of the actions that have been taken in the region could have had a consequence of starting a direct confrontation, and therefore military personnel in the region could have been at risk.
“But there’s no doubt that risks and consequences are much greater this morning than they were before.”
In a bid to defuse a full blown war, the government carefully coordinated its response with Paris and Berlin.
Mr Raab also called US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to urge restraint.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass added: “The US military operation followed a series of dangerous provocations by Iran.
“However, this action has not made it easier to reduce tensions. I made this point clearly to Secretary Pompeo as well.”
No10 also dismissed some Labour MPs’ demands for Parliament to be recalled, as its due back from the Christmas holiday on Tuesday anyway.
This is a crock of Bull feces. You know #10 Downing was notified in advance. It’s part of protocol with such allies.
They just don’t get it. Since the coup attempt, the world looks much different as much of it was aligned against PDJT.
It’s now up to THEM to PROVE they are trustworthy. He is in the driver’s seat. Not them.
This bitch explains everything. I love when politician wonks out themselves as spies who are answerable to our enemies and they are caught flat footed and witless.
Well you ain’t in the loop.
Way to show a strong united front against terrorism...you wousses.
Like MI6 wouldn’t leak it in 2 minutes, but they were very helpful to Obama. Two-faced bastards!
So Brits non-stop bringing Muslims into their once-proud power, are suddenly concerned over fellow citizens
Where’s the “outrage” when Muslims kill on the streets of London?
Oh wait . . .
Stuff it Britain! I didn't see Muslims attacking the British Embassy. Let them attack your embassy but we won't be crybabies in your case.
And have the Brits ever come clean about any role their government and intelligence services might have had in the grand schemes to damage the Trump campaign and presidency? Not sure how trustworthy they are these days.
The article never says Boris Johnson actually said that, it never actually names anyone that said that.
It looks like they are taking lessons from TNYT.
.
Funny how effective operations can be when you don’t give the bad guys or their sympathetic friends any warning of what’s up. I get the impression Soleimani’s arrival in Baghdad was to take charge of the mob and coordinate its efforts for more deadly mayhem.
The strike against Soleimani was a textbook model of restraint. The target, a handful of accompanying aides, and their vehicle were all that were taken out. Possibly, more property damage was inflicted by the “protesters” when they pierced the embassy perimeter and torched the reception building.
Don’t need al Boris’ permission or forgiveness.
Even Israel and their Mossad have been unable to reach out and touch this guy, and he has been at the top of their “list” for over a decade. Numerous plans have been made to kill him, but he always seems to slip away. Had we contacted anyone, even our “friends” the Brits, he likely would have escaped again.
If, and I do mean If, this story is true, they can recall all 400 of their troops.
British Intelligence cannot be trusted. They cooked up a crooked tale about a pee pee video.
Who would tell Britain .
A country that let the Muzzues win and over run them .
The would tip them off .
Meh.
Tell ‘em: Now you what will happen if anyone — especially a raghead — attacks our embassy and murders an American!
Churchill, would have cheered Hurahh!!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
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