ianstone
03-28-2010, 01:47 PM
MPs: Our special relationship with America is over
By Miles Goslett (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Miles+Goslett)
Britain's special relationship with America is over, says a committee of MPs.
The cross-party Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has said the phrase is no longer appropriate as Britain’s is just one of a series of relationships the United States has with key allies.
MPs said that the Government should be ‘less deferential’ towards the Americans as the perception of the UK after the Iraq war as ‘America’s poodle’ had been damaging to Britain’s reputation.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/03/28/article-1261295-00806128000004B0-22_468x377.jpg End of the affair: The Government must be 'less deferential' towards the Americans as the perception of the UK after the Iraq war as 'America's poodle' had been damaging to Britain¿s reputation - thanks to Tony Blair and George W Bush
The phrase was coined 60 years ago by Winston Churchill in the aftermath of the Second World War and was inspired both by the countries’ shared struggle against Nazi Germany and the looming Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union.
It was especially pertinent during the Premiership of Margaret Thatcher when she forged a close political and personal bond with President Ronald Reagan in the Eighties.
More...
We're well-armed and prepared for civil disorder: America's Tea Party revolution and Obama's biggest battle yet (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1261284/Were-armed-prepared-civil-disorder-Americas-Tea-Party-revolution-Obamas-biggest-battle-yet.html)
They were elected within 18 months of each other and struck up a rapport which lasted almost a decade, until 1988, when Reagan stepped down. Their mutual hatred of communism and shared love of the free market meant they spoke more often than any other American and British leaders with the possible exception of Churchill and Roosevelt.
On one occasion as Lady Thatcher was haranguing Mr Reagan during telephone conversation, he remarked to an aide: ‘Isn’t she marvellous?’
But the MPs have argued that Britain’s declining military and economic power means the phrase no longer accurately reflects dealings between the two countries.
A report by the Committee also warned that in the eyes of the rest of the world, the relationship was now more likely to be defined by what was generally seen to be Tony Blair’s unquestioning support for President George Bush over the Iraq war.
The Committee added: ‘The use of the phrase ‘‘the special relationship’’ in its historical sense, to describe the totality of the ever-evolving UK-US relationship, is potentially misleading, and we recommend that its use should be avoided.’
The recommendation proved controversial, with five members – three Labour and two Tories – voting against dropping the term.
The Committee said that it was merely mirroring the attitude taken by President Barack Obama towards Britain since he entered the White House.
It said: ‘The UK’s relationship should be principally driven by the UK’s national interests within individual policy areas. It needs to be characterised by a hard-headed political approach to the relationship and a realistic sense of the UK’s limits.
‘The foreign policy approach we are advocating is in many ways similar to the more pragmatic tone President Obama has adopted towards the UK.’
Committee chairman Mike Gapes said politicians had been ‘guilty of over-optimism’ about their ability to influence the US.
He said: ‘We must be realistic and accept that globalisation, structural changes and shifts
in geopolitical power will inevitably affect the UK-US relationship. Over the longer-term the UK is unlikely to be able to influence the US to the extent that it has in the past.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1261295/MPs-Our-special-relationship-America-over.html#ixzz0jUgpqwap (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1261295/MPs-Our-special-relationship-America-over.html#ixzz0jUgpqwap)
If I am honest I would not want a special relationship with our government. This is just more political bullshit. Our special relationship is written in blood. Let the politicians shout and carry on. My hand will always bid you welcome as I will any, coalition force who has paid the price in blood.
By Miles Goslett (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Miles+Goslett)
Britain's special relationship with America is over, says a committee of MPs.
The cross-party Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has said the phrase is no longer appropriate as Britain’s is just one of a series of relationships the United States has with key allies.
MPs said that the Government should be ‘less deferential’ towards the Americans as the perception of the UK after the Iraq war as ‘America’s poodle’ had been damaging to Britain’s reputation.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/03/28/article-1261295-00806128000004B0-22_468x377.jpg End of the affair: The Government must be 'less deferential' towards the Americans as the perception of the UK after the Iraq war as 'America's poodle' had been damaging to Britain¿s reputation - thanks to Tony Blair and George W Bush
The phrase was coined 60 years ago by Winston Churchill in the aftermath of the Second World War and was inspired both by the countries’ shared struggle against Nazi Germany and the looming Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union.
It was especially pertinent during the Premiership of Margaret Thatcher when she forged a close political and personal bond with President Ronald Reagan in the Eighties.
More...
We're well-armed and prepared for civil disorder: America's Tea Party revolution and Obama's biggest battle yet (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1261284/Were-armed-prepared-civil-disorder-Americas-Tea-Party-revolution-Obamas-biggest-battle-yet.html)
They were elected within 18 months of each other and struck up a rapport which lasted almost a decade, until 1988, when Reagan stepped down. Their mutual hatred of communism and shared love of the free market meant they spoke more often than any other American and British leaders with the possible exception of Churchill and Roosevelt.
On one occasion as Lady Thatcher was haranguing Mr Reagan during telephone conversation, he remarked to an aide: ‘Isn’t she marvellous?’
But the MPs have argued that Britain’s declining military and economic power means the phrase no longer accurately reflects dealings between the two countries.
A report by the Committee also warned that in the eyes of the rest of the world, the relationship was now more likely to be defined by what was generally seen to be Tony Blair’s unquestioning support for President George Bush over the Iraq war.
The Committee added: ‘The use of the phrase ‘‘the special relationship’’ in its historical sense, to describe the totality of the ever-evolving UK-US relationship, is potentially misleading, and we recommend that its use should be avoided.’
The recommendation proved controversial, with five members – three Labour and two Tories – voting against dropping the term.
The Committee said that it was merely mirroring the attitude taken by President Barack Obama towards Britain since he entered the White House.
It said: ‘The UK’s relationship should be principally driven by the UK’s national interests within individual policy areas. It needs to be characterised by a hard-headed political approach to the relationship and a realistic sense of the UK’s limits.
‘The foreign policy approach we are advocating is in many ways similar to the more pragmatic tone President Obama has adopted towards the UK.’
Committee chairman Mike Gapes said politicians had been ‘guilty of over-optimism’ about their ability to influence the US.
He said: ‘We must be realistic and accept that globalisation, structural changes and shifts
in geopolitical power will inevitably affect the UK-US relationship. Over the longer-term the UK is unlikely to be able to influence the US to the extent that it has in the past.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1261295/MPs-Our-special-relationship-America-over.html#ixzz0jUgpqwap (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1261295/MPs-Our-special-relationship-America-over.html#ixzz0jUgpqwap)
If I am honest I would not want a special relationship with our government. This is just more political bullshit. Our special relationship is written in blood. Let the politicians shout and carry on. My hand will always bid you welcome as I will any, coalition force who has paid the price in blood.