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Usa + Britain. A 'special' relationship?.

ReverendClog

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In light of the recent visit by the president of the USA and the various shenanigans surrounding his visit, I have been led to wonder if the actual folk he represents believe that there is any special relationship between our countries anymore.
Mr. Obama was certainly gushing in his praise and fellowship with the Irish and fair do's to him for that, but he seems muted towards established allies, (apart from those perennial war dodgers, 'The French'), and I wonder if this is just a sensible desire on his part to find a new direction for America or simply a desire to be different.

I'm not entirely unaware of politics or the unsavory manoeuvrings of the civil service and their subsequent effect on the allowable politics of figurehead political figures, so please try and be gentle with me as I reckon this is my first posting in the USA politics thread.
I'd just like to know the opinion of my generous 'cousins' across the water, although all are free to comment of course.
R.C.
 
The UK has no special friends although I do believe some of our politicians believe that not to be the case. The matter was summed-up many a year ago by a fellow known as Lord Palmerston, he said:

Therefore I say that it is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.​

Change the word England to any nation's name and it is as equally true, I wish our politicians were more vocal about stating that.
 
Thank you for the instructive quote My dear Darat, Palmerston was an advocate of expansionist policy and had fairly vociferous ideas around policy, (was a man of his time though), but thank you nonetheless.

Albeit that politics is the stating of acceptable lies in some cases, how much rubbish should we accept?.
 
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I think that the US and UK still have a special relationship.

One of the main reasons is that we share a common language.

The UK is also a member of the permanent 5 at the UN, with nuclear weapons and significantly large and competent armed forces to matter as an ally.
 
Obama used the words "special relationship" when he was toasting the Queen. My understanding is that this is a phrase used by newspaper editorialists and (mostly) right-leaning politicians in the UK but which is seldom used by US politicians or media. I think Obama's use of it was smart diplomacy (Obama aide: "Remember to tell them that the US and UK have a "special relationship" because they love that idea.") but not much more.
 
Is the UK actually liked by the 'common' people of USA or is it strategic lip service from politicians.
I am aware of the 'Churchill bust incident' and cannot find an explanation for removing it.
I always understood that Winston was probably entitled to citizenship in America,( his mum was a septic), and was a very strong advocator of the USA as the 'worlds policeman', (from volume two of his ' History...'), so why would a President remove the bust of such a prestige laden figure?.
 
ReverendClog said:
Is the UK actually liked by the 'common' people of USA or is it strategic lip service from politicians.
I am aware of the 'Churchill bust incident' and cannot find an explanation for removing it.
I always understood that Winston was probably entitled to citizenship in America,( his mum was a septic), and was a very strong advocator of the USA as the 'worlds policeman', (from volume two of his ' History...'), so why would a President remove the bust of such a prestige laden figure?.
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Wasn't the Churchill bust a present from Tony Blair to George W Bush? In other words it didn't exactly have a long and hallowed traditional presence. Most presidents decorate the White House according to their tastes like anyone else in their own house. So they chucked out the stuff left behind by the previous residents.

I seem to recall seeing a bust of MLK in the White House when Netanyahu visited. Was that there when Bush was in office? Will the next president throw it out if left behind by Obama? Will it signify much if it is thrown out?
 
ReverendClog said:
Is the UK actually liked by the 'common' people of USA or is it strategic lip service from politicians.
Click to expand...
Yes. The only country Americans like more is Canada.

I am aware of the 'Churchill bust incident' and cannot find an explanation for removing it.
I always understood that Winston was probably entitled to citizenship in America,( his mum was a septic), and was a very strong advocator of the USA as the 'worlds policeman', (from volume two of his ' History...'), so why would a President remove the bust of such a prestige laden figure?.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't read too much into the 'Churchill bust incident.' Every president does a little redecorating. Obama wanted a bust of Lincoln in the Oval Office instead IIRC. It certainly wasn't intended as an insult to the UK.
 
ReverendClog said:
In light of the recent visit by the president of the USA and the various shenanigans surrounding his visit, I have been led to wonder if the actual folk he represents believe that there is any special relationship between our countries anymore.
Mr. Obama was certainly gushing in his praise and fellowship with the Irish and fair do's to him for that, but he seems muted towards established allies
Click to expand...

Obama does seem to undervalue our allies. But that problem is peculiar to him, I don't think it reflects on general American opinion. The US as a whole does seem to view the UK as a particularly strong, valued, and trusted ally.
 
It's a special relationship, sure. We're a couple, but both the UK and US are free to see other people so long as we don't stay the night.
 
Wonderful people, the Brits. Faithfull vassels, indeed.

Just kidding.

Goverments don't have friends - and nor should they. I believe that Great Britain has occasionally followed our lead to the detriment of her own citizens - the one truly capital offense for an elected goverment.

I do believe that the average American thinks more highly of Great Britain than of most other countries, however. It is the similarity between what we speak (English) and what they speak (?).
 
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