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By slapping Rolls-Royce in the face, George Bush has shown how much he really
values his key ally in the Iraq war, writes Richard Norton-Taylor.
"After all we have done for the United States," a very senior military figure
exclaimed the other day.
He was referring to George Bush's decision to scrap a planned £1.4bn contract
with Rolls-Royce to build engines for America's Joint Strike Fighter.
This is not simply a matter of a lucrative contract, money and jobs for a blue
chip British company. It is hugely significant, politically and strategically,
going to the heart of Tony Blair's personal ties with Bush and indeed the
"special relationship" as a whole.
Military and industrial chiefs are furious that Blair failed to convince his
American friend to go ahead with the deal. Maybe their fury should be directed
at Bush alone, but the fact that Blair is also in the frame reflects deepening
frustration with the prime minister's approach to the US.
More than once, Blair personally pleaded with Bush to keep the project - to no
avail.
It was the least the US could have done after Britain stood "shoulder to
shoulder" with America over the invasion of Iraq, say military and industry
sources. What is the price of being America's closest ally?
Britain is planning to buy the JSF - sometimes called the Joint Combat Aircraft
- for its two aircraft carriers due to enter service in the latter half of the
next decade.
Not only is the US preventing a British company building engines for the JSF; it
does not want Britain to have access to the software, notably to stealth
technology that would enable it to repair, modify, test or update the aircraft
once the Ministry of Defence has bought them. (Britain is planning to buy more
than 100 at a cost of over £8bn).
The same refusal to transfer technology to a country supposed to be its trusted
ally is also preventing the RAF from flying a batch of Mark 3 Chinook
helicopters for our special forces.
Because we are not allowed the software to check them properly, we cannot rely
on them.
This dependence on the US is, of course, most clearly and significantly apparent
in Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.
The Trident system relies on the US for missiles and know-how. Such dependence
will be perpetuated if, as expected, the British government decides to replace
the Trident with another system off the shelf from the US.
The refusal of the US to share its techology with the UK has implications for
our relations with Europe: will it - should it - encourage us to cooperate more
closely with our European allies, notably France?
More immediately, it could affect the multibillion-pound tanker aircraft private
finance initiative linking BAE Systems and Airbus.
The project may need US technology: it would certainly need to be compatible
with US aircraft if the UK and US air forces are to fly together in joint
operations as they have done traditionally.
Alan
"Nemesis, winged one that tips the scales of life,
dark-eyed goddess, daughter of Justice,
you restrain the futile pride of mortals with your unyielding bridle and,
hating hurtful vanity, destroy black envy: below your wheel,
always moving but leaving no trace, the fortune of man turns.
Unseen, you come at once to defeat arrogance;
by your hand you gauge the span of life, and, frowning,
you scrutinize the thoughts of men, you always hold the balance.
Be merciful, hallowed judge, winged Nemesis, life's force.
We honor you, Nemesis, immortal goddess,
victory incarnate with wings unfurled, faultless,
sharing the throne of Justice; you resent human vanity
and banish men to Tartarus below"
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