Britains special relationship just a myth
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It depends what you mean by 'special relationship'.
People are usually light years ahead of their petty governments and visionless leaders and it cannot be said that the majority of the citizens of the USA voted for Bush any more than it is possible to say that the majority of British subjects voted for Blair. Both were elected by a small enfranchised minority. Neither leader has been given an overwhelming madate to speak for those they purport to represent!
If there is any special relationship at all than it is that which exists between citizens of the USA and subjects of the UK on an indvidual basis united by a common language rather than the one-sided relationship that exists governmetally on the part of those who purport to exercise a representative democratice mandate; who claim a legitimacy of a popular mandate they do not have.
The special relationship is not a legal concept, it does not exist as a tangible measure of international law, it exists in peoples hearts and their minds, and in the way they interract with each other. In other words, it exists outside and beyond the reach of amoral self-serving and sometimes corrupt politicians who claim to represent and who do not; who claim to lead, and do not and who claim dominion over the moral guidance system of an invidividual while offering nothing of lasting value to replace it with.
Regards and best wishes to all across the pond
Iolis
People are usually light years ahead of their petty governments and visionless leaders and it cannot be said that the majority of the citizens of the USA voted for Bush any more than it is possible to say that the majority of British subjects voted for Blair. Both were elected by a small enfranchised minority. Neither leader has been given an overwhelming madate to speak for those they purport to represent!
If there is any special relationship at all than it is that which exists between citizens of the USA and subjects of the UK on an indvidual basis united by a common language rather than the one-sided relationship that exists governmetally on the part of those who purport to exercise a representative democratice mandate; who claim a legitimacy of a popular mandate they do not have.
The special relationship is not a legal concept, it does not exist as a tangible measure of international law, it exists in peoples hearts and their minds, and in the way they interract with each other. In other words, it exists outside and beyond the reach of amoral self-serving and sometimes corrupt politicians who claim to represent and who do not; who claim to lead, and do not and who claim dominion over the moral guidance system of an invidividual while offering nothing of lasting value to replace it with.
Regards and best wishes to all across the pond
Iolis
The notion of the 'special relationship' seems to owe a lot to Churchill. With an American mother, and a devotion to the concept of 'the English speaking people' as a cultural (almost spiritual) idea rather more simply linguistic Anglosphere, he arguably had his own 'special relationship' with the US.
It has been usual to see it as depending on the quality of the personal relationship between PM and President. You could further see it as historically contextualised by issue as well as by personality.
Churchill saw a historical affinity between the UK and US and was well aware that Britain needed US help to win WW2. He was also suspicious of Stalin while Roosevelt was suspicious of Churchill's imperial agenda. Churchill, for personal and political reasons, seems to have cooked up this idea of a special relationship to suit his needs and aims at the time.
Later you could argue that Maggie and Ronnie actually came closest to making it a reality rather than a piece of rhetoric or propoganda. Warm mutual regard, a similar domestic agenda and foreign policy stance led to, one could argue, a mutually beneficial relationship (US logistical aid for the Falklands War, Brits doing some of Ronnie's dirty work sans Congessional oversight in Afghanistan/Colombia/Cambodia etc).
With Tony and George there is clearly not much mutual regard ('Yo Blair'?). There doesn't seem much in common with their domestic agendas and, in foreign policy terms, how much can you hope for from a convinced unilateralist?
I think the special relationship was mythic at inception, is a myth now but has had some substance in times past and might conceivably have some again.
It has been usual to see it as depending on the quality of the personal relationship between PM and President. You could further see it as historically contextualised by issue as well as by personality.
Churchill saw a historical affinity between the UK and US and was well aware that Britain needed US help to win WW2. He was also suspicious of Stalin while Roosevelt was suspicious of Churchill's imperial agenda. Churchill, for personal and political reasons, seems to have cooked up this idea of a special relationship to suit his needs and aims at the time.
Later you could argue that Maggie and Ronnie actually came closest to making it a reality rather than a piece of rhetoric or propoganda. Warm mutual regard, a similar domestic agenda and foreign policy stance led to, one could argue, a mutually beneficial relationship (US logistical aid for the Falklands War, Brits doing some of Ronnie's dirty work sans Congessional oversight in Afghanistan/Colombia/Cambodia etc).
With Tony and George there is clearly not much mutual regard ('Yo Blair'?). There doesn't seem much in common with their domestic agendas and, in foreign policy terms, how much can you hope for from a convinced unilateralist?
I think the special relationship was mythic at inception, is a myth now but has had some substance in times past and might conceivably have some again.
