Thursday 19 November 2009

Obama and "The Special Relationship'


Our ally? Never.


At last, a journalist who tells how it really is. Fraser Nelson, the editor of the Spectator, is trailing an article by Con Coghlin in today's Spectator in which Con discusses the way Washington, with regard to the Afghanistan war, is treating Britain.

"The Afghan issue has made clear the astonishing disregard with which Mr Obama treats Britain. As he decides how many more troops to send to Afghanistan - a decision which will fundamentally affect the scope of the mission (war*) - Britain is reduced to taking a guess. The White House dies not even pretend to portray this as a joint decision. It is diplomatic cold-shouldering that stands in contrast not just to the Blair-Bush era, but to the togetherness of the soldiers on the ground."

As Fraser Nelson says, in this respect he's the worst kind of ally. How long have a few of us been saying exactly this? Have people started to waken up? I do hope so.

*Some journalists still have a problem with the word war. Perhaps they can't find it in their hearts to call the death of 235 British soldiers in a hostile country, where our troops are continually in armed conflict, a war. I can, because it is.

6 comments:

DougtheDug said...

What I find surprising is how many, especially in Government, seem to think that there is a, "special relationship", between the US and the UK where the UK is foremost in the minds of the US Government in everything.

The, "special relationship", is based on the incredibly self-centered and parochial world-view which the British political and chattering classes hold. It is comparable to the demented fan who believes that their idol not only knows who they are but also cares about them to the point where they become dismayed if the idol doesn't treat them as an equal. In reality the US wants to dominate the World and the UK is a very small part of that strategy.

"As Fraser Nelson says, in this respect he's the worst kind of ally. How long have a few of us been saying exactly this? Have people started to waken up? I do hope so."

He's not, "the worst kind of ally", unless Fraser believes that the US really cares about the UK more than any other country in the world. That phrase is a great example of, "spurned, stupid fan syndrome". The US is aware of the UK but only as one country among many which are much bigger and much more important. Many people in the UK are aware that the, "Special Relationship", is one-sided but it hasn't got through to the poltical class yet.

Apogee said...

Perhaps the one sided extradition treaty is case in point.
Now who was responsible for that one?

subrosa said...

Of course you're right Doug but our politicians of the main parties still hang onto the now myth that Britain is more important than the likes of China, India etc.

For them to acknowledge that fact would be admitting to the citizens that we'd been sold down the channel.

subrosa said...

I'm sure there are a lot more which we don't know about Apogee, aren't you?

Maturecheese said...

The point this blog makes about the importance of China and India, to name but two, means we really do need to take more of an isolationist stance in this country. We are consistently told that it is in our interests to embrace 'Globalisation' but if we carry on doing so we will completely lose our identity this Century. We are so insignificant now that self preservation is our only salvation. Do I think this will happen?, No, and so our population will resemble something completely different in a few decades. Goodbye to a thousand years of culture, history and the British way of life.

subrosa said...

Yes of course there are more maturecheese and I completely agree with you.

But Gordon Brown isn't interested in our future, just in his 'achievements' at how well he destroyed Britain.

Related Posts with Thumbnails