A Question for the USA and another question for the UK?

Question

In some parts of the world many people appear to hate the USA, are you American people worried that in the future you may suffer further and in different ways from their reprisals?

There is an old saying

"Don't upset people you meet when you are on the
way up because you might meet them again on the
way down"

America has been on the way up for a long time and in the process America has pissed off a lot of people. What happens if America for whatever reason becomes weak? Who will take advantage of your weakness?

Our UK Governement has supported Bush and his short sighted blinkered approach to dealing with terrorism. Are you fellow UK residents concerned that our country might suffer the same reprisals as America might in the future?

Answer 1

Such a good point, well said. As a British citizen I am very worried about our 'special relationship' with the US. I mean, it really does look like tony is licking bush's ****. In reality bush couldn't give two sh*ts about us, the selfish little prick. Tony needs to GET A GRIP and do what is best for this country!!!!

By the way, hasn't history taught us that all empires fall eventually?

Answer 2

As a UK resident I am concerned that Blair's unquestioning support of Bush has made us a target for terrorism (as people have mentioned the 7 July 2005 bombings). It is also true that other countries that supported Bush have been targets: the Madrid rail bombings in Spain, and the murder of Australian tourists in Bali are but two examples.

Tragically I believe that these are the beginnings of a new way of life, where we will never be truly safe, until the people of the world unite to force their elected representatives to truly address the problems that lead to such attacks.

Whilst people will obviously focus on Iraq, this is a minor part of the problem. Far better would be for the US and UK to pressure Israel to reach a meaningful two-state solution with the Palestinians.

We have to find a way of convincing young Muslim people that we are not engaged in a war against their religion, and that we recognise their right to believe. And we must remove the causes of the hatred and anger that lead to terrorist atrocities.

Answer 3

In the long term American doesn't need to be bothered about becoming weak. With great power comes great responsibility and this is what Americans are struggling with. As for the UK, well it could be argued that we have been there, done that, screwed it up and are now on our way down. We are only trying to maintain our world position by clinging desperately to the big boy's shirt tails. The more we scrabble like the lap dogs we are around the Americans the more ridiculous and sycophantic we appear. The USA has been the guarantor of our freedom in Europe and we should never forget it. However, its time that Great Britain forgot about the Empire, but re-acquired our backbone and become, not opposed to the USA, but more of a critical friend.

Answer 4

Good question. Their attempt at taking over the world is pretty clever. Gotta hand it to them. They don't use ovens to throw Jews into. They are masters of misinformation. They fool everyone and the media really helps their cause. All you have to do is look at Globalization. When there are Walmarts going up all over the world, it's getting scary. See the USA doesn't need to bomb anyone, really. They have everyone fooled even their own people. Until North Korea gets torqued enough, their take over the world strategy will continue. They don't need a "draft" yet because they have fooled just enough young people to "Fight for Freedom" as they put it.. "Freedom fries" lol

The USA, I feel should be just as concerned if their own people start to get pissed off. If you think about all the jobs that are going overseas, there's going to be a big backlash one day. Especially with the power of the Internet - people can easily publish information about the government or start a revolution! How can true Americans (the next generation coming up) be able to afford new homes etc. on the lower salaries? Unless they get a big inheritance, it's going to be hard to sustain the housing market in the US.


I can't wait until God does something too! Good point. I really hope HE is real and He does. !

Answer 5

First of all i am a uk citizen with legal residency in USA, and through having to take american civ class it does seem that America did screw over a lot of people who helped them, not only the brits, france and spanish but then the brits screwed over a lot of people in the past for power and to rule the waves.
Either way i think it is a broad generalisation to say that the americans are Hated by everyone.

That said, answers like this:

If America goes down then of course they should drag the UK with them
America doesnt care about the UK but we'll milk you for what you're worth :)

don't inspire much cameraderie between the two

Answer 6

UK is as responsible as US for acts committed abroad that "upset" people.

Read up on British support for the East Timor genocide, death camps in Kenya in the 1950s, torture in Rhodesia, The Middle East problem in the 1950/60s (frightening how much of todays trouble has its roots here), Churchill and the Kurds..it goes on and on and on and thats just this century for starters.

Unfortunately none of this is ever taught in history at school. We learn about Romans and Henry VIII but not mass slaughters by our own government or the real history of modern Britain.

We are already suffering a small revenge for these acts, if we suffered it fairly most of the UK would have been wiped out by now. I am not saying its right, but we are reaping what our fathers sowed, not our fault but we bear the burden of apology and closing the wounds our nation opened.

Answer 7

I'm UK.

We already suffer reprisals. Look at the London bombings, and the attempted liquid bombs on the planes. France is also due to be targeted (I remember something on the news saying that some muslim leader on Al Jazeera had told people to attack France).

I'm not too worried about it though. I think terrorism has been around for longer than I've been alive, and will continue long after I'm dead. If it's not for reasons of attacking Afghanistan and Iraq, or for religious reasons, then it'll be for another reason. I jsut get on with my life and ignore it. If and when it affects me I'll be sorry that it has happened, but there's nothing I can do now and never will be able to.

Answer 8

Well of course we will!! With a government too up it's own whatnot not to understand that Britain is as free and libertarian because of historic british culture, and to embrace the idea cultures from very illiberal lands are somehow good and should be encouraged in our midst - I am coming to understand why most all the governments across north africa, the midlle east and muslim asia are abhorrent dictatorships with extreme censorship and a lack of human rights - it's the only way the prevalent cultures there have ever known and the only society within which these cultures can function normally - that's why there's so much complaining and continuous threats of violence from muslim representatives in Britain. It's abit like the old adage 'you can take the person out of the slum, but you can;t take the slum out of the person'. Love the Hindus though; they're great, as are most of the muslims but whatever.

Answer 9

Not worried in the least. Look at it like this.....
How long has the UK been around? America has been a nation for 230 years probably still considered in it's infancy when compared to the time lines of most world nations. So possibly the American rise to world power in just 230 years shows what potential we have in the future. USA!!!

Answer 10

America is weak because it is dependant on large scale imports of cheap oil and gas for economic survival. This is the reason for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The war on terror is a smokescreen.

British foreign policy is closely allied with that of the USA, this is a quid pro quo for the supply of US nuclear weapons and information.

Britain is at greater risk of terrorist attack because of this close relationship with US foreign policy. Best keep the risk in perspective though - you're more likely to be killed crossing the road than killed in a terrorist attack!

Answer 11

this is a long question, confusing abit. there is only one way usa can go and that is down, uk can be saved if gordon turns out to be a great polititian, announcing he has broken friends with gwb and is severely frowning upon israel. i have a strong feeling when i step back to look at the big picture to make enemies with a resourceful and powerful part of the world because they are so different in culture etc is like suicide.