Article

2008-03-16 Britain

'Special relationship' dies under Gordon Brown

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Posted by ryuge 2008-03-16 06:26|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 He said: "There is no crisis in relations, but there are fewer contacts than before. Brown's focus seems to be on doing things with other Europeans rather than pushing ourselves forward as best friends. Since Sarkozy got in, the French have filled the vacuum and we seem happy to let them."

A second British official said that the term "special relationship" has been branded unhelpful because it "creates expectations by the public and the press" that cannot be met. He said: "People ask: 'Well, what do we get for it?'" That issue has been particularly sensitive following criticism of Tony Blair for failing to win more favours from George W Bush in exchange for supporting the Iraq War.

Favours? What were they expecting, cake?

Posted by Bobby 2008-03-16 08:07|| 2008-03-16 08:07|| Front Page Top

#2 Gordon Brown, Client #11

Posted by Creling Darling of the Lichtensteiners8341">Creling Darling of the Lichtensteiners8341 2008-03-16 08:28|| 2008-03-16 08:28|| Front Page Top

#3 Periodically being less friendly with America serves the English notice of how much they have in common with America, and how little they have in common with everything east of Gibraltar.

All that is English culture, the "Rights of Free-Born Englishmen", is in jeopardy from the continent, where it is not just sneered at, but despised.

And it is the cowards of England, those who think themselves the betters of Englishmen, who are the elites that rule. Not noble lords, but faceless and gray bureaucrats, loyal only to their peers in Brussels.

It is they who see their own countrymen as no better than the colonial masses of their once great empire. And hopefully, like those masses, the Englishmen will someday rise up and drive out their overlords.

It is called freedom and liberty.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-03-16 10:12|| 2008-03-16 10:12|| Front Page Top

#4 If Gordon Brown and his minions stay in power for any significant amount of time, the US relationship with England will become more "special", similar to the relationships we have with Pakistan and Egypt.

Posted by RWV 2008-03-16 12:21|| 2008-03-16 12:21|| Front Page Top

#5 I think that's an exaggerated claim. Brits are conducting combat operations in Afghanistan, which is more than you can say for most of the other NATO countries. The relationship is still special - it's just that it's not as special as it used to be.

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2008-03-16 13:14|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-03-16 13:14|| Front Page Top

#6 All that is English culture, the "Rights of Free-Born Englishmen", is in jeopardy from the continent, where it is not just sneered at, but despised.

And this differs from America precisely how ...?

Posted by AzCat 2008-03-16 16:02|| 2008-03-16 16:02|| Front Page Top

#7 Unelected Gordon will be gone soon.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2008-03-16 22:30|| 2008-03-16 22:30|| Front Page Top

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