US allies are 'martians', Brit commanders conclude
Iraq: British and American hostility runs deep
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Monday, 23, Nov 2009 10:41
By Doireann Ronayne
Deep hostility between British and American military leaders has been exposed in leaked classified government documents.
Colonel JK Tanner, British chief of staff in Iraq, described the US military in Iraq as "a group of Martians" in the classified documents, leaked to the Daily Telegraph.
He also lambasted the idea of a 'special relationship'.
"I reckon we were treated no differently to the Portuguese," he said.
Top British commanders wrote how they were not told about major changes to US policy in Iraq which would have a huge impact for British troops.
"The whole system was appalling," the colonel said.
"We experienced real difficulty in dealing with American military and civilian organisations who, partly through arrogance and partly through bureaucracy, dictate that there is only one way: the American way.
"Europeans chat to each other, whereas dialogue is alien to the US military… dealing with them corporately is akin to dealing with a group of Martians," he added.
The chief of staff made the statements in official interview carried out by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2003-2004, the first year of "peacekeeping" operations in Iraq.
Classified transcripts of the interviews together with "post-operational reports" by British commanders were leaked to the Daily Telegraph.
When Colonel Tanner's boss, Major General Andrew Stewart refused to obey an order it resulted in Britain's ambassador to Washington, Sir David Manning, being summoned for a diplomatic reprimand, usually reserved for countries such as Zimbabwe.
Col Tanner also revealed that there was no secure communication link between his headquarters in Basra and those of the US commander General Rick Sanchez, in Baghdad.
The revelation of the strained relationship comes the day before the Chilcot inquiry - which will investigate the UK-US military relationship - is due to begin public hearings into Britain's involvement in Iraq.