US hails 'special ties' with UK

[jonren]

Many pessimists thought we no longer would enjoy our 'special relationship' with the US. It has stood the test of time. Two free peoples with very much in common and few differences.


news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7866859.stm

[takemebacktolondon]

andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/02/how-bush-threat.html
Som much for US / British relationships which Milliband doesn't want you to know about .

[sweet soul]

I met some real nice Americans online thanks to instant messenger and chat rooms:-)
I love my American friends.

[imam]

Its no special relationship, its a one way - 'do what your told' relationship. We are more subserviant than the Eastern Bloc were to the Soviets.

The best thing that could happen to the British people and their security would have been for the Americans to end intelligence co-operation then we could have withdrawn our regiments from Afganistan, withdraw blind support for Israel and its war with the arabs.

We wouldn't have any terrorist threat then. Its so simple.

Why are we waiting?

[sweet soul]

Our allies.
Or didnt u know that.
Who r u imam?
A reg in disguise i bet .

[sweet soul]

Are u a real imam?

[tarrant]

Feb 8, 2009 14:52:26 GMT @imam said:

The best thing that could happen to the British people and their security would have been for the Americans to end intelligence co-operation then we could have withdrawn our regiments from Afganistan, withdraw blind support for Israel and its war with the arabs.

Britain's problem is it sold it soul to the US in 1940 in exchange for assistance.

The US military has been here ever since.

They control most of the press and the banks.

Our Tory party won't even fart without permission from the US.

Our subservience to the US can be illustrated no better than by the sell out from Blair allowing US courts to issue arrest warrents for British subjects, in Britain, for offenses that aren't even crimes here!!

This is perhaps the greatest sell out in a long line of sell outs from successive governments.

[lawrence]

Waa waa waaaaaa !

[Victor Meldrew]

Welcome to the discussion board Imam. I'm sure your impartial views on Middle East issues will be a breath of fresh air here.

Ye Gods! Not another one.

Oh, and by the way, it's courteous to say "glad to make your acquaintance" or something similar when you meet someone for the first time (as in your imam guise).

Yes my little thieving friend - YOU.
Al Akbar.


Is not the best of starts really, is is?

[Deleted]

The special relationship may or not be genuine.
There is a certain affiliation between the US and UK, even though it has been strained at times.
As for sensitive information going back and forth I think that friends are entitled to expect discretion where info. is shared in a discreet way.
If we are being asked to cover up instances of torture then it all becomes more murky.
I'm not sure what our policy or standing is in this regard.
Friendship is one thing and side-kick another.

[tarrant]

Feb 8, 2009 18:50:31 GMT lawrence said:

Waa waa waaaaaa !

Understand this Lawrence.

What the US is doing is looking after its interests.

As a British subject, I would defend the behaviour of the US to the hilt. They have doen nothing that anyone could criticise. They have simply looked after their own interests as they see them.

Comparisons with the Soviet Union are unrealistic. The US was invited here on the basis of the terms under offer. As far as I know, the US has never threatened any military action against the UK and certainly has never invaded with tanks trundling down our streets.

The criticism is for the UK and especially the UK foreign office.

Our governments have successively acted like cowards.

Part of the WW2 agreement was that the US would be given perpetual access to territory in the British empire and many of the contacts which the UK foreign office had built up over the centuries were handed over to US control.

If the UK chose to divorce itself from these agreements it would lose much of its overseas territories and most of the overseas contacts.

The UK government is fearful of losing its place at the big boys table. So it continues to follow the US' heals.

The UK needs to learn that it isn't a big boy any more. It had so much but squandered it all.

The UK needs to accept that its place is in Europe. It can compete as an equal partner there. It needs to let its place at the UN go, leaving France as the European representitve.

The UK needs to grow up.

[imam]

OH hi all ya there I'm Imam, what a nice nick eh? Glad to be of your aquaintance y'all.

You happy Vic?

Understand this Tarrant.

As a British subject, I would defend the behaviour of the US to the hilt. They have doen nothing that anyone could criticise.

