We go to war in the Falklands, WW1 and WWII and the US doesn't give a damn either at first or completely. The US decides to play soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, meanwhile being dangerously one-sidedly pally with Israel and we jump to it. They don't help us by repatriating IRA fugitives but we have to send them three blokes involved in Enron like a shot.
The special relationship just seems to be that Dubya is the lifer and Blair's his prison b*tch.
2006-07-25 02:47:10 · 25 answers · asked by Uncle Sid 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
The best definition I've heard states that the relationship between USA and the UK is analogous to that between a dog and a lamppost.
2006-07-25 02:55:31 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Blue Sky 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The so called 'special relationship' is something that exists only in the minds of British politicians when they are sucking up to the Americans. The USA doesn't have any more special relationship with Britain than with any other country. Are we really more important to the Americans than, say, the Russians or the Japanese or the Chinese? These are the countries with the power and that is want defines a special relationship to the Americans. We think we are special to the US because of our historical links to the country and the fact we (sort of) speak the same language, but in reality we are a past power living off past glories which isn't a currency that goes very far these days. Britain tries to punch above its weight because we think we are still important, but if you want to see where we really are in terms of what the Americans think of us you need only refer to the open mic conversation between Bush and Blair at the recent G8 conference in Russia. Yo dude.
2006-07-25 03:15:02 · answer #2 · answered by keefer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "Special Relationship" exists mostly in the minds of British politicians and Whitehall bureaucrats.
Most Americans hate Britain, and American policy is totally dictated by what is best for American interests, not by any presumed "special relationships". Ask any Canadian and they will be able to tell you of multiple examples of the USA violating signed and confirmed treaties when it suits them to do so, never mind unwritten "special relationships."
Yes, the US did not prevent the South Atlantic Task force from sailing, and may have provided some satellite data to the British, but that was mostly due to the fact that the Flaklands is a godforesaken rock, and no one other than the Argies really gives a damn about it. Maggie was only proving she was tough to her new friend in Washington.
2006-07-25 02:54:28 · answer #3 · answered by P. M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have wondered this myself, being a citizen of the USA. It was common knowledge that America was where all the money for the IRA was coming from. Although we were not in the shooting war at the beginning of WW2 we definitely helped the allies out through lend lease and tonnes and tonnes of material at the beginning so that is not a very accurate statement. As far as WW1 goes...that was just not our fight, we probably should not have gotten involved at all. All of Europe was heading for a showdown at the beginning of the century and everyone seemed to know it.
2006-07-25 02:58:03 · answer #4 · answered by erik c 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Northern eire is an element of the united kingdom,interior an identical way that Basingstoke or Durham is an element of the united kingdom. it is via the fact almost each and all of the inhabitants there choose it so (and function accomplished because of fact that Southern eire grew to alter into self reliant in 1922). the main considerable gamers interior the concerns have been Catholic Irish in the two North and South who needed to intimidate the British government into turning in Northern eire to the Republic by using a protracted term terrorist marketing campaign. the present British-Republic of eire dating has been lots greater helpful because of fact the Republic dropped the clause in its shape claiming Northern eire as theirs individuals stopped investment the IRA Britain stumped up a number of $ billion as area of the bailout for eire while its economic sector crashed and burned a 300 and sixty 5 days or 2 back.
2016-12-10 15:15:34 · answer #5 · answered by spadafora 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You seem to have a grasp on the facts. The special relationship is based on UK subservience to the needs of the US. Has been since WWII but more so since tony 'the poodle' blair began curling up at bush's feet.
2006-07-25 02:52:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I simply don't understand why Blair sucks up like this, backing the US in their greedy, aggressive, dangerous actions. The US must have something on Blair. I'd love to know what. Someone told me that we owe the US so much money going way back to WW2 that if the yanks demanded it back we'd be bankrupt.
2006-07-25 03:34:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah - Blair is Bush's pet all right -
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18072006/325/yo-bush-blair-mocked-u-s-poodle.html
The 'special relationship' is clear - Blair bends over for Bush and the UK gets shafted!
2006-07-25 02:53:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blair and the Shrub are Muppet's i mean Puppet's for the men with the real power and money
2006-07-25 03:00:04 · answer #9 · answered by The Wanderer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you watch the recent coverage of the chat at the G8 summit where the US president was talking to our prime minister like **** with his mouth open, Britain should distance itself from the US from now on -- they are a liability.
2006-07-26 01:30:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