Much of how and where the US carries out military operations in the UK is shrouded in secrecy, but it’s clear that – once again – we’re being nudged towards the front line without our consent.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave President Donald Trump his go-ahead to use British bases; what we don’t know is exactly what for.
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is one of the major bases used by the US Air Force and there’s been no shortage of activity there since the first US-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
UK Column journalist Charles Malet was able to get up to the perimeter fence in mid-March and observed long-range US B‑1B bombers on the tarmac alongside a considerable arsenal of JDAMs dual-use bombs. An Al Jazeera report shortly afterwards confirmed that the bombs were loaded onto the aircraft, followed by a Declassified UK report a few days later, and at least one B-1B was tracked heading towards the Middle East.
What Charles Malet was able to confirm during his visit was that the British military police who eventually intercepted him appeared from the – polite – questioning that followed to be under direct US control. An example of how our taxes are being used to do Washington’s bidding with zero consent?
According to a Declassified investigation, there are at least another 21 American military bases in Britain and maybe more.
When Jeremy Corbyn MP asked in the Commons in January how many US military personnel are currently working in the UK, the answer he got from Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns was: ‘There are approximately 11,000 United States Visiting Force (USVF) members in the UK at various defence sites, excluding family members and defence civilian personnel and contractors. In the interests of personnel security, I will not currently share specific numbers of USVF personnel at each individual site.’
Another Declassified investigation – How Britain is involved in Trump’s Iran war – from 10 March offers this summary:
- US aircraft have transited through UK bases since early January, and have also used civilian Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire — owned by the Scottish government.
- ‘Defensive assets’ were moved to Cyprus and Qatar earlier this year, according to Sir Keir Starmer, ‘to ensure we were in a heightened state of readiness of any conflict beginning’.
- Allied Gulf monarchies have been supported with air patrols involving Eurofighter Typhoons and F-35 fighter jets.
- HMS Dragon and ‘drone-busting’ Wildcat helicopters have been despatched to the eastern Mediterranean following strikes on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
UK taxpayers are funding and facilitating all this activity – along with much else we’re unaware of – and at no point since 28 February has our consent been sought.
If ever there was a right time for a tax rebellion, it’s right now.
Main image: Charles Malet | UK Column
