Special Relationship under fire: Obama's refusal to back Britain over the Falklands is a disgrace

London Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | February 25, 2010 | Nile Gardiner

[Schnucki]

The Obama administration’s decision to remain neutral in the dispute between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands is a shameful decision that will go down very badly across the Atlantic. As The Times has just reported, Washington has point blank refused to support British sovereignty over the Falklands, and is adopting a strictly neutral approach.

In the words of a State Department spokesman:

“We are aware not only of the current situation but also of the history, but our position remains one of neutrality. The US recognises de facto UK administration of the islands but takes no position on the sovereignty claims of either party.”

The remarks had echoes of an earlier statement by a senior State Department protocol official who, when asked about the shoddy treatment of the British Prime Minister in March last year, responded:

“There’s nothing special about Britain. You’re just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn’t expect special treatment.”

Even by the relentlessly poor standards of the Obama administration, whose doctrine unfailingly appears to be “kiss your enemies and kick your allies”, this is a new low. The White House’s neutrality in a major dispute between America’s closest friend and the likes of Venezuelan tyrant Hugo Chavez, Argentina’s biggest backer, represents the appalling appeasement of an alliance of anti-Western Latin American regimes, stretching from Caracas to Havana – combined with a callous indifference towards the Anglo-American alliance.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen a staggering array of foreign policy follies by this administration, from the throwing under the bus of the Poles and the Czechs over missile defence to siding with Marxists in Honduras. But this latest pronouncement surely takes the biscuit as the most brazen betrayal so far of a US ally.

As the

[Diogenesis]

"Bust of Churchill Returned by Obama
"After the September 11th attacks our British allies loaned President George Bush
a bust of one of the greatest Britons the world has ever known, Sir Winston Churchill.
It was a gesture to show their support for the United States in one of its darkest hours.
The bust sat prominently in the Oval Office for the balance of President Bush’s tenure there,
and once President Obama took office, the British offered him the opportunity to keep it for the length of his term.
His response was cold and most likely sent tremors through the British diplomatic community."
....
"Diplomatically this is a faux pax that only an unseasoned politician could make.
The British have stood by our side as strong allies for decades and we need to maintain that relationship,
especially in a world that is becoming increasingly dangerous (See Is Nuclear Weakness on the Horizon)
If he did not want to look at it in the oval office he could have displayed it elsewhere in the White House
and not slapped the British in the face in such a blatant disregard of political etiquette."

---

" I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."
Winston Churchill

[Opinionated Blowhard]

In a perverse way, I'm glad Obama is “B”-slapping the UK around. Don't get me wrong—its disgraceful and horrible foreign policy and he should back them on this. But these soft Socialist nanny-state morons—from the British electorate to the senior political officials, including those in the alleged “Conservative” party—have been slamming Bush and talking about how much they hate America and how wonderful it would be when the Savior got elected. You got what you wanted, idiots, now quit whining and crying like little girls and live with it.

[ladyvet]

Present.

[tgusa]

I personally apologize to our closest allies for my country having elected this tyrannical pr!ck as president. We will fix this situation, starting this November. You Brits aren’t half as pissed off as are we.

[Non-Sequitur]

Britain needs to wake up. The ‘special relationship’ was tossed into the trash when Obama was inaugurated.

[gogogodzilla]

How’s your love for the Obamanation coming, Britain?

[Former Proud Canadian]

Hussein's animus to the UK is well known. I wonder how he feels about the other English speaking democracies. I will remind everyone that the majority population of these countries is Caucasian.

[Gargantua]

This frigging ass-clown is a disgrace to the office, an insult to our allies, and a dark stain on our otherwise rich national heritage.

What a despicable piece of human excreta he is. Filthy scumbag bone-thug imbecile, who is a menace to our national security and constitutional freedoms. How I loathe this jerk being our president.

;-/

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Don't sugar coat it.

My disdain for Obama is exceeded only by my disdain for those that continue to support, excuse and cheer-lead for him.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Hey, the Brits sure wanted to see Obama elected, they got it and they’re on their own now!

[SMARTY]

If “O” was in Maggi Thatcher's spot at the time, he'd still be doing the EPA report on the deployment. In the meantime, Maggie went down there and resolved the problem.

The Brits showed real spine there. Liberals do NOT comprehend this one bit!

[Caipirabob]

Dear Britain; your leftists got what they wanted in America. Now you're on your own. Not much we can do about it. Cheers and good luck!

Maybe after this is all over, we can be friends again.

[Travis McGee]

Evita Kirchner is a lefty stooge and pal of Chavez, Lula, Castro etc.

So naturally Obama will be on her side against Britain.

[Jmouse007]

Obama should be ashamed of himself, but he knows no shame.

To our friends and allies in England, we apologize for the disgraceful actions and position this wicked, ungodly comunist, socialist, Marxist administration has continually taken towards Great Britain since Obama has become president. You are not alone; the Obama anministration habitually demonstrates that it loves our communist/socialist, anti-American enemies and hates our life-long friends.

Please believe us when we say that we are ashamed and value your friendship and support. Once our little false Obammessiah is made impotent in the upcoming elections and dethroned in the next, we will, Lord willing, once again be in a position to wholeheartedly support you. Until then we are praying for you, that God will have mercy upon your nation and help you to be courageous and to stand strong in the fight that is before you and allow you to once again be victorious... as you look to the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, guidance and victory.

[exbrit]

Churchill early on recognized Hitler for what he really was. When he started to present his case in the House of Lords, he was laughed at and booed by then PM Neville Chamberlain’s MPs the labor crew, who were as liberal then as they are today. Labor’s position was to negotiate with Hitler, just ask Poland how that negotiation worked for them. If it wasn’t for Churchill the world would be speaking German and 99% of us would be slaves. With O’s position on Israel, and the liberal left’s willing to negotiate with the likes of terrorist organizations, is it beyond the realm of reality to say “We’ve been there, done that, and it failed miserably”?

[PzLdr]

The Brits preferred the street hustler to the cowboy,and pulled for the street hustler to win against McCain.

So, to quote another American they seem to despise, “How’s that ‘Hope-y Change-y thing workin’ out for ya?”.

[sport]

One can never negotiate or compromise with evil.Each time that happens, evil wins. Good and evil cannot exist as equals. One must be dominate and on November 4, 2008, the majority of those that voted said , via their votes, that they wanted evil to rule.

[angcat]

I know didn't the British love Obama?

[muawiyah]

Getting back to the Falkland Islands issue the only practical solution is for both states to yield to the historic American claims to the property ~ on a permanent basis ~ treaties, pledges, the whole thing.

The people there already speak English I've heard, and it's an appropriate place to raise sheep ~ I would hope we could move a substantial part of our current sheep burden there anyway.

And GITMO, this is THE SOLUTION!