End Nears For 'special Relationship' Of UK And US

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mar. 28, 2010
End Nears For 'special Relationship' Of UK And US
UK Lawmakers Suggest A Halt To The Use Of The Phrase "special Relationship'

AP) LONDON (AP) - The "special relationship" is not so special any more.

That's the word from a committee of lawmakers in Britain who say the phrase coined by Winston Churchill to describe the country's close ties with the United States should no longer be used because it fails to reflect a true picture of relations between the two countries.

Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee said the government should be "less deferential" toward the Americans and take a more realistic view of the relationship. In a report published Sunday, the committee said that, while ties with America remain close, it is important to recognize that Britain is just one of many countries with important U.S. links.

"The overuse of the phrase by some politicians and many in the media serves simultaneously to devalue its meaning and to raise unrealistic expectations about the benefits the relationship can deliver to the U.K.," the committee said in its report.

Churchill used the phrase shortly after World War II to describe the shared cultural, political and historic ties that helped defeat Nazi Germany, and the fears of the looming Cold War.

But in recent years, the timeworn expression has often been derided - suggesting that Britain was subservient to the United States. That was particularly the case in what was seen as Britain's unquestioning support of former President George W. Bush during the Iraq war.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/28/ap/world/main6340451.shtml

[babylonsister]

1. What a load, but the AP isn't above spreading the swill. This guy

has a different opinion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=250643&mesg_id=250643

'After this week, we may all owe Obama an apology' (UK Independent)

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. That's not really the same thing

The Independent piece is about Obama's success, and how that will help international relations in general. It's nothing that's specific to Britain. What the MPs (not AP) are saying (and this is something that many people say, including, I think, most of us on DU) is that Britain's relationship with the USA isn't significantly more important than, say, the US with France, or the US with Germany.

Cornwell himself has been sceptical about it.

And you surely can't disagree with this, from the MPs' report:

"The perception that the British government was a subservient 'poodle' to the U.S. administration leading up to the period of the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath is widespread both among the British public and overseas," the report said. "This perception, whatever its relation to reality, is deeply damaging to the reputation and interests of the U.K."

[Cha]

14. I agree that it was true and I'm glad that

it's done. President Obama doesn't go for that sort of thing.

Good riddance to w and tony.

[MrModerate]

2. I think the two countries can have a "special relationship" without . . .

One head of government being the other country's head of state's poodle. Certainly the Bush-Blair relationship was damaging for both countries, but there are still very deep roots that cross the Atlantic to this day.

[defendandprotect]

12. Like with Israel, we need to be moving from support of right - wing warmongers . .. . .

though Blair seemed quite willing to kiss Bush's fascist boots!

Wonder what the actual rewards were for Blair --

but much of his government seemed to be against it --

Fish stinks from the head down!

[midnight]

3. The British involvement,downing street memos, in preparing talking points to help lead the charge

in securing the oil fields does not seem "beneficial" any longer to the UK?

[fedsron2us]

10. Britains involvement in Iraq was only ever intended to benefit one person in the UK

Tony Charles Lynton Blair.

For him it turned out be a nice little earner.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. "Britain's unquestioning support of former President George W. Bush during the Iraq war"

This didn't just start 10 years ago. The writer needs to go back and look at what happened almost 30 years ago with Raygun/Poppy Bush and Thatcher/Major.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. The subservience was particularly clear this time, though

British military forces were put at the disposal of the US (the Foreign Secretary even told parliament later that the British government didn't want to invade at the precise time that it did happen, but "there wasn't international support for delaying the invasion" - ie the Bush crowd insisted, and got their way, because it's not as if it was Poland doing the insisting). At least in the first Gulf War, it was something approaching an alliance, with other countries like France, and Saudi Arabia involved - it wasn't just Britain doing whatever the US president said (in fact, Thatcher claims it was Bush Sr. who was hesitant, and she pushed him - http://www.margaretthatcher.org/commentary/displaydocument.asp?docid=110711 ).

[BumRushDaShow]

9. I think after the Falklands fiasco

the stage was set for who was essentially "in charge" however (to confirm, see your same cite but check out the info on what happened between them regarding the Falkands and how things seemed to shift later when it came to Panama & Grenada - both way before Gulf War I)! Those years were sickening and it just got worse and worse over the next few decades, IMHO. :banghead:

[DCKit]

7. President Obama and far more sane people in both houses of Congress...

yet NOW they're making noise about the horse that left the barn nine years ago.

If anything, we now have the opportunity to build a far more special relationship. OUR people understand the meaning of the word "Diplomacy".

[CLANG]

8. Whether they think so or not, I feel a special relationship with the Brits

But I also feel a special relationship with Ireland.

[defendandprotect]

11. If UK moves to the left and away from war... it's also good for US . . . !!!

[cali]

13. Dean just laughed about this on WJ this morning

As he said, it's nonsense

[CHIMO]

15. Special relationship is over, MPs say. Now stop calling us America's poodle

Source: guardian.co.uk

Britain needs to use "sharp elbows" in its dealings with Washington because Barack Obama is "less sentimental" about the historic links between Britain and the United States, a former ambassador to the US has claimed.

