The Special Relationship

[Barry Ferguson]

In recent weeks we've seen a lot of alk about Obama snubbing Gordon Brown and Britain, from his gift of some DVDs to his refusal to grant a one-on-one meeting to Brown at the G20. Is the Special Relationship between Britain and America still special?

EDIT: We've seen a lot of talk as well, which is kind of like alk

[Poach]

Since WW2 we've been the junior partner of the relationship anyway, I don't particularly believe it was ever special. The US doesn't need us and when it comes to crunch time they know that.

[Stalins Ghost]

The special relationship will ebb and flow, but until either British or American society fundamentally changes, it will stay for good. Both ultimately have the same world view - economic prosperity through peace on a capitalistic basis. So long as that holds true, the two Anglo-Saxon powers will continue to cooperate.

[Captain Jin]

No, it hasn't ended. I think the stuff with Obama was trumped up and isn't indicative of anything. The Brits might not think that they mean much to us, but it's quite the opposite in the States. Most Americans consider Great Britain to be our greatest Ally and can relate to them better than anyone else, besides maybe our buddies to the North. Sometimes our foreign policy hasn't shown that, but as far as the American people are concerned we love Great Britain. This goes for Australia and New Zealand as well. It's that anglo thing we all have going.

Edit- Also, your avatar is terrifying.

[Brain_in_a_vat]

No, it hasn't ended. I think the stuff with Obama was trumped up and isn't indicative of anything. The Brits might not think that they mean much to us, but it's quite the opposite in the States. Most Americans consider Great Britain to be our greatest Ally and can relate to them better than anyone else, besides maybe our buddies to the North. Sometimes our foreign policy hasn't shown that, but as far as the American people are concerned we love Great Britain. This goes for Australia and New Zealand as well. It's that anglo thing we all have going.

Edit- Also, your avatar is terrifying.

I thought everyone hated the British. Except the Dutch maybe. We've ed up something pretty much everywhere.

[Captain Jin]

I thought everyone hated the British. Except the Dutch maybe. We've ed up something pretty much everywhere.

Not in the States. We all like the British and you should know that your accent could get you so much play from the ladies in the US too . It's like that guy from that movie Love Actually that drops himself in the Mid-West and all those hot girls are all over him. Girls love British accents haha.

But anyways, I could've sworn that someone put up a post a while ago about American populace voting for who they would likely go to war for and Britain was up there at the top with a very high percentage. I don't know of a stronger ally to the United States than Great Britain.

[Carach]

The special relationship will ebb and flow, but until either British or American society fundamentally changes, it will stay for good. Both ultimately have the same world view - economic prosperity through peace on a capitalistic basis. So long as that holds true, the two Anglo-Saxon powers will continue to cooperate.

its just unfortunate that u had to crush us through economic warfare before this became the official standpoint eh

'special relationship', if u wish to call it that, is at its lowest point now. One could argue validly for it 60 years ago. Not really now - in military circles the pentagon says so - says the US needs stronger allies than britain; its reflected both in the political snubs (not just obama being a but also in military programs like the f35, to name one example, where the US has attempted multiple times to hamper britain's place in it..and the BAE eurofighter sale to the saudis.. which saw the US 'summon' british representatives to the white house to 'explain themselves'..) and in US foreign policy - its attempts to get closer to india....

far too complicated to make a simple post on tbh, but its not particularly special. We've all been shown time and again that the US dont consider it special; from ww2 and roosevelts insistence on blind trust of a mass murdering dictator like stalin and strong dislike (to the point of considering an enemy) of the British Empire.... to the Suez 'crisis'... on and on and on to the pathetic little stuff of present day (because lets face it, britain isnt major anymore to have big fallings out with.)

equal partnership has degraded to one of master and apprentice. And its been pretty much exclusively one way in the creation of such circumstances. Perhaps we should suspect this from states that are so self centred and self serving as that of the United States? A neo-realist would sure love to point all this out as a prime example of how states in the world are all out for themselves, that international organisations can never work as a result.

