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Our "special" relationship with the USA

14 replies

Wannabestepfordwife · 31/08/2013 15:43

Following Cameron's loss over the Syrian attack debate I have been quite shocked at the vitriol and disrespectful comments made by the White House.

Our relationship with the USA seems to be completely one sided they like our political support in launching wars but we are not given support over Gibraltar or the Fawklands.

Obama interferes in our national matters such as we should stay in the EU as it suits American interests and he seems utterly bent on the destruction of BP.

I think this is the perfect opportunity for us to distance ourselves from the USA and build stronger relationships with the commonwealth countries. I also think it will help our relationship with the Middle East if we are no longer thought of as America's lapdog.

I was interested in what other people's opinion is on where our relationship should go from here

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SilverOldie · 01/09/2013 14:36

I agree with all you say. The relationship is extremely one sided and I don't think the President thinks of it as a 'special relationship' at all, but rather one which is only convenient for them. I wish them luck finding another EU country so willing to send their soldiers into an oil led war to be slaughtered.

As for the EU, I wish one political leader had the balls to give us a referendum but they won't because they know the majority would call for withdrawal, so it's dangled like a carrot. At least until it stops being a gravy train for so many people and starts to be audited and accountable for the millions of pounds it squanders.

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Wannabestepfordwife · 01/09/2013 15:24

I think more and more people want out of the eu now so people are just going to vote ukip untill there is one so the Tories or labour are going to have to offer a referendum at some point.

I really do see our future being with the commonwealth rather than with the eu or the USA. I also think we need to improve relations with Russia with the impending energy crisis we would be stupid not to.

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EldritchCleavage · 04/09/2013 13:23

There isn't a special relationship (though there is a good one), and politicians on both sides know that full well. The idea that there is is kept alive by the media in a way that is frankly embarrassing.

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LandOfWishfulThinking · 07/09/2013 17:02

' I wish them luck finding another EU country so willing to send their soldiers'

France?

I agree with the above comment. We might of been best buds but it's faltered since then. There's no need to back away from the US

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Crumbledwalnuts · 07/09/2013 17:04

It's faltered with Obama, much as I adore the man.

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TheCrackFox · 07/09/2013 17:05

It is a very special relationship very much like the kind of relationship a dog has with a lamppost.

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lljkk · 07/09/2013 17:33

BP is a mostly American company, more American than British now, anyway, in origins and composition.

Given the word "special" is now spin for disabled, I think might not be a good word any more, that's true.

I am a bit suspect of OP if they think being cozy friends with Russia is way to go. Murdering bastards is the only way I can think of the Russian state at the moment.

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Wannabestepfordwife · 08/09/2013 09:34

I don't mean having the same relationship with Russia as we do with USA at all I mean just having a less acrimonious one where they don't feel the need to insult us.

I would prefer us to strengthen our ties to the other commonwealth countries it seems silly to me when it comes to international relations to keep all our eggs in one basket

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 10/09/2013 07:42

The vitriol isn't coming from the White House i.e the president. It's coming from the same warmongering nutters that, just a few years ago, labelled their new best pals the French as 'cheese-eating surrender monkeys'. For trade reasons, we ought to be on excellent terms with as much of the world as possible. I find your solution rather childish tbh.

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trice · 10/09/2013 08:14

I would not like to start pandering to Putin, Russia is slipping ever further into totalitarianism and it smacks of appeasement.

UK, get over it, USA is just not that into you.

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trice · 10/09/2013 08:17

Killing for peace is not terribly effective. If we just gave individual Syrians the cash it will cost to slaughter them perhaps they would all go on holiday and leave each other alone?

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Wannabestepfordwife · 10/09/2013 16:45

cognito I take your point reading my op back (I do cringe a bit) I sound a bit of a petulant child I'm just a tad hot headed at times.

I would agree Obama hasn't been vitriolic but I would call him calling the Fawklands by the Argentinian name ( have no idea how to spell it) and removing the bust of Winston Churchill disrespectful.

I have to admit I maybe got clouded by my dislike of Obama he's like the American version of Blair and didn't think through the long term effects of divorcing ourselves from the US.

I would like to see us keep a good relationship with the US especially with regards to trade but take a step back when it comes towards foreign policy.

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tb · 15/09/2013 14:00

There was a referendum on continued EU membership in the 1970s. The British public voted to stay in.

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SconeRhymesWithGone · 16/09/2013 21:47

There is a bust of Winston Churchill in the White House residence. It has been there in a prominent place for many years. There are photos of President Obama showing it off to Prime Minister Cameron.

The bust that was in the Oval Office was on loan specifically to President Bush from the British Embassy and was returned at the end of the Bush presidency.

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