Poodle yaps at master

The British government is launching a pretend protest against US arms supplies to Israel via the UK. From Gulf Daily News:

Britain will make formally complaint to the US over its use of a British airport for transiting bombs to Israel, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said last night.

She said it appeared the US did not follow proper procedures when transporting arms to Israel via Britain.

"I have already notified the US that we are not happy about it," Beckett said, after a meeting of foreign ministers on the Lebanon crisis in Rome.

"We have already let the US know that this is an issue that appears to be seriously at fault, and we will be making a formal protest if it appears that that is what has happened."

British media reported earlier yesterday that aircraft carrying "bunker-busting" bombs from the US to Israel refuelled at Prestwick airport in Scotland over the weekend.

Beckett indicated that her complaint was of a procedural nature.

"It appears that in so far as there are procedures for handling that kind of hazardous cargo, irrespective of what they are, it does appear that they were not followed," she said.

Poor translation, I know. Anyway, it appears that the foreign minister is upset at America not following proceedures. The killing of Lebanese civilians clearly isn't an issue for her. Still reactionaries in the Gulf can pretend that the UK is pursuing a fairer line on this Lebanon business than America is.