Hypocrisy = Military Stupidity?
It is so very sad that some American leaders don't seem to have any faith in our friends. Case in point, Yahoo! News (and Reuters) reports that some U.S. troops have been told to avoid London after the recent bombings. "All 12,000 members of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Britain have been banned from visiting London because of last week's bombings, newspapers reported on Tuesday, and one daily slammed the decision as 'timid.'"
At first blush, this may seem prudent. After just a few moments reflection, however, the decision becomes obviously ridiculous before even considering the insult that it ultimately becomes. Did U.S. troops receive similar orders after the Madrid bombings? No. Did any nation's troops receive similar orders after 9/11? No. This order is disturbingly bad judgment that more than certainly came from a pencil-pushing, middle-management minded staff officer. He or she should be sacked, but not before being ordered to ride each of the trains on the Tube and a bus or two.
This action is especially reprehensible considering the recent words of London's mayor who publicly advised the terrorists to "see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world, will arrive in London to become Londoners, to fulfill their dream and achieve their potential ... whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail." How can we let down one so impassioned and eloquent? How can we let down a friend and brother?