I believe the term 'special relationship' was coined in World War 2 to describe intelligence information sharing between Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
It seems this limited definition was stretched in the years that followed to make us feel better, possibly as a palliative to disguise our steadily diminishing importance in the world. As time has worn on it appears that we have permitted ourselves to need the yanks more than they need us. Whatever one thinks of the French they have not allowed this to happen.
When all said and done the USA is a foreign power (not always benign), and one that systematically undermined UK foreign policy in the aftermath of WW2 (not just Suez). Let's not forget it was touch and go during 1982 whether or not the US NSA would provide sat photos of Argentine positions to the task force. Maggie T. pushed President Reagan to provide this information as it was not automatically forthcoming. How long did it take the Americans to clamp down on IRA fund-raising and weapon-purchases?
As a Vietnam-era Australian SAS soldier wrote (and I paraphrase) "I fought the Viet Cong because they were the declared enemy. I would have just as easily fought the Americans."
Healthy view that for a professional soldier.
It seems this limited definition was stretched in the years that followed to make us feel better, possibly as a palliative to disguise our steadily diminishing importance in the world. As time has worn on it appears that we have permitted ourselves to need the yanks more than they need us. Whatever one thinks of the French they have not allowed this to happen.
When all said and done the USA is a foreign power (not always benign), and one that systematically undermined UK foreign policy in the aftermath of WW2 (not just Suez). Let's not forget it was touch and go during 1982 whether or not the US NSA would provide sat photos of Argentine positions to the task force. Maggie T. pushed President Reagan to provide this information as it was not automatically forthcoming. How long did it take the Americans to clamp down on IRA fund-raising and weapon-purchases?
As a Vietnam-era Australian SAS soldier wrote (and I paraphrase) "I fought the Viet Cong because they were the declared enemy. I would have just as easily fought the Americans."
Healthy view that for a professional soldier.
A couple of interesting POVs on this subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relationship
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/pub712.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relationship
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/pub712.pdf
Iolis couldn't have put it better.
Governmentally the special relationship is non existant today , ref: "Yo Blair" wtf, If Blair had said "Yo Monkey Face" he might have had my respect then.
Now The American people have been nothing but friendly toward me, My ACF ID card was accepted for free entry to museums, Galleries and other Discounts, Many US citizens will have British ancestry going back years, many would love to visit Britain, but cannot afford to do so, which is a shame.
perhaps some sort of English Language union to provide subsidised travel for the less well of to meet their Linguistic cousins would eb a good idea.
not forgetting our "Special Relationship" with Canadians, Australia, New Zealand, other colonies such as Gibraltar, Falkland Island and many other Colonies that wished to remain British.
we have had special relationship with them as tehy have helped us in WW1 WW2, much kudos to them.
Governmentally the special relationship is non existant today , ref: "Yo Blair" wtf, If Blair had said "Yo Monkey Face" he might have had my respect then.
Now The American people have been nothing but friendly toward me, My ACF ID card was accepted for free entry to museums, Galleries and other Discounts, Many US citizens will have British ancestry going back years, many would love to visit Britain, but cannot afford to do so, which is a shame.
perhaps some sort of English Language union to provide subsidised travel for the less well of to meet their Linguistic cousins would eb a good idea.
not forgetting our "Special Relationship" with Canadians, Australia, New Zealand, other colonies such as Gibraltar, Falkland Island and many other Colonies that wished to remain British.
we have had special relationship with them as tehy have helped us in WW1 WW2, much kudos to them.
The official relationship has a lot to do with whos in charge. Maggie and Ronnie had a very similar world view, so the countries mostly had a good relationship.
The current pair are a bit odd. Tony must want to act as a stabalising influence, but W is a bit of a loose cannon. There must be some friction, considering that following W's line has made Tony very unpopular over here.
The current pair are a bit odd. Tony must want to act as a stabalising influence, but W is a bit of a loose cannon. There must be some friction, considering that following W's line has made Tony very unpopular over here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6158435.stm
more on this, the Title reads: Bush 'routinely ignoring Blair'
not very good reading
one of the text says this :
"It was a done deal from the beginning, it was a one-sided relationship that was entered into with open eyes... There was nothing, no payback, no sense of reciprocity."
the rest sounds pretty much spot on and this is by an American, who seemed to care for Britain.
more on this, the Title reads: Bush 'routinely ignoring Blair'
not very good reading
one of the text says this :
"It was a done deal from the beginning, it was a one-sided relationship that was entered into with open eyes... There was nothing, no payback, no sense of reciprocity."
the rest sounds pretty much spot on and this is by an American, who seemed to care for Britain.
In terms of individual relationships yes, there is a common bond. In terms of Governmrnts perhaps at times.
