US-UK Special relationship over - does it matter?

[Gromit]

Britain stood by America in Afghanstan and Iraq when Europe turned it's back. Now with regime change in France and Germany and Tony long gone, it would appear that the special relationship is over.

Bush has re-engaged with 'old' Europe and Brown is left discarded on the sidelines.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/11/11/wiran111.xml

Special relationship over - Good or bad for our country?

[anotheoldgit]

If it keeps our already over streched troops out of another conflict, I would say GOOD.

Either-way I think America needs us more than we need them.

[ruby27]

Brown saw what happened to Blair. Blair would still be the PM if he hadn't been seen as Bush's poodle. Brown presumably wants to stay as PM for a while yet so has to be seen to publically to be independant.

Economically I suppose there may have been great benefits from our alliance or special relationship (not sure as I am no economist), but this can not outweigh the disadvantages of the relationship which led to us going to war against Iraq. Also I believe that whilst we align ourselves with US of A, we fail to focus on becoming more integrated into Europe.

[China Doll]

Afternoon Groms,

I'm not sure the special relationship is totally over, we're still tied in to Iraq and what have you but it might be that we're now seen as capable of having some independant thought away from America.

It has its pros and cons like anything, as the lovely rubes says we can focus more on Europe and hopefully not get dragged more in to ridiculous conflicts, but while the americans continue to have a soft spot for their english cousins and we still enjoy the mainstreams of their culture (and taking the mick out of them at any given chance), the foundations of our dysfunctional little relationship with the yanks will continue.

[Le Chat]

Whether or not we have a 'special relationship' with the U.S. with regard to the Middle East, it should be worthy of note, especially at this time of year, that without the massive, low interest loan that the US gave to Britain after WW2 (which was only finally paid off in 2004), our country and its ecomomy would have collapsed thereafter. Such short memories we have!

[Kromovaracun]

Either-way I think America needs us more than we need them.

Your logic being...?

[Kromovaracun]

Le Chat: As an addition to your post, it should also be remembered that the USA congress voted to write off the colossal debt worked up by the British in the Lend-Lease programme during WW2.

[BBWCHATT]

Kromovaracun & anotheoldgit - could you help me understand why you feel the USA needs the UK more than the UK needs the USA. If I were more interested in politics I might already know the answer, but I am not.


BBWCHATT
The old lady in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

[andy-hughes]

I always thought the 'special relationship' was based less on ecconomic and social grounds than the friendship of Thatcher and Reagan.

If you look at two ageing fascist warmongers who are busy conducting a mutual admiration fest. based on "No they can kill my forces first ...." "No, I must insist on getting MY forces obliterated where we don't belong ..", then you could attempt (and fail!) yto dignify this monstrous abuse of power and democracy by draping it in a blood-stained cloak of psuedo-respectability, and call it a 'spepcial relationship'. A better term might have bee 'septic relationship'.

I imagined that once Blair got into power, he wouldn't touch a dangerous psycopathic idiot like Bush with a barge pole, but ...

Then again, he did start by saying his priority was "..education, education, education ..." so that should have bee a sign of things to come.

[Reverandfunk]

Couldnt give a monkeys chuff

[kwicky]

For all this talk of war does it really matter if Iran is capable of building a nuclear bomb. Pakistan has one! In reality they would never use it as it would mean self destruction. Britain has had one for 40 years and all it has done is making us a target for communist regimes.
Bush is worried that other countries may use threats like the USA has done during his tenure. Our threats are worthless and we should just leave that to others. What is special about being a lapdog. Sarcozy can be generous when he is not involved in Bush's wars.

[Kromovaracun]

Kromovaracun & anotheoldgit - could you help me understand why you feel the USA needs the UK more than the UK needs the USA. If I were more interested in politics I might already know the answer, but I am not.

I don't think that at all. I was asking AOG why he does.

I think although today 'need' might be a bit strong, there's certainly benefits to be had from being close to the USA (and that that doesn't necessarily mean becoming a puppet state as some people seem to think). Of course, this is now rather complicated by the arrival of Sarkozy, who now offers quite an attractive alternative. I'm still debating with myself to what extent I think it should be pursued.

[BBWCHATT]

Kromovaracun - please forgive me - I didn't read your first post correctly.


BBWCHATT
The old lady in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA