The UK-US 'Special Relationship'

[AJS-]

ErnestM said:

...No other US leader, either Democrat or Republican (recent examples Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2) have treated any leader of the UK with the level of disrespect that this one has. You cannot persuade me that his family history (on his father's side) does not impact that.

No other US leader has had to deal with such a fk wit of a PM though.

GavinPearson said:

Though I personally cannot stand Gordon Brown, he deserves to be treated like the Prime Minister of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, the USA's strongest supporter and ally, and not like a third rate oik from a tinpot little country when he goes to visit.

Why does he deserve this? He's a freak. I'm more embarassed by having that one eyed numpty masquerading as PM than by anything any other politician could say or do to show their contempt for him.

Anyway, the UK is not that important. We're a marginal player in Iraq and Afghanistan, yes we're ahead of Poland and Australia in numbers by virtue of a bigger population, but we're also probably also costing more in borrowed rations and combat gear than the other "coalition partners."

If Britain is being treated like a third rate tin pot country, it's far more to do with the failings of the Labour government than with the undoubted stupidity of Obama.

[Muntu]

ErnestM said:

Actually, the US just needs to get rid of the "community organizer" who, obviously, has a deep seated personal resentment toward the UK...

...No other US leader, either Democrat or Republican (recent examples Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2) have treated any leader of the UK with the level of disrespect that this one has. You cannot persuade me that his family history (on his father's side) does not impact that.

Just MHO.

He sent the Dali Lama out the back door of the White House, past the garbage etc


Barry Hussein is starting to make Jimmy Carter look quite gifted in comparison.

[catso]

Tadite said:

What exactly do you get for a one eyed Scot with a propensity for idiocy?

A full-frontal lobotomy and a jacket with no sleeves?...

[Blue Meanie]

Muntu said:

He sent the Dali Lama out the back door of the White House, past the garbage etc

I'm not sure if BO actually makes those decisions.

"Hey, secret service guys, is that garbage still out by the door?... Yes?.... Excellent, send him that way!"

I'm sure that will be a Secret Service decision.

[Muntu]

Blue Meanie said:

Muntu said:

He sent the Dali Lama out the back door of the White House, past the garbage etc

I'm not sure if BO actually makes those decisions.

"Hey, secret service guys, is that garbage still out by the door?... Yes?.... Excellent, send him that way!"

I'm sure that will be a Secret Service decision.

"hey SAIC, send the Lama out the back door"
"10-4, I am rerouting as we speak"

I think not.

BO is in charge, and wants to keep the Chinese sweet

[Engineer1]

with the Dali Lama there is at least the fact that depending on how you treat him could seriously and adversely affect your countries relationship with, the future/ up and coming super power, China.

[s2art]

Tadite said:

But beyond that I think some of the previous posters make a good point. The UK needs to reevaluate if it wants to continue to spend the money to have the physical capacity to engage on the world stage. Most of the rest of Europe as chosen not to... Nothing wrong with being reasonably rich, safe, and ignored.

Except that would produce the opposite, negligible improvement in richness, a lot less safe, and certainly not ignored by terrorists or tinpot South American countries.

[tinman0]

Engineer1 said:

with the Dali Lama there is at least the fact that depending on how you treat him could seriously and adversely affect your countries relationship with, the future/ up and coming super power, China.

There is an article about how Bush dealt with the Dalai. Essentially he told the Chinese to get off and reminded them that he was "President of the United States of America", and not some Chinese lackey. It also compared how Barry had been manipulated by the Chinese about the timing of seeing the Dalai as well. The commentary suggested that he was not a strong President in that regards.

[rhinochopig]

Ah FFS not this again.

Some reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_US%E2%80%93UK_Mu... and what wiki doesn't mention is that our nuclear sub technology also originates from the US.

The UK/US has an excellent relationship with regards to SF - Read Task Force Black for details of their collaborative efforts if Afganistan / Iraq.

The US is the biggest importer of our defence equipment.

And to be honest I can't be bothered to write about all the other stuff that we mutually benefit from - seriously chaps do some digging and reading!

Although I'm far from being a big fan of the US, it does annoy me when we slag them off unnecessarily.

[Ayahuasca]

I am not slagging the USA, I just think we in the UK should face up to the fact that the SR is fiction and stop continually refering to the bloody thing.

[s2art]

Ayahuasca said:

I am not slagging the USA, I just think we in the UK should face up to the fact that the SR is fiction and stop continually refering to the bloody thing.

Perhaps its your definition of the SR thats fiction. The UK has military and intelligence links with the US that no other nation (except Israel perhaps) has.

[Nadyenka]

It sound like the USA only like the relationship when it is helpful for them.If the UK and USA are so close then Obama is a coward for not showing support for the UK with Argentina.

[Jimbeaux]

Nadyenka said:

It sound like the USA only like the relationship when it is helpful for them.

Sounds familiar does it?

[Tadite]

Jimbeaux said:

Nadyenka said:

It sound like the USA only like the relationship when it is helpful for them.