But right now the Bush Administration does not and never has given a rats arrse what we think think. Blair got carried away with his own International Statesman thing, failed once again to listen to advice contrary to his prejudices and worst of all started to believe his own BS.
"Tony Blair's a modern Gladstone. He really believes it. He may not have believed WMD â I don't know anybody knew that â he essentially believed this was in the West's interest to remove this evil dictator."
"Unfortunately, Tony Blair's background was as an actor and not an historian. If only he'd read a book on the 1920s he might have hesitated."
Mr Blair, he said, was more articulate than Mr Bush, but the Prime Minister's ignorance of the British experience in Mesopotamia had led him to make a catastrophic error in backing the Iraq invasion.
Iraq became a nation state in 1920 after being carved out by the French and British from the remains of the Ottoman empire. It turned out to be a bloody affair that Churchill referred to as the "Mesopotamian entanglement
Once again, those who do not learn the lessons of history or choose to ignore them are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past
I am starting to warm to this bloke!
On the ascendancy of Scots in British politics:
"It's like Sicily taking over Italy."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2006/11/29/uquotes129.xml
But right now the Bush Administration does not and never has given a rats arrse what we think think. Blair got carried away with his own International Statesman thing, failed once again to listen to advice contrary to his prejudices and worst of all started to believe his own BS.
"Tony Blair's a modern Gladstone. He really believes it. He may not have believed WMD â I don't know anybody knew that â he essentially believed this was in the West's interest to remove this evil dictator."
"Unfortunately, Tony Blair's background was as an actor and not an historian. If only he'd read a book on the 1920s he might have hesitated."
Mr Blair, he said, was more articulate than Mr Bush, but the Prime Minister's ignorance of the British experience in Mesopotamia had led him to make a catastrophic error in backing the Iraq invasion.
Iraq became a nation state in 1920 after being carved out by the French and British from the remains of the Ottoman empire. It turned out to be a bloody affair that Churchill referred to as the "Mesopotamian entanglement
Once again, those who do not learn the lessons of history or choose to ignore them are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past
I am starting to warm to this bloke!
On the ascendancy of Scots in British politics:
"It's like Sicily taking over Italy."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2006/11/29/uquotes129.xml
How soon the memory fades. France Gentlemen, think of those rampaging hoards of garlic snail munching flick knife carrying Frenchmen that want to eat Dobbin, rape your cattle and force feed your birds...
Should France, Britains natural enemy (last century being the first century we haven't been at war with them) send her mighty Navy into portsmouth harbour and trash the 6 grey boats our senior service has parked there for fuel economisation then I am pretty certain that the US will turn up and give the French a sound good kicking for us. The US's 1/2 trillion dollar defence budget is pretty much worth having on side I feel.
Pray there is a special relationship with the US.
And I like septics, I think they're great and they like me which is nice to. Death to the French.
Should France, Britains natural enemy (last century being the first century we haven't been at war with them) send her mighty Navy into portsmouth harbour and trash the 6 grey boats our senior service has parked there for fuel economisation then I am pretty certain that the US will turn up and give the French a sound good kicking for us. The US's 1/2 trillion dollar defence budget is pretty much worth having on side I feel.
Pray there is a special relationship with the US.
And I like septics, I think they're great and they like me which is nice to. Death to the French.
I dont particuarly mind the french as I lived in the south for over a year, they are friendly enough people as long as you stay away from Paris, where they are just cnuts.
Could be the fact i'm Scottish though and the Scots have had a special relationship with the french in history gone past.
As for the septics, its is such a large place its hard to say you dont like them all. I have met and spoken to lots of americans online and off and the majority are very nice people but there is a minority that are just off there heads, christian fundamentalist white power nutters that beleave that america is the only country in the world and that they are hard as nails and couldnt get beat off anyone, and we all know this is bull.
I wouldnt mind so much about the special relationship if the septics didnt have a fruit loop president in power that just wants to pick a fight with everyone that isnt american, i'm just waiting on us (The Brits) to get picked on next.
Edited: For typos
Could be the fact i'm Scottish though and the Scots have had a special relationship with the french in history gone past.
As for the septics, its is such a large place its hard to say you dont like them all. I have met and spoken to lots of americans online and off and the majority are very nice people but there is a minority that are just off there heads, christian fundamentalist white power nutters that beleave that america is the only country in the world and that they are hard as nails and couldnt get beat off anyone, and we all know this is bull.
I wouldnt mind so much about the special relationship if the septics didnt have a fruit loop president in power that just wants to pick a fight with everyone that isnt american, i'm just waiting on us (The Brits) to get picked on next.
Edited: For typos
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