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Britain Will No Longer Grovel To The U.S.
Forbes ^ | 4/1/2010 | Quentin Letts

Posted on 04/03/2010 6:23:01 PM PDT by bruinbirdman

New report shows England's growing disillusionment with its once greatest ally.

British parliamentarians have finally realized that the "special relationship" between London and Washington no longer exists--if it ever did. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has published an unexpectedly lively report urging British diplomats and ministers to be "less deferential" to the U.S.

No more groveling, then. Not that it will stop Prime Minister Gordon Brown from being starry-eyed in the presence of President Obama when he visits the U.S. in a few days' time.

The committee, whose members are about to disband before the general election campaign, is hardly staffed by anti-American hotheads and student rabble-rousers. It is chaired by a stodgy Labour backbencher named Mike Gapes, an Establishment man who is pro-Israel and has never done anything naughty or daring in his political life. It is possible to cast one's eyes on Gapes and feel great, rolling waves of ennui, simply by dint of his predictability. For old Gapes to put his name to a report questioning out biggest diplomatic and military alliance is quite something.

Gapes' senior committee members include Sir Menzies Campbell, who once led Britain's third party, the Liberal Democrats, and was long opposed to the Iraq invasion. Sir Menzies, however, is no Yanqui-bashing Hugo Chávez. His skepticism about the U.S. is put with courtly Caledonian politeness, qualifying phrases and regretful tweaking of the neck. His doubts about the State Department are more than balanced by a Thatcherite member of the committee, Heathcoat-Amory, a keen opponent of the mushrooming bureaucracy of the unelected European Commission. "Eurosceptics" are often the most enthusiastic supporters of the transatlantic alliance because they sense that a strong U.K.-U.S. bond reduces the possibility of us being glurped into a United States of Europe.

In recent months, however, the so-called

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: allies; allyuk; bho44; bhouk
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To: Mr. Mojo; Clock King
Great photos and memories.

Those really were the days!

41 posted on 04/03/2010 7:21:49 PM PDT by Las Vegas Ron ("Because without America, there is no free world" - Canada Free Press - MSM, where are you?)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
Thatcher is with Reagan in #17. In #22, it’s Queen Elizabeth II

Pardon me. My browser didn't open the picture of Reagan with Queen Elizabeth. I only saw the one of him with Maggie Thatcher, and didn't notice that the poster was referring to the other pic.

42 posted on 04/03/2010 7:21:59 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Ole Okie

My mistake, Okie. I thought you were referring to the other picture of Reagan. The one with him and the Queen didn’t open for me the first time. I see it now.


43 posted on 04/03/2010 7:23:56 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Obama is meeting his objectives in severing our relationships with our G7 allies, business partners, friends and western civilization.

Its all part of dhiminishing and marginalizing , the US of A.By taking down the leader of the “free” industrialized western world he takes down the west.

Nefarious just nefarious/


44 posted on 04/03/2010 7:30:25 PM PDT by himno hero
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To: bruinbirdman
Like 1980-81, God will restore America.

In a few years the Brits can kiss our feet and plead for forgiveness if they want to be friends.
Australia is Americas only true friend now.

45 posted on 04/03/2010 7:32:55 PM PDT by Finalapproach29er (Obama will sink as fast as he rose. Idolatry will not succeed. Be patient, folks...)
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To: Brilliant

*Probably he wants to make sure the Brits won’t come to our aid when the Mexicans invade us. Come to think of it, it seems to be working.*

The British haven’t been able to do jack sh*t since 1917—and no, the Falklands doesn’t count. It’s been a steady retreat since then. They managed to completely fritter away the largest empire ever seen on this Earth in less than 30 years after the death of Victoria.

How you think they’d ever be able to ‘help’ us is beyond comprehension—they can’t even keep their sailors from being taken hostage by Iran. If anything, we’ll have to pull their nuts out of the fire once again when Islam tries to convert everyone in the UK by sword.


46 posted on 04/03/2010 7:33:18 PM PDT by j-damn
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To: bruinbirdman

Great photo. God, I miss him. May God continue to bless this country.