[Sphere]

Special Relationship between Britain and America still special?

Yes.

You don't see the Secretary of State going to Basque-Spanish negotiations, but you don't blink an eye if for she shows up at Northern Ireland negiotiations. Or to see the UK PM flanking the President during the revealing of Irans second nuclear site. You also see this co-operation in defense and in financial sectors.

The US diplomatic focus on Russia and China has to due with the fact that they are not on board with US diplomatic efforts to curtail the Iranian nuclear program while the UK is. Whats the point of preaching to the choir?

[emperorpenguin]

Yes.

You don't see the Secretary of State going to Basque-Spanish negotiations, but you don't blink an eye if for she shows up at Northern Ireland negiotiations. ?

To be fair that's a lot more to do with the Irish vote back in the US

[Barry Ferguson]

Annoyingly, there is a brilliant picture in The Times of Gordon apparently raping Hillary but I can't get it to appear properly
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6870039.ece

[Azog 150]

If anything, the special relationship has gotten more popular here in Britain despite Obama's so called 'snubs'. I think that is more to do with people being glad that Bush is finally out of the White House, and I have consequently heard a lot less America-bashing then you used to get from basically the Iraq invasion onwards.

Even those who consistently poke fun out of the yanks will usually fully appreciate the friendship we have got going, and you will find very few who genuinely hate America. In fact, many people I have spoken to aspire to at least visit America, if not move there.

[Dr. Croccer]

Comedian Marcus Brgsctocke explains the ''Special Relationship.''

[justicar5]

Comedian Marcus Brgsctocke explains the ''Special Relationship.''

LOL! So true,

[jankren]

Britan: America's little poodle.

[I Heart Romans]

Britan: America's little poodle.

I hate to think what that makes everyone else...

[Yorkshireman]

Apart from the political/military/cultural ties we've had for a long time, the fact that we speak the same lingo goes a longway and means we'll always be closer to the US than we are to other countries.

Britan: America's little poodle.

zzzzzzzZZZZZZ

[Pickle_mole]

Britan: America's little poodle.

I dont know any americans who think that, the Americans i know, my fellow Americans, view Britian as an equal and really value the british nation. Its a shame some outside of the U.S. think we look down on Britian as our lackey. And as previosly mentioned that includes Australia, New Zealand and Canada (the only caveat is the canadians are like the red headed step child )

[justicar5]

I dont know any americans who think that, the Americans i know, my fellow Americans, view Britian as an equal and really value the british nation. Its a shame some outside of the U.S. think we look down on Britian as our lackey. And as previosly mentioned that includes Australia, New Zealand and Canada (the only caveat is the canadians are like the red headed step child )

its more because we go along with american policy even if it is massively unpopular with our own population.

[Bleda]

In recent weeks we've seen a lot of alk about Obama snubbing Gordon Brown and Britain, from his gift of some DVDs to his refusal to grant a one-on-one meeting to Brown at the G20. Is the Special Relationship between Britain and America still special?

As for his gift of DVDs, I wouldn't think of them as an intentional snub. Its just that Obama is utterly naive and and unfit for statesmanship. Perhaps even he suffers from "new money" syndrom. A box of DVDs is just not befitting a world leader, or even a millionaire, or moderately wealthy person... the list goes on.
Its embarrassing to watch and at times its like an episode of The Office, Obama is the boss I just have to look away

[Barry Ferguson]

As for his gift of DVDs, I wouldn't think of them as an intentional snub. Its just that Obama is utterly naive and and unfit for statesmanship. Perhaps even he suffers from "new money" syndrom. A box of DVDs is just not befitting a world leader, or even a millionaire, or moderately wealthy person... the list goes on.
Its embarrassing to watch and at times its like an episode of The Office, Obama is the boss I just have to look away

Surely the man was aware that it is not an appropriate gift? We gave him a pen holder made from the wood of a Royal Navy anti-slaving ship, the sister ship of the ship the president's desk is made of. We got some DVDs.