Beckett's outrage at U.S. for flying bombs to Israel via Britain
By KIRSTY WALKER, Daily Mail
27th July 2006
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett
Margaret Beckett last night savaged the U. S. for using a British airport as a staging post for the supply of bunker-busting bombs to Israel.
The Foreign Secretary could barely contain her fury after learning that two cargo planes had landed for refuelling at Prestwick Airport, near Glasgow, at the weekend.
Defence sources confirmed that the laser-guided missiles were heading from the U.S. to the Israeli army, which is facing criticism over the rising civilian death toll in Lebanon.
Mrs Beckett accused the U.S. of being 'seriously at fault' and revealed that Britain had lodged a formal complaint.
She said: 'I am not happy about it. Not least because it appears that in so far as there are procedures for handling of that kind of cargo - hazardous cargos irrespective of what they are - it does appear that they were not followed.
'I have already let the United States know that we will be making a formal protest if it appears that that is what has happened.'
Mrs Beckett raised the issue with the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during diplomatic talks in Rome.
The unprecedented attack is further evidence of a growing rift in the 'special relationship' between Britain and the U.S. over the Middle East crisis.
Mrs Beckett's remarks come after a string of ministers have openly expressed concerns at the tactics of the Israeli army.
The U.S. has refused to condemn the Israeli strikes and has sped up the shipment of missiles to the Middle East at its ally's request (the lapdog must always do what its master says).
The Israeli army wants the 5,000lb smart bombs to attack bunkers used by Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon.
The revelation that the two planes landed in Prestwick with their controversial cargo has echoes of the row over the CIA's 'extraordinary rendition' of terror suspects - dubbed 'torture flights' by critics.
The latest row over the missiles, which was quickly branded 'rocket rendition' in Westminster, is likely to overshadow Tony Blair's visit to the U.S. tomorrow.
Sources revealed last night that he had sanctioned Mrs Beckett's complaint.
Labour MP Stephen Pound last night said he was 'proud' that a British minister had stood up to the U.S. He added: 'We have to be seen as neutral through this crisis. I am very proud that Margaret Beckett has stood up the U.S. on this issue.
'It is about time that someone made clear that we are not simply an aircraft carrier for President Bush.'
A White House spokesman told Channel 4 News that it was 'fine' for U.S. planes to land on British soil with weapons destined for the Middle East. He added: 'It should come as no surprise that the U.S. is delivering weapons to Israel as we are close allies.'
But aid agencies said the revelations endangered British workers in the Middle East.
Christian Aid founder Dominic Nutt said: 'It is a disgraceful business which only makes our jobs as aid workers deadlier.
'We are now seen as potential hostages.'
Chemical weapons
Meanwhile, Lebanon is investigating reports from doctors that Israel has used chemical weapons against it.
The Israeli army said it had used only conventional weapons and ammunition in attacks on Hezbollah guerillas and had done nothing that contravened international law.
Israel ignored ten frantic calls from a UN post before dropping a precision-guided bomb that killed four observers sheltering there, it emerged yesterday.
Peacekeepers contacted Israeli troops with a series of increasingly desperate pleas over the course of six hours as shells thudded into the ground around the compound at Khiam in southern Lebanon, which was clearly marked with UN flags.
But instead of calling off its offensive, the Israelis dropped a bomb on the building.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday expressed 'deep regrets' over the deaths.
He rejected claims made by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that the targeting of the position was 'apparently deliberate'.
dailymail.co.uk
By KIRSTY WALKER, Daily Mail
27th July 2006
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett
Margaret Beckett last night savaged the U. S. for using a British airport as a staging post for the supply of bunker-busting bombs to Israel.
The Foreign Secretary could barely contain her fury after learning that two cargo planes had landed for refuelling at Prestwick Airport, near Glasgow, at the weekend.
Defence sources confirmed that the laser-guided missiles were heading from the U.S. to the Israeli army, which is facing criticism over the rising civilian death toll in Lebanon.
Mrs Beckett accused the U.S. of being 'seriously at fault' and revealed that Britain had lodged a formal complaint.
She said: 'I am not happy about it. Not least because it appears that in so far as there are procedures for handling of that kind of cargo - hazardous cargos irrespective of what they are - it does appear that they were not followed.
'I have already let the United States know that we will be making a formal protest if it appears that that is what has happened.'
Mrs Beckett raised the issue with the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during diplomatic talks in Rome.
The unprecedented attack is further evidence of a growing rift in the 'special relationship' between Britain and the U.S. over the Middle East crisis.
Mrs Beckett's remarks come after a string of ministers have openly expressed concerns at the tactics of the Israeli army.
The U.S. has refused to condemn the Israeli strikes and has sped up the shipment of missiles to the Middle East at its ally's request (the lapdog must always do what its master says).
The Israeli army wants the 5,000lb smart bombs to attack bunkers used by Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon.
The revelation that the two planes landed in Prestwick with their controversial cargo has echoes of the row over the CIA's 'extraordinary rendition' of terror suspects - dubbed 'torture flights' by critics.
The latest row over the missiles, which was quickly branded 'rocket rendition' in Westminster, is likely to overshadow Tony Blair's visit to the U.S. tomorrow.
Sources revealed last night that he had sanctioned Mrs Beckett's complaint.
Labour MP Stephen Pound last night said he was 'proud' that a British minister had stood up to the U.S. He added: 'We have to be seen as neutral through this crisis. I am very proud that Margaret Beckett has stood up the U.S. on this issue.
'It is about time that someone made clear that we are not simply an aircraft carrier for President Bush.'
A White House spokesman told Channel 4 News that it was 'fine' for U.S. planes to land on British soil with weapons destined for the Middle East. He added: 'It should come as no surprise that the U.S. is delivering weapons to Israel as we are close allies.'
But aid agencies said the revelations endangered British workers in the Middle East.
Christian Aid founder Dominic Nutt said: 'It is a disgraceful business which only makes our jobs as aid workers deadlier.
'We are now seen as potential hostages.'
Chemical weapons
Meanwhile, Lebanon is investigating reports from doctors that Israel has used chemical weapons against it.
The Israeli army said it had used only conventional weapons and ammunition in attacks on Hezbollah guerillas and had done nothing that contravened international law.
Israel ignored ten frantic calls from a UN post before dropping a precision-guided bomb that killed four observers sheltering there, it emerged yesterday.
Peacekeepers contacted Israeli troops with a series of increasingly desperate pleas over the course of six hours as shells thudded into the ground around the compound at Khiam in southern Lebanon, which was clearly marked with UN flags.
But instead of calling off its offensive, the Israelis dropped a bomb on the building.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday expressed 'deep regrets' over the deaths.
He rejected claims made by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that the targeting of the position was 'apparently deliberate'.
dailymail.co.uk