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Post by fretslider on Feb 25, 2010 15:27:10 GMT
That phrase loved by our politicians, is often used to describe what they believe to be exceptionally close political, diplomatic, cultural and historical relations between the United States and the UK.
And the media reports: "Despite Britain’s close alliance with the US, the Obama Administration is determined not to be drawn into the issue of British claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Or to put it another way, the US refuses to endorse British sovereignty in the Falklands oil dispute.
Senior US officials insist that Washington’s position on the Falklands is one of longstanding neutrality.
Memories must be shortening. This is in stark contrast to the public backing and vital intelligence offered by Reagan to Thatcher once she had made the decision to recover the islands by force in 1982. The truth of the matter is Reagan’s support for Britain irked a lot of people in Latin America. Mindful of that, the Obama Administration is trying to split the difference as much as it can because it knows that coming round to the British position would again create a lot of ill will in the region. That's realpolitik for you.
How things have changed since Blair had his head up Bush's fundament.
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Post by mouse on Feb 25, 2010 15:36:02 GMT
there is no special relationship...what was left of it died in irak and afghanistan and the sooner that is realised the better and blair..lol too far up..yes sir no sir three bags full sir and what did we get out of it..sweet FA...not even a few good contracts...
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Post by Ben Lomond on Feb 26, 2010 17:43:06 GMT
The special relationship consists of America doing what is best for America; and if there is a "useful idiot" nation that likes to tag along, then fine. But don't expect special treatment! Quite why our politicians like to worship at the feet of the US President has always puzzled me.
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Post by fretslider on Feb 26, 2010 17:48:38 GMT
The special relationship consists of America doing what is best for America; and if there is a "useful idiot" nation that likes to tag along, then fine. But don't expect special treatment! Quite why our politicians like to worship at the feet of the US President has always puzzled me. I think the polite term for the UK is 'a convenient fig leaf'
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Post by firedancer on Feb 26, 2010 19:18:17 GMT
Funnily enough I was half listening to a radio 4 programme while I was in the car yesterday (can't even remember what it was - perhaps someone else heard it and can fill in the gaps) but it was about British books whose titles had been changed for the American editions.
One was The Special Relationship - it was changed on the advice of the publisher because "the Americans would not understand what it was".
Having bad senior moment here as I cannot remember the exact words, but it was along those lines.
The sentiment says it all anyway.
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Post by mouse on Feb 26, 2010 22:08:49 GMT
! Quite why our politicians like to worship at the feet of the US President has always puzzled me. and feet of clay at that
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Post by clemiethedog on Mar 3, 2010 14:44:03 GMT
There's also that Monroe Doctrine thing about keeping European powers out of the western hemisphere. In the 19th century, we regarded the Falklands as useless rocks.
It's a dated edict, and no doubt only used whenever it's politically convenient, such as when the USSR was mucking about in Cuba or elsewhere. That said, 19th century Americans regarded Latinos as inferior to Europeans, so their concern was about corporate profits and not necessarily any political arrangement. The French installing Maxmillian in Mexico did freak out some in the US, though.
Thatcher's popular spike after the war did influence GHW Bush's thinking eight years later when Iraq invaded Kuwaitt.
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Post by fretslider on Mar 5, 2010 8:40:47 GMT
There's also that Monroe Doctrine thing about keeping European powers out of the western hemisphere. In the 19th century, we regarded the Falklands as useless rocks. It's a dated edict, and no doubt only used whenever it's politically convenient, such as when the USSR was mucking about in Cuba or elsewhere. That said, 19th century Americans regarded Latinos as inferior to Europeans, so their concern was about corporate profits and not necessarily any political arrangement. The French installing Maxmillian in Mexico did freak out some in the US, though. Thatcher's popular spike after the war did influence GHW Bush's thinking eight years later when Iraq invaded Kuwaitt. Iraq invaded Kuwait largely because of George Bush Senior's policies in the region. John Major played the dutiful poodle and Iraq was neutered. As Firedancer pointed out, Americans do not understand what the so-called 'Special Relationship' is. Its a myth, and it serves to keep the UK half in and half out of Europe as the 'Atlantic bridge'. I tend to think of the UK as Airstrip 1.
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Post by clemiethedog on Mar 6, 2010 18:09:59 GMT
What's often overlooked WRT the first Gulf War is that the US had almost condoned Hussein's invasion of Kuwaitt and didn't initially react. It was only when GHW Bush met with Thatcher in Colorado later the same week that the US position changed. Thatcher reminded Bush that the Tories were facing an almost certain defeat before the Faulkins erupted. With the economy heading into a recession, Bush needed a spike, and a quick military victory usually does the trick.
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