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| Britain | |||
| Minister lets US 'mole' roam MoD | |||
| 2010-06-06 | |||
| LIAM FOX, the defence secretary, is facing questions after installing an American aide with links to US intelligence services in the heart of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). MPs have raised concerns about Luke Coffey, a former US army captain, who has been appointed to a highly sensitive role as Fox's special adviser. He has not yet been given full security clearance. Coffey set up the London chapter of an American think tank, many of whose members have backgrounds in the CIA and other American military defence intelligence agencies. Fox, who has strong links with Washington through his Atlantic Bridge charity, has defended Coffey's appointment and dismissed concerns of spying. He has highlighted the importance of the so-called "special relationship" between Britain and America, saying: "It's not as if he is Russian."
There is particular concern about his role in the forthcoming strategic defence review. Central to the review will be Britain's relationship with America and the future of defence procurement programmes. Critics already accuse Fox of being biased towards purchasing cheaper military equipment from America in favour of supplies from the UK defence industry. Michael Dugher, the Labour MP who once worked as a special adviser in the MoD, said: "This raises serious questions. At a time when the MoD is undertaking a sensitive defence review, vital to British national interests, is it really appropriate to have a foreign national and a former member of the US military employed by the taxpayer as a special adviser to the British secretary of state? "It will only fuel fears that Liam Fox plans to tear up important contracts with UK-based suppliers -- supporting thousands of British jobs -- in favour of buying 'off the shelf' from the Americans."
Although the special adviser has been issued with a pass giving him access to all areas of the MoD, he has not yet been "defence vetted". Only a handful of special advisers in the most sensitive departments, such as No 10 and the Foreign Office, undergo this process. It is understood that the security clearance process, which can take several months, has been delayed because of Coffey's nationality. MoD sources say that until he has been cleared he will be working on a restricted computer and will not be allowed into the most confidential meetings. Since Fox became defence secretary there have been two highly sensitive briefings -- on special forces and Britain's nuclear deterrent -- which Coffey was not allowed to attend. However, Whitehall insiders say he will still have ready access to highly confidential documents relating to security and commercial contracts. | |||
| Posted by:lotp |
| #5 Not back then, tw, though it's generally seemed to be that way since then. The War of 1812 is often termed "the Second U.S. Revolution" . More accurately, IMNSHO, it was the first war in support of the U.S. national interest. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-06-06 20:12 |
| #4 Well said, cheers! Pappy, perhaps Goodluck Smock1954 was stretching in the opposite direction: Britain fighting to free itself from us? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-06-06 19:24 |
| #3 I like the sound of this. All I've been hearing lately is how England is going to put our "special relationship" up for review soon. So happy to see cooler heads will (probably) prevail. IMHO the U.S. and England need each other more than ever. |
| Posted by: cheers 2010-06-06 17:12 |
| #2 1812- 1815 - 2nd War for Independence Bit of a stretch, methinks. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-06-06 13:33 |
| #1 Let's see, 1775 - 1782 - 1st War for Independence 1812 - 1815 - 2nd War for Independence 201* ? - 3rd War for ? Is "our man" in place ? /snark |
| Posted by: Goodluck Smock1954 2010-06-06 09:13 |