The warning from Sir David Manning, who was Tony Blair's main foreign policy adviser during the Iraq war before serving as ambassador to Washington, was cited by a Commons select committee which called today for a reassessment of Britain's "special relationship" with the US.

Prime ministers of all hues, from Harold Macmillan to Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, have fostered the idea that the two largest English-speaking countries enjoy a historic bond which elevates their relationship to a special level.

But MPs on the cross-party foreign affairs select committee said this romantic vision had had its day. "The use of the phrase 'the special relationship' in its historical sense, to describe the totality of the ever-evolving UK-US relationship, is potentially misleading, and we recommend that its use should be avoided," the MPs concluded. "The overuse of the phrase by some politicians and many in the media serves simultaneously to devalue its meaning and to raise unrealistic expectations about the benefits the relationship can deliver to the UK."



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/28/special-relationship-over-poodle

[Rapier09]

16. 2 largest English speaking countries?

Didn't know India/Nigeria had opted out of teaching English.

This special relationship is based on mutual deals between NY and London,not whatever happens in DC or Westminster. You can't end it by saying it is over.

[Walk away]

17. It must be tough dealing with a President who isn't working for an international cartel.

"W" spoiled so many folks.

[valerief]

18. I thought poodles were French. nt

[stray cat]

19. So which of the "not poodles" were claiming to speak for all MPs?

I suspect its like a few members of the GOP who claim to speak for all Americans

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. See the answer to the same question you asked yesterday

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8034908&mesg_id=8034944

In short: it's the ones whose job is to speak for all MPs on foreign affairs.

[The Second Stone]

20. Tony Blair was W's bitch poodle

and he, along with his inner circle, deserved to be called that because it was an accurate characterization.

[Wilms]

21. Fair enough. Besides, poodles would have been smarter than to be *'s lap dog. n/t

[unkachuck]

23. '...the government should be "less deferential" toward the Americans...'

....it's about time....you've acted like our 52nd state, right behind Israel....

....it's time you grow up, grow a pair and make your own way in this world....and if you need a couple bucks or some ponzi schemes, we're always here for you....love, America.

[Psephos]

24. What happened to the idea that Obama was going to mend US relations and friendships?

It's out at the curb with the rest of the trash.

Friendships are like reputations. They're far easier to wreck than they are to build.

[hunter]

25. Run, run away from anyone who wants to have a "special relationship" with you.

It sounds like something a really creepy pastor would say to a thirteen year old or a hooker.

[mbperrin]

26. Yes, we have a special relationship with the Brits.

We kicked their butts in the Revolution and then again when they sneaked back in 1812!

That's special!


:)

[JCMach1]

28. Don't forget saved their ass twice last century...

but I guess that doesn't count for much...

[mbperrin]

29. Heavens, no.

And after all, that was SO last century, right?

:)

[JCMach1]

32. Doesn't fit in with the Jack and Tory DNA

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of British friends, but there is a thread of arrogance that runs parallel to certain political beliefs in Britain that makes me what to bust some 'Don't tread on Me' on their ass.

This is especially true among the colonials and expats I live among here!

Did I mention... my daughters' head mistress is an arrogant anti-american bigot! :grr:

[Art_from_Ark]

30. We didn't actually "kick their butts" in (the War of) 1812

We won at Lake Erie. They burned the White House. They pushed us out of Canada. We won an essentially meaningless victory in 1815 at New Orleans, after a cease fire had already been signed.

In the end, they agreed to quit impressing American seamen, and we agreed not to invade Canada again.

[mbperrin]

33. Mmmm, since we have everything we started with before they began

their offensive action, I'd say that was a win.


Course, you don't know what a win is anymore, since the US hasn't won a damn thing since WWII. But that's political and profit-making, not a function of ability to win.

When you win, the war's over, and so are war profits. Can't have that.

[Art_from_Ark]

34. The could also consider it a victory

since they kept us out of Canada.

So while it may have been an American victory in that King George III agreed to quit impressing American seaman, we didn't exactly "kick their butts" to gain that concession.
Who knows how long that war could have continued if King George's military had not also been busy with Napoleon at the same time..

[tedk_355]

27. I guess that's to be expected.

[No Elephants]

31. Translation: We don't think the U.S. is going to be doing much for the U.K.

The "special relationship" that Churchill had in mind was that of the U.S. as benefactor to the U.K.

Churchill made that remark about a "special relationship" after FDR supplied Churchill with planes and arms to fight Hitler, while the isolationists were still keeping the U.S. out of WWII. Americans even joined the British military. And then, after WWII, we were giving Europe tons of aid.

Under Bush and Blair, the U.S. used the U.K. for poliical cover, at great cost to the U.K. in so many ways, human, financial and moral. Not what ole Winnie had in mind at all.