Obamas arrive in London to restore special to 'special relationship'

[babylonsister]

Obamas arrive in London to restore special to 'special relationship'

By Steven Thomma | McClatchy Newspapers


LONDON — Fresh from a triumphant stop in Ireland, President Barack Obama will kick off a visit to London on Tuesday looking to put the "special" back in the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth will fete first lady Michelle Obama and him with all the pomp of an official state visit Tuesday, and they'll stay overnight in Buckingham Palace. Obama also will huddle with Prime Minister David Cameron, unveil a new U.S.-U.K. security partnership and on Wednesday become the first U.S. president to address a joint session of Parliament in historic Westminster Hall.

Overall, Obama is out to make up for a rocky start to this relationship on both sides of the pond. Some actions upset Americans, such as British firm BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, as well as the British release of a Libyan terrorist who'd killed Americans in a 1988 plane bombing over Scotland. Some of Obama's faux pas rankled the British, such as his removal of a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office.

"Last year was a very bumpy year," said Heather Conley, the director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington research center. "This is in part a way to bring back the special bonds of this relationship."

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/23/114621/obamas-arrive-in-london-to-restore.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. Welcome President Obama!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. I hear from my British friends that Obama is overwhelmingly popular with the English!!

Way to go, Mr. President!