US asked UK to keep failed nuke Trident test secret – report

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US asked UK to keep failed nuke Trident test secret – report
Published time: 24 Jan, 2017 09:19Edited time: 25 Jan, 2017 13:01
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FILE PHOTO Crew from HMS Vengeance, a British Royal Navy Vanguard class Trident Ballistic Missile Submarine © David Moir / Reuters

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.@CNN's reporting that US officials are explaining what happened #awkwardhttps://www.rt.com/uk/374821-fallon-us-cnn-trident/ …

9:35 PM - 23 Jan 2017

Fallon refuses to explain alleged Trident nuke malfunction, as US officials spill the beans — RT UK
As Defense Secretary Michael Fallon dodged questions in the Commons over a June 2016 nuclear missile incident, US officials appear to have been openly briefing the American press on key details.

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“It was the [then-President Barack] Obama administration that asked the [then-UK Prime Minister David] Cameron administration not to comment on this,” a source told the paper.

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Whitehall covered up 1st-time failure of Trident ballistic missile test near US coast – report
According to the source, the US administration “may have been worried that there could be similar problems on other missiles.”

“The British submarine successfully carried and launched the missile; the bit that went wrong was the US proprietary technology,” it added.

Responding to questions from Labour and Scottish National Party (SNP) MPs in the House of Commons on Monday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon repeatedly cited national security concerns to justify his strenuous denials.

While the UK maintains it has operational control of Trident aboard its four nuclear submarines, the missiles are owned by the US and are largely reliant on the Americans for technical support.

The US is likely to have been highly resistant to the idea of sharing news of the defect because Britain's D5 missiles are leased from the same stockpile used by the US military.

The emergency debate on Monday, called by former Labour defense minister Kevan Jones, saw the SNP and some Labour figures launch an offensive over the misfire and apparent cover-up.

In a bizarre twist, MPs pointed out during the debate that while Fallon was refusing to disclose details of the misfire, US officials were openly briefing the American media about the incident.

While the SNP wants nukes removed from Scotland, Labour is split on the issue, with the upper echelons of the party leadership generally opposed to nuclear weapons, while many in the parliamentary party support renewing them.

Both Fallon and Prime Minister Theresa May have issued strenuous denials over the incident. Some attempts have also been made to push blame onto May’s predecessor, David Cameron.

Much of the antagonism centers on how much May knew about the incident before a vital vote on Trident renewal only weeks after the misfire. She confirmed on Monday night that she did know about the incident but failed to disclose the information.

 

[Blue Marlin]

so what, failures happen, its only a one of.
who's complaining?

 

[maximuswarrior]

so what, failures happen, its only a one of.
who's complaining?

The US who said to keep it secret. Read it again.

 

[Blue Marlin]

The US who said to keep it secret. Read it again.

and your point is ??????????

 

[Taimoor Khan]

so what, failures happen, its only a one of.
who's complaining?

Its not the missile failure which is of concern. The following is:

"“The British submarine successfully carried and launched the missile; the bit that went wrong was the US proprietary technology,” it added.

While the UK maintains it has operational control of Trident aboard its four nuclear submarines, the missiles are owned by the US and are largely reliant on the Americans for technical support.


In nutshell, there is nothing like indigenous British nuke deterrence, more of leased nukes and delivery system from America. A huge national security liability with Brexit and UK ambitions of going alone.

 

[Beast]

UK must continue do the bidding of American even its wrong. Their lives depend on US.

 

[Vassnti]

Its not the missile failure which is of concern. The following is:

"“The British submarine successfully carried and launched the missile; the bit that went wrong was the US proprietary technology,” it added.

While the UK maintains it has operational control of Trident aboard its four nuclear submarines, the missiles are owned by the US and are largely reliant on the Americans for technical support.


In nutshell, there is nothing like indigenous British nuke deterrence, more of leased nukes and delivery system from America. A huge national security liability with Brexit and UK ambitions of going alone.

what failure? At the time Obama had the codes,trump was in Florida and a US missile was launched from a U.K. Sub, nice out for deniability

 

[Taimoor Khan]

what failure? At the time Obama had the codes,trump was in Florida and a US missile was launched from a U.K. Sub, nice out for deniability

Did you read my post?