47 posted on 04/03/2010 7:35:09 PM PDT by jeffDavis1861
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To: bruinbirdman

Surely MI5 has the goods on the red diaper doper boy muslim.


48 posted on 04/03/2010 7:35:21 PM PDT by Bankroller
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To: bruinbirdman

I’m an American, but I think I can understand the Brit’s attitude towards us. Look at the outcome of WW2. The war ended with Britain bombed and bankrupt. Except for Pearl Harbor, the US came through it unscathed and quite a bit richer.

Britain was threatened being annihilated by Hitler, yet Britain stood courageously alone against Hitler. Only Germany declaring war against the US could bring the US over to help Britain. Some great friend of Britain those Americans, eh? At least in their eyes. Just guessing, but I suspect these things might have something to do with it.


49 posted on 04/03/2010 7:38:31 PM PDT by sasportas
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To: bruinbirdman

A few liberal British politicans can no more demolish the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. by announcing it’s over, than can Obama demolish the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

In three years, Obama will be history and we will have a conservative president. Let’s hope U.K. elects some conservatives too. And we’ll see that friendship as strong as ever.


50 posted on 04/03/2010 7:38:50 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: sasportas

That’s not the real history. America worked hard to support the Brits - Lend/Lease was essentially an American giveaway and without it Britain would have lost.

Nothing will separate the US from Britain. Not our liberals or theirs.

Our national nightmare will end completely in less than 3 years. We can start waking from it this November.


51 posted on 04/03/2010 7:45:41 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Mr. Mojo

President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Modern era conservative heroes. We'll not soon see their like again.

52 posted on 04/03/2010 7:51:33 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (John has a long mustache)
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To: Liberty Valance

Real leaders, who are really missed. And notice, not a whit of grovelling, the one nor the other - equals.


53 posted on 04/03/2010 7:52:45 PM PDT by Oceander (The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance -- Thos. Jefferson)
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To: 1010RD

You are right, but I’m sure there is an element in Britain that tends to downplay our help in Lend Lease, etc. Choosing to look at it re the points I made. I’ve never stepped foot in Britain, I’m just guessing that’s all.


54 posted on 04/03/2010 7:53:54 PM PDT by sasportas
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To: sasportas; Shermy

I think Shermy got it right in post #6.


55 posted on 04/03/2010 8:28:11 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Canedawg
When I see how audaciusly Obama as moved to reorder our economy and our world (violating the Constitution and probably laws), I wonder if he has considered what will happen when he is no longer in power and able to hide his deeds from those who would prosecute him for his crimes.

It is quite possible (as many have speculated) that Obama has NO intention of ever relinquishing power and will have to be removed by other means.

It is also still possible that there is a profound spiritual dimension to this whole affair (see tag line).

56 posted on 04/04/2010 3:11:38 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies (Obama: "Lawless...with all power, signs and lying wonders")
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To: bruinbirdman

Britain is only in the position to grovel. Put a fork in ‘em, they are done.


57 posted on 04/04/2010 3:12:36 AM PDT by riri (III)
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To: SonOfDarkSkies

As soon as the American people get it through their heads that he intends to be a dictator for life, revolt and rebellion WILL break out (if he actually is plotting on not relinquishing power).

As for your point of prosecution, I have alread discerned that he will grant widespread, blanket pardons to all who participated in this administration (not to mention some truly nauseating commutations of sentences for criminals we don’t want to see back on the streets).

It’s something to look forward to, eh?

Well my friend, I wish you a very Happy Easter today. God bless.


58 posted on 04/04/2010 3:41:14 AM PDT by Canedawg (I'm not diggin' this tyranny thing.)
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To: Canedawg

And a Happy Easter back to you CD!!!


59 posted on 04/04/2010 4:00:41 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies (Obama: "Lawless...with all power, signs and lying wonders")
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To: bruinbirdman

Darn! I’m going to miss the Sun’s Page 3.


60 posted on 04/04/2010 5:22:57 AM PDT by sergeantdave
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