Lon More, methinks you are talking tripe. The military is imminently flexible, we generally get stuffed by civil rules!! For GW1 the problem was that individual states when issuing diplomatic clearances often stipulated the routes that bombed-up aircraft had to follow. Indeed, some states wouldn't even allow over-flights, even for military aeromedical aircraft! I can't comment on why this particular aircraft didn't get direct over England but would offer that the fact it had to tank somewhere may have affected the route.
PS. If the civil controllers would like/agree to do some AAR or formation stuff, feel free to file for the 'more expeditous' GAT route next time.