Eh? You had a brain transplant recently, very recently? You can die for America if you want - you'll be joining our young soldiers who are dying in Helmand because thats who they are dying for.

Part of the WW2 agreement was that the US would be given perpetual access to territory in the British empire

Lend Lease old chap. For 50 decrepit detroyers Roosevelt got leases on some British bases in the Carribean, Certainly not in perpetuity, ask the Bahamians.

It needs to let its place at the UN go, leaving France as the European representitve.

Turn your central heating down old chap.

[tarrant]

Feb 8, 2009 23:28:52 GMT @imam said:

Eh? You had a brain transplant recently, very recently? You can die for America if you want - you'll be joining our young soldiers who are dying in Helmand because thats who they are dying for.

Part of the WW2 agreement was that the US would be given perpetual access to territory in the British empire

Lend Lease old chap. For 50 decrepit detroyers Roosevelt got leases on some British bases in the Carribean, Certainly not in perpetuity, ask the Bahamians.

It needs to let its place at the UN go, leaving France as the European representitve.

Turn your central heating down old chap.

Think you missed the point of what I said.

I don't agree that this is an acceptable situation.

I don't believe we should have sold our souls in this way.

I don't believe this situation should continue, though it probably will.

My point is that, attacking the US for this situation is unfair.

They are simply looking after their own interests, as any state will do.

It is successive British governments that have sold us down the line.

[imam]

They are simply looking after their own interests, as any state will do.

Britain doesn't, Britain puts America first because there is a die cast mentality within the British Establishment that Britain cannot float on the international stage if not as part of some notion that it is the eastern Atlantic half of an imaginary 'special relationship'.

Its time we declared independence ................. The Americans betrayed us, we should emulate them.

Pick a date.

[tarrant]

Agreed.

But I doubt it will happen any time soon.

Too many powerful people in this country stand to lose out.

[buzzy]

The UK government is fearful of losing its place at the big boys table. So it continues to follow the US' heals.

World leaders meet at the White House by invitation, as a tradition, when a new President takes office. Gordon Brown was champing at the bit to be the 1st. such is the 'special relationship' However Tony Blair has beaten him yet again since HE was the 1st. person to be invited, as Mr. Obama's "special friend" Mr. Sarkozy and Ms. Merkel are soon to follow. The US President has stated that his diary is too full to entertain Mr. Brown and so he will meet him at No. 10 in APRIL at the G20 summit. Considering Brown blames the start of all the problems with the global recession on the USA it is hardly surprising that they are not too anxious to bow down to his grossly over inflated ego, a nice diplomatic smack in the teeth. He is nothing short of a liability to the UK, Europe sneers at him and seemingly the seeds are being sown in the US now especially since they have got rid of the other Joker.

[greenergrass]

The US only want us as allies to pick up the pieces which we constantly do after they feck up.

Anyone who thinks Obama will play differently should rest in a darkened room for a long time and only come out to play when they reach 18.

[tarrant]

Feb 9, 2009 11:54:36 GMT buzzy said:

World Leaders meet at the White House by invitation, as a tradition, when a new President takes office. Gordon Brown was champing at the bit to be the 1st. such is the 'special relationship' However Tony Blair has beaten him yet again as HE was the 1st. person to be invited,.

I recall reading this silliness.

Blair isn't a world leader.

He's runs some agency, based in the US intended to sort out the problems in the ME.

So far it's proudest achievements have been war in Gaza and War in Lebanon.

But it is interesting that Brown has been put to the back of the list of leaders paying their homage.

Kinda puts the 'special relationship' in its place.

[minge tightly]

Yanks are great people (As funnily enough, most people are if you take the opportunity to get to know them a bit) and there will always be some kind of 'special relationship' culturally between them and us, although it will only get weaker as the demographic make-up of the US changes but ultimately, what the British need to understand politically, is that America looks after America. Always has done and always will. Fair enough.

Time to stop the posturing from our side though which invariably leads to sycophancy and a deluded opinion of how 'special' the relationship is.

[sweet soul]

imam must be a wind up ( yea i know i said the same about muslim309 too )