Posted on 06/30/2002 7:15:47 PM PDT by Conservative Chicagoan


BLAIR AIDES DENOUNCE U.S. 'BLUNDERING' IN AFGHAN WAR
Sat Jun 29 2002 19:20:06 ET
Senior officials in British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office have launched an astonishing attack on America's handling of the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda fugitives.
But Downing Street late Saturday played down reports that Number 10 officials have attacked the United States' anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan.
Blair's senior aides accused US troops of "blundering" about during house-to-house searches for Islamic fighters, according to the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH.
MORE
"The Americans think they and the Pakistanis can just march in shooting," one told the paper.
Americans did not understand the "sensitivities" involved in such tribal areas, where Britain has experience of operating, they said.
"Using force will just backfire and increase sympathy for al Qaida," the source added.
But a Downing Street spokesman said: "Any suggestion of any split between us and the US in the fight against terrorism is completely wrong.
"The whole campaign in Afghanistan has been characterised by us standing together. That is not going to change."
Developing...
END
I'll wait to hear this confirmed from another source.
Drudge is so unreliable as to be almost worthless as a source.
I'll wait to hear this confirmed from another source.
Drudge is so unreliable as to be almost worthless as a source.
On the other hand, I didn't notice any towel-wrapped terrorists careening into the Westminster Clock Tower, Mr. Blair.
Right. We heard this at the beginning of the war to. The Arab street would rise up if we dared use military force against al Qaida, and there would be a huge backlash.
Guess these wimps would prefer we go after the terrorists with poodles on pink leashes.
Maybe in England which has had a rapid growth of Islamics in the past few years.
Do you also believe in the tooth fairy?
And you apparently do not understand how the liberal media will try to divide.
Are you a shill for Drudge?
How can Drudge break a story when his source is a newspaper?????
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.