Peter Hitchens argues that the removal of US B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford marks the end of the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States, particularly under President Trump's administration. He criticizes both U.S. and British officials for their involvement in what he sees as aggressive and misguided military actions against Iran, including false justifications for the use of bases like Fairford. Hitchens contends that alliances with countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey undermine claims of promoting democracy and freedom, and suggests that Britain should not blindly support America's foreign policies.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The United States removed all its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, an air base northwest of London in Gloucestershire, following security concerns after six people were arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack at the site one week earlier. Around a dozen U.S. bombers had been stationed there, using it as a hub for launching strikes against Iran. The Pentagon confirmed the move but did not provide specific reasons beyond operational security constraints.
The arrests involved five British nationals and one dual UK-Iranian national who were detained on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing terrorist acts before being released on bail. Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested that there might be "strong indications" of Iran's involvement, a claim denied by Tehran. RAF Fairford had been used extensively since the start of conflicts with Iran, hosting various bombers including B-52s and B-1s.
Counter-terrorism policing in Britain described the investigation as highly complex and ongoing, examining multiple angles of inquiry, possibly including foreign state involvement. The incident underscores tensions between the U.S., Iran, and its allies regarding military operations and security threats from terrorist plots targeting strategic bases.
Written for “US Bombers Removed From UK Base” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 51 other(s) covering the same event.
The panic flight of the US Air Force from Fairford has ended an awkward partnership begun when we were bankrupt and alone in 1940.
asserted
we → end → 1940
We and America just don't need each other in that way any more.
asserted
We → need → way
Mr Trump's USA – America First and America Alone – is happy to go its own way in its aggressive adventures.
asserted
USA → go → adventures
When Donald Trump opened his assault on Iran, the world was full of supposedly 'Right-wing' commentators, urging him on and denouncing the evils of the Islamic Republic.
asserted
world → open → Republic
How silly they all look now.
asserted
they → look → ?
The usual propaganda was deployed.
asserted
propaganda → deploy → ?
Iran was a brutal tyranny and we were spreading freedom and democracy.
asserted
we → spread → freedom
We didn't succeed in this of course, as anyone at all well-informed could have told Mr Trump.
uncertain
anyone → succeed → Trump
And the fact that the 'West' is allied with more than one such despotism, and does not care, was avoided or ignored.
asserted
West → ally → despotism
Quite honestly how anyone can be in alliance with Saudi Arabia and Turkey (as we are) and think he is serving the causes of democracy, law and freedom, I do not know.
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I → think → democracy
Sir Keir Starmer, then our Premier, was excoriated by those militant voices for being cautious about allowing the USAF base in Fairford to be used in this war.
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base → excoriate → war
Alas, he quickly gave in and pretended that the giant bombers based there were engaged in 'defensive' operations as they unloaded high explosive on Iranian targets.
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they → give → targets
This fell into the class of things of which it can be said 'if you can believe that, you can believe anything'.
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you → fall → anything
The US military has removed all of its B-1 bombers from the Gloucestershire air base at the centre of a suspected terror plot last month
So now where are we?
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we → remove → plot
Iran is not defeated.
asserted
Iran → defeat → ?
It has hit America hard in its Gulf bases, destroying crucial, highly costly and irreplaceable US military equipment and facilities.
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It → hit → equipment
It has survived questionable murders of its own leadership.
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It → survive → leadership
I do not think so.
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I → think → ?
Among the dead were wholly innocent relatives of the assassinated leaders.
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relatives → assassinate → leaders
Let us call things by their proper names – for we would surely do so if Iran did the same to our side.
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Iran → let → side
Every so often, President Trump stirs himself into a new rage and threatens to wipe Iran from the map.
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Trump → stir → map
So far, he has not done so but I do not think any of us can be quite sure that he will not try.
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he → do → us
No more terrifying figure has ever held the presidency of the USA.
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figure → hold → USA
But this season of folly has finally ripped up the fiction that was the 'special relationship' between us and the USA.
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that → rip → us
Anyone who still believes in this great gloopy tripe sandwich only needs to remember Mr Trump's recent crass call for a united Ireland.
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who → believe → Ireland
Americans would turn and rend us if we did the same sort of thing to them – say, supporting Mexican demands for the return of the lands Uncle Sam violently seized from them in 1848.
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Sam → turn → 1848
And Donald Trump's USA no longer needs to carry what is left of our armed forces in its baggage, to pretend that it has allies.
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it → need → allies
But we can be an important and influential nation again, once we struggle free of the obsolete American alliance.
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we → struggle → alliance
The sudden disappearance of US bombers from Fairford shows that they never really needed it to bomb Iran.
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they → show → Iran
Modern in-flight refuelling made it unnecessary years ago.
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it → make → flight
Their desire to implicate us in the increasingly disastrous Iran war was the only reason for using Fairford this time.
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desire → implicate → Fairford
Now they don't even want to do that any more.
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they → want → that
Breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the approaching day when we finally declare independence from the USA.
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we → breathe → USA
Look out for posters for The Michael Portillo Show where you live.
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you → look → Show
I cannot show one to you but you will enjoy the sight of the sometime Secretary of State for Defence looking like a game show host, wearing a fluorescent suit and a smile of pure cheese.
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Secretary → show → cheese
Has he now run out of railways to visit?
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he → run → railways
Apparently he plans to share the story of
his father's flight from the Spanish Civil War.
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he → plan → War
His promoters promise 'funny and insightful' observations about his old boss Margaret Thatcher and his reflections on the decay of political power.
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promoters → promise → power
They say: 'He'll tell us about his break into TV – including the time he became a single mum…
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he → say → time
Well, how are the mighty diverted.
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mighty → divert → ?
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