Sounds familiar does it?

shocking. People doing things because it helps them.

Honestly the idea that we haven't ever had disagreements. Does no one read history? Think you all should take a nice long look at the Suez Crisis. One of many examples...

[AJS-]

s2art said:

Ayahuasca said:

I am not slagging the USA, I just think we in the UK should face up to the fact that the SR is fiction and stop continually refering to the bloody thing.

Perhaps its your definition of the SR thats fiction. The UK has military and intelligence links with the US that no other nation (except Israel perhaps) has.

And that's some how meant to make us sound less like a third rate tin pot power?

As others have said I have nothing against the US, but against our politicians using it as a perverse excuse to do stupid things. Why are we even in Iraq and Afghanistan? For the supposed special relationship that makes Blair and Brown feel important - late night phone calls to the president and banging the war drum are I'm sure way more fun and interesting than facing up to what a mess you're making of the country. Much more interesting lectures when you're retired too.

What do we get out of this so called special relationship? Sharing defence intelligence - so that we can help them with their stupid war that was nothing to do with us in the first place. Do you think they'll be helping us out in the Falklands to reciprocate? Did they last time?

[rhinochopig]

AJS- said:

s2art said:

Ayahuasca said:

I am not slagging the USA, I just think we in the UK should face up to the fact that the SR is fiction and stop continually refering to the bloody thing.

Perhaps its your definition of the SR thats fiction. The UK has military and intelligence links with the US that no other nation (except Israel perhaps) has.

And that's some how meant to make us sound less like a third rate tin pot power?

As others have said I have nothing against the US, but against our politicians using it as a perverse excuse to do stupid things. Why are we even in Iraq and Afghanistan? For the supposed special relationship that makes Blair and Brown feel important - late night phone calls to the president and banging the war drum are I'm sure way more fun and interesting than facing up to what a mess you're making of the country. Much more interesting lectures when you're retired too.

What do we get out of this so called special relationship? Sharing defence intelligence - so that we can help them with their stupid war that was nothing to do with us in the first place. Do you think they'll be helping us out in the Falklands to reciprocate? Did they last time?

Please read the Falklands thread and the whole of this one. What you've written has no truth to it whatsoever.

1. We aren't in Iraq any more.
2. We're not in Afghanistan at the behest of the US, we are there as part of our NATO commitment, which just happens to be UN backed.
3. Our special relationship is not just about sharing intelligence - Our nuclear sub technology and ICBM capability is American to give you two examples.
4. They helped us a lot last time - they just didn't publicly shove the fact in everyone's faces, which I happen to think was the correct response TBH. As I said, read the Falklands thread for myriad details on just how they helped.

[Jimbeaux]

AJS- said:

s2art said:

Ayahuasca said:

I am not slagging the USA, I just think we in the UK should face up to the fact that the SR is fiction and stop continually refering to the bloody thing.

Perhaps its your definition of the SR thats fiction. The UK has military and intelligence links with the US that no other nation (except Israel perhaps) has.

And that's some how meant to make us sound less like a third rate tin pot power?

As others have said I have nothing against the US, but against our politicians using it as a perverse excuse to do stupid things. Why are we even in Iraq and Afghanistan? For the supposed special relationship that makes Blair and Brown feel important - late night phone calls to the president and banging the war drum are I'm sure way more fun and interesting than facing up to what a mess you're making of the country. Much more interesting lectures when you're retired too.

What do we get out of this so called special relationship? Sharing defence intelligence - so that we can help them with their stupid war that was nothing to do with us in the first place. Do you think they'll be helping us out in the Falklands to reciprocate? Did they last time?

We did help you last time. You are out of Iraq.

[Cooky]

So The Slimy Slug does have a spine?

Gordon Brown has rejected an unwelcome move by America to help resolve the dispute between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

The Prime Minister curtly dismissed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's offer to 'facilitate' diplomatic negotiations amid heightened tensions over the territory's sovereignty.

Downing Street issued the rebuff by insisting direct intervention by Washington was 'not necessary'.

[Jimbeaux]

Cooky said:

So The Slimy Slug does have a spine?

Gordon Brown has rejected an unwelcome move by America to help resolve the dispute between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

The Prime Minister curtly dismissed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's offer to 'facilitate' diplomatic negotiations amid heightened tensions over the territory's sovereignty.

Downing Street issued the rebuff by insisting direct intervention by Washington was 'not necessary'.

All that is neccessary is that we support our friends, not negotiate their property. Leftist idiots!

[5unny]

This 'special relationship' rhetoric is cringeworthy at times. Gordo was like the geeky child at school begging to be friends with the popular kid when at the UN last year when he wanted an audience with Obama and kept on trying even when Barry was not interested.

Lord Palmerston, who was PM a few hundred years ago, once said: “Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests." Maybe we should take note.

We are no longer the economic and military power we once were and it follows then that as our decline continues our position in the world becomes less important than other wealthier nations.

Maybe it's time to get used to it.