Our special relationship with America is over

[Still Waters]

Britain's special relationship with America is over, says a committee of MPs.

The cross-party Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has said the phrase is no longer appropriate as Britain’s is just one of a series of relationships the United States has with key allies.

MPs said that the Government should be ‘less deferential’ towards the Americans as the perception of the UK after the Iraq war as ‘America’s poodle’ had been damaging to Britain’s reputation.

The phrase was coined 60 years ago by Winston Churchill in the aftermath of the Second World War and was inspired both by the countries’ shared struggle against Nazi Germany and the looming Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union.

It was especially pertinent during the Premiership of Margaret Thatcher when she forged a close political and personal bond with President Ronald Reagan in the Eighties.

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[Pseudo Intellectual]

America's poodle?

Well, I suppose surrendering your sovereignty and being the EU's poodle is much better.

[keithisco]

It always seemed a pretty much one-way-street in favour of the USA, and held back serious Govt. criticism of USA Foreign policy for decades. It was always an odd term, considering that German ancestry makes up a much larger percentage of the USA ancestral origins demographic.

[Rhungobains]

'Special' as in Dracula and Renfield 'special'.

[Michelle]

I thought Obama was supposed to help relationships with other countries? It doesn't sound like it, from all of the threads I've seen here, or from various news sources.

[tigger]

I thought Obama was supposed to help relationships with other countries? It doesn't sound like it, from all of the threads I've seen here, or from various news sources.

i'm pretty sure relationships have been strained for a long time before obama came into office.. he is being used as the scapegoat on many things.

[Michelle]

i'm pretty sure relationships have been strained for a long time before obama came into office.. he is being used as the scapegoat on many things.

So, it's just a coincidence that countries that have been our alllies are rejecting us this past year...after eight years of Bush.

Edited March 29, 2010 by Michelle

[keithisco]

So, it's just a coincidence that countries that have been our alllies are rejecting us this past year...after eight years of Bush.

The USA still retains it's allies in Europe (inc UK), but during and after the Bush years no nation will immediately lend it's backing to any US led initiative, particularly any military initiative, or Foreign Policy move.

Lets just say that the "Special relationship" has matured into one of equals, where all voices are heard when requesting assistance from European Nations in the Foreign Policy arena.

[stevewinn]

America's poodle?

Well, I suppose surrendering your sovereignty and being the EU's poodle is much better.

You have a point the special relationship between the US and the UK as always been more or less one sided, with the US leading and the UK following. but like you have pointed out, joining the EU hasn't helped it gives the impression of weakness and once that impression is given you struggle to regain any credibility as a country.

that's why on the face of it we follow America. because through successive weak governments our own countries ability to project influence as been undermined and it just so happens most of Americas interests in the world are also shared by us, that's why we tag along.

trouble comes when we have to go after our own interests which are interests not shared by the US. we find ourselves alone and unable to project influence because of our capabilities are lessened so in the end we don't bother. which gives the impression we always follow America. but if we had more confidence as a nation we'd be doing both, tagging along with the US and also going it alone.

and the myth of poodle would be banished

[danielost]

I thought Obama was supposed to help relationships with other countries? It doesn't sound like it, from all of the threads I've seen here, or from various news sources.

havent you been paying attention, from the time he started running to today he has attacked our allies/friends and praised our enemies. it also seems that he is trying to follow in the footsteps of that idiot in Venezuela. nationalizing companies, stepping around the rules of the government to get bills passed.

[Pseudo Intellectual]

You have a point the special relationship between the US and the UK as always been more or less one sided, with the US leading and the UK following. but like you have pointed out, joining the EU hasn't helped it gives the impression of weakness and once that impression is given you struggle to regain any credibility as a country.

that's why on the face of it we follow America. because through successive weak governments our own countries ability to project influence as been undermined and it just so happens most of Americas interests in the world are also shared by us, that's why we tag along.

trouble comes when we have to go after our own interests which are interests not shared by the US. we find ourselves alone and unable to project influence because of our capabilities are lessened so in the end we don't bother. which gives the impression we always follow America. but if we had more confidence as a nation we'd be doing both, tagging along with the US and also going it alone.

and the myth of poodle would be banished

I don't know any Americans who look down on the UK or think of you as a follower, or a "poodle." I've always thought of us as equals, with the UK helping us when needed and vice versa. The special relationship goes way back, and frankly, the only President I see disrespecting the UK is Barack Obama. You help us defend our interests, and we should help you defend your interests (eg Falklands).

