U.S. Air Force Backpedals on London Ban

The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday rescinded an order barring its personnel from visiting London in the wake of Thursday’s bombings, after the edict brought public scorn and indignation.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in London confirmed that the order had been withdrawn but did not say why.

The rule had applied to some Navy personnel as well as 10,000 Air Force personnel at two major bases in eastern England, and the Navy had rescinded the order earlier, David Johnson, the embassy’s charge d’affaires, told BBC radio.

The ban, which was imposed the day after four bombs killed at least 52 people, brought this comment in a Daily Mail editorial:

“We trust the 4 million Americans who come to London each year are made of sterner stuff than the U.S. Air Force.”

In contrast to the military order, Mayor Ken Livingstone had urged Londoners to return to normality after the attacks and not let themselves be overcome by fear.

Anthony King, a political analyst at Essex University, said the original U.S. decision had been a “gross overreaction.”

“It gives the impression that American airmen and America in general is rather feeble. I think from a public relations point of view, it was a serious mistake,” King said.

At a makeshift shrine to the victims outside King’s Cross Station, Londoner Ann Redmon said, “It is pretty cowardly, given the support Britain has given them in Iraq.”

The order had applied to the area inside the M25 highway that encircles London, but travel on official business was permitted, said Matt Tulis, a spokesman at the Mildenhall air base.

“The main reason is for the security and safety of our military folks,” he said.

Staff Sgt. Jeff Hamm at Lakenheath base said the Air Force wanted to “ensure its personnel are as vigilant and as safe as possible.”