By Fareed Zakaria
As Americans watch the London Olympics, commentators filling airtime have speculated on the decline of the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. Mitt Romney took a few swipes at Barack Obama for being responsible for this decline when he was in London two weeks ago. Actually, the bonds between the United States and United Kingdom remain very strong. Why?
Well, first – whether or not Romney actually said it – he simple fact is that Britain’s heritage is a crucial component of the United States. The country was founded by Englishmen seeking liberty along English lines. The institutions are so similar, the cultures are so similar, the values system is so similar that in a sense there’s an almost symbiotic relationship at the structural level.
This isn’t to say that things haven’t evolved and American society hasn’t been enriched by diverse groups from all over then world. But that’s not really what’s changed the special relationship.” That term came into being to describe the link between the two most powerful countries in the world. Remember during World war II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was running the world’s largest economy and a growing military superpower. But Winston Churchill presided over a country with an enormous empire, ruling about a quarter of the world’s surface. Britain still also had a huge navy as well as enormous economic power. The pound sterling was still the reserve currency of the world. That – Britain’s role – is what has really changed.
During the Cold war, the asymmetry of power meant that Britain became a junior power to Washington, but at a time when Europe was the central arena of global politics and Britain was key to the strategy of containing the Soviet Union. Now there’s no Cold war, power is shifting to Asia and Britain is a small, wealthy island off the coast of Europe with one global financial center and lots of nice old country estates.
I think that Americans will still find Britain the country they feel most at home in, and Briton’s will probably find America the country they feel most at home in. I have enormous affection for Britain. But the global structure of power has shifted and that means the old special relationship can’t be brought back, no matter how many busts of Churchill we place in the White House.
In the future, I think that the relationship between the two will remain very strong. You only have to look at the bonds between Israel and the United States – the fact that Israel is a very small country hasn’t lessened the ties that exist between the two. But it won’t be central to global affairs the way it was in the past.
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Don't forget, in addition to those country estates Britain has enough nuclear weapons to do quite a bit of damage.
Unlike France, Britain has pared back its nuclear deterrent a lot. They could only take out a continent not the world.
By the way, Europe fears more Britain's paternalism than its nukes!
As a matter of fact, Fareed, the bond between Israel and th US is not the same as between GB and the US. The bond between GB and the US is more natural. Out of emotions more Americans cherish this bond than that with Israel.
On the other hand the US doesn't have as tight a bond with Australia, although two countries share so much together. So heritage plays certainly a crucial role and will remain so in history.
Fareed, where's your copy editor? This piece is full of typos.
• The word "War" is uncapitalized in both "World War II" and "Cold War."
• In the first sentence of the second paragraph, the word "he" appears where you meant to say "the."
• The first sentence of the third paragraph ends with a superfluous quotation mark.
• In the second-to-last paragraph, you have "Briton's" where you should have just "Britons."
Come on! You and CNN are better than this poor showing. (Feel free to delete this comment after you've fixed these errors.)
Great, I agree with you..By the way, Is "Briton" right word?
Yes its valid.
If SpellChecker doesn't catch it, who are you to say it's wrong? Seriously, I couldn't agree with you more. Chances are, the position of copy editor has been eliminated at CNN as elsewhere because the machines supposedly do that for us now.
Budget cuts. We had to let her go. Plus, she was getting on my nerves by smacking her lips while she eats her salad. The last straw was she was complaining that my stuff is full of errors
I am sick....I get up every Sunday morning to hear the most intelligent news person on CNN, interview people others can only dream of and tell us the truth along the way to find he has been removed. Bad deal CNN. He did not do anything on purpose and has said sorry..........Come on...Put my favorite back on the air..Fareed come back..:(
Definitely. A handful of these mistakes across an entire 500 page novel is one thing. In a handful of paragraphs? That is essentially a mistake every paragraph. Umm... not for nothing but I read through this article in less than 5 minutes. Nobody at CNN has five minutes? That's 10 stories of this