Muslim Countries Refuse RAF Overflights
 

Radio 4 reported this morning that the RAF were unable to get their aircraft to the party because 'Muslim countries opposed to war with Iraq had refused overflight rights'.

Does anybody know if this is both Egypt and Saudi?

Will the French be next?

as reported by the BBC
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2799779.stm

The use of the expression "Muslim Countries" is interesting. Does that mean that all the citizens are Muslim? Not, of course, likely to further alienate those who think the war is against Islam rather than Iraq!

I wonder how they would describe India?

:confused:

The use of the expression 'to the party' is also interesting.

SoS

Just as a matter of interest, how did the Americans get their aircraft there?

I wouldn't have thought S.Arabia would have been the main obstacle; if you're flying from the UK to Kuwait, the main two would be Jordan and Iraq (Turkey wouldn't object, being a NATO member, although the recent hoo-ha with Turkey might have been a factor?)

Like the name "Soddim" isn't a clue?

As I'm sure many of you are aware, most of the other heads of state in the ME will not be sad to see 'im go BUT they walk a fine line avoiding upsetting their subjects and paying lip-service to regional solidarity; not to mention not wishing to be seen falling in line with Israel's greatest ally.
I'd expect there's a fair bit of diplomacy taking place as we type.

Don't believe everything you read in the paper, or hear on the radio (even if it is the BBC), either.