UK USA Special Relationship, What does the UK get from it?

Personally I think the UK has a lot more in common with the USA than it does with Europe. Moving over here was not that much of a culture shock (although there are obviously cultural differences). If we look back over the last 100 years it is obvious who our friends are and who can be relied upon when our back is against the wall.

Support for the IRA was US tax payers money ?

How about if equipment was sold to the UK at Israeli prices ?
‘Ok we sell in bits at a price more than we sell them fully assembled and delivered to Tel Aviv.’

How about as alleys, the UK fights a war for the US only to discover the US is advising and aiding the other side too.

How about as partners and close war allies the UK leans on a neighbour Norway, because they are screwing around with the wink wink sssssh ‘special Oil prices arrangement’ and the UK agrees to buy masses of chemical and WMD just in case.

How about the UK and US both sign an agreement which prevents both from rushing into the middle east and grabbing oil contracts at the end of the war, BUT he of forked tounges think it perfectly okay, if a new Californian Oil Co rushes in and signs up the deals. California is not America, a part of it but not America, OH sorry the UK thought we meant the US, when we meant us.

There are not many in history that have got an equal deal with the US, Israel only because it’s supporters run the politics anyway. There can not be any other reason at all. what for justice, for fairness, for humanity. As soon as the oil runs out Israel is on its own, instability is a god (excuse the pun) send to US oil interests.

Think hard. What method would you use if you wanted to pump $Billions of US taxpayer money to help the Brit economy? Hint: It’s been happening since 1942, but saw a downturn in the 1990s.

“What Does The UK Get From It?”

How about a free dental plan? No, no, that’s way too much money. How about a free dental consultation?

They didn’t come free of charge, Sferrin. 🙂

Undoubtedly but who else do you think we’d let buy them at ANY price? (Could you imagine the ruckus if Taiwan said they wanted to buy some LOL! )

Also the UK managed to win a significant concession from the US over the JSF project. Could another country have got that? Possibly not. Plus there was the US support for retaking the Falklands – again, another country might have been pushed to “let go” by the US, so the latter could keep its links to South America bright and bonny.

In many respects the US does have similar foreign policy goals to us, so it’s natural to team up with them when they converge. Other countries can’t do that so easily because they don’t have the historical/cultural links.

That said a good friend tells someone when they’re making a bad mistake and refuse to help them shoot themselves in the foot. However, unfortunately, Tony Blair was starting to realise it wasn’t that easy to make a domestic policy legacy for himself, so he decided being an “international statesman” would get his name in the history books instead. It has, but probably not in the way he hoped!

Well it’s the UK that comes out the winner in the relationship as any objective look at the last 90 years makes clear.

The U.S. came to the aid of the UK twice during that period.
This was the main reason the UK was able to hold on to much of it’s empire during the cold war period and preserve it’s position as a significant economic and military power.

Sauron

Wow…was gonna say something but as a Yank (and apparently not a very popular member of the United States) I think I’ll just keep my trap shut and HOPE for now that those who I count as my UK friends are still that…friends….it sure as hell looks like I ain’t gonna make any NEW ones around here…

A NON member/ or supporter of the Bush cabinet,

Mark

Trade, Tourism…but most of all, it gives Brits someone (else..besides the French, Spainish, Germans, etc) to gripe about and generally feel superior to. 😀

Seems we all feel the same about this special Relationship, So it poses the Question why have several governments signed up so wholeheartedly to this Deal, Is it due to the US effort during World War II?.
Would Tony Blair and his government me more popular if they had avoided getting involved in America’s battles and stayed well away from Iraq?, My feeling is yes.

Think its time we let Bush do what he wants and we stay well clear of it and the all the Sh1t that comes with it.

Oh UK gets a lot out of the SR…

What does UK get from the Special relationship..?

Being held over a barrel and sh*ft*d at every opportunity??? :dev2:

i.e.:

The one-way option of having her residents extradited despite them having committed no offence on US territory, or against US entities – with no apparent way (or political will) of stopping the extradition.

The priviledge of being used as stop over for rendition flights.

The priviledge of being used as a stop over for flights full of ordinance thats on it’s way to Israel.

No access to the critical engineering know-how that may (or may not) be an integral part of the JSF (if it ever happens).

See, the list of goodies the relationship brings is endless……. :rolleyes:

Paul F

They didn’t come free of charge, Sferrin. 🙂

D-5s.

Tonnes of exersise space for the RAF.

A pat on the head and a list of chores. :rolleyes:

The fact that the US will never ever call us harbourers of terrorism and invade us… Well probably, anyway.

BARNOWL

But whats the UK getting in return?

That would be about it? 😀 😉