I agree Britain should have more power and influence in the world, but that shouldn't be a reason to walk out on the special relationship between our two countries.

[stevewinn]

I don't know any Americans who look down on the UK or think of you as a follower, or a "poodle." I've always thought of us as equals, with the UK helping us when needed and vice versa. The special relationship goes way back, and frankly, the only President I see disrespecting the UK is Barack Obama. You help us defend our interests, and we should help you defend your interests (eg Falklands).

I agree Britain should have more power and influence in the world, but that shouldn't be a reason to walk out on the special relationship between our two countries.

i agree the poodle myth is just that a myth. peddled by people who have a axe to grind. the first i heard of the poodle myth was in the lead up to the Iraq war and the only ones i heard using it was the "stop the war coalition"

[Belial]

End of an era

[The Silver Thong]

i agree the poodle myth is just that a myth. peddled by people who have a axe to grind. the first i heard of the poodle myth was in the lead up to the Iraq war and the only ones i heard using it was the "stop the war coalition"

If you guys are the poodle over there I wonder what Canada is lol oh this should be fun.

[Belial]

The 'kitty'

[keithisco]

End of an era

And good riddance....IMO

[stevewinn]

If you guys are the poodle over there I wonder what Canada is lol oh this should be fun.

the Terrier. the small country with the heart and courage of a lion.

[The Silver Thong]

the Terrier. the small country with the heart and courage of a lion.

Thanks, I can live with that

[J.B.]

But they're not small! Not landwise anyway.

The U.K. and America should remain closeknit, and we should be helping them with their problems.

[stevewinn]

But they're not small! Not landwise anyway.

The U.K. and America should remain closeknit, and we should be helping them with their problems.

population wise, obviously not by landmass standards.

people will know am against the EU but i like the idea of a Union between America, Canada, Australia - New Zealand and the United Kingdom. what a union that would be we'd want for nothing.

[questionmark]

The 'kitty'

Because they tend to ignore the southerly neighbor until it feeds them?

[ExpandMyMind]

population wise, obviously not by landmass standards.

people will know am against the EU but i like the idea of a Union between America, Canada, Australia - New Zealand and the United Kingdom. what a union that would be we'd want for nothing.

i would love that! a union between our countries stemming across 4 continents.

[J.B.]

Bring in India and it'll be the good old Imperial days again. Har har hardy har. I call the Carribean, I wanna be a pirate! lol.

[Poopie]

I don't know any Americans who look down on the UK or think of you as a follower, or a "poodle." I've always thought of us as equals, with the UK helping us when needed and vice versa. The special relationship goes way back, and frankly, the only President I see disrespecting the UK is Barack Obama. You help us defend our interests, and we should help you defend your interests (eg Falklands).I agree Britain should have more power and influence in the world, but that shouldn't be a reason to walk out on the special relationship between our two countries.

Yeah, I've never once thought Britain as a subordinate force. That "poodle" crap is just divisive hippie-speak...

i agree the poodle myth is just that a myth. peddled by people who have a axe to grind. the first i heard of the poodle myth was in the lead up to the Iraq war and the only ones i heard using it was the "stop the war coalition"

yep...

If you guys are the poodle over there I wonder what Canada is lol oh this should be fun.

The 'kitty'

I LOL'd

[MichaelW]

population wise, obviously not by landmass standards.

people will know am against the EU but i like the idea of a Union between America, Canada, Australia - New Zealand and the United Kingdom. what a union that would be we'd want for nothing.

Well, there was a mutual defence treaty called ANZUS (Australia-New Zealand-United States) which was to protect us from invasions from other countries but also essentially protected us from communism (depsite having numerous "socialist" governments) and would be hnoured by all members. Which is why we went to war in Vietnam.

However, we did criticise the US for nuclear testing in the Pacific and did deny access to our ports by their nuclear ships. And we did pull out of the ANZUS alliance which is why they've blacklisted us and called us the "******** of the world" for some time.

Relations are better though.