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March 06, 2009
US-Great Britain's Special Relationship thrown under the bus
Rick Moran
It is probably the most important bi-lateral relationship in the free world. And Obama has trashed it without so much as a "by your leave" during British PM' Gordon Brown's visit.
First, the White House canceled the traditional dual press conference due to "snow" - even though there were plenty of rooms available in the White House. Then the British press noticed that Brown was not being feted as were past British PM's - about the same treatment given to the President of Uruguay.
But it is in the traditional exchange of gifts where Barack Obama embarrassed the United States and insulted Gordon Brown. The Brits gave the Obama's beautiful presents:
Mr Brown’s gifts included an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President. Mr Obama was so delighted he has already put it in pride of place in the Oval Office on the Resolute desk which was carved from timbers of Gannet’s sister ship, HMS Resolute. Another treasure given to the U.S. President was the framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to symbolise Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria. Finally, Mr Brown gave a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.
And what did the president of the richest nation on earth give the Browns? Gordon Brown has been given a collection of 25 classic American films on DVD as his official gift from Barack Obama. The Prime Minister flew home from his successful trip to Washington this morning with the ’special collector’s box’ of films hidden in his luggage. No 10 had tried to keep the present a secret, refusing to answer reporters who asked what President Obama had given to mark the reaffirmation of the special relationship.
And the British press, who are incensed over the treatment, have a few words of warning for President Obama: But Obama's merely warmish words (one of our closest allies, said with little sincerity or passion) left a bitter taste with this Atlanticist. Especially after his team had made Number 10 beg for a mini press conference and then not even offered the PM lunch. We get the point, sunshine: we're just one of many allies and you want fancy new friends. Well, the next time you need something doing, something which impinges on your national security, then try calling the French, or the Japanese, or best of all the Germans. The French will be able to offer you first rate support from their catering corps but beyond that you'll be on your own. When it comes to men, munitions and commitment you'll soon find out why it pays to at least treat the Brits with some manners.
How many times have American GI's and British Tommies fought side by side over the last 100 years? How many times have we supported each other when the rest of the world was against us?
I think before his term is up, Obama is going to regret the treatment of British PM Gordon Brown given by their supposedly most important ally. I just hope the president's stupidity doesn't cost us too dearly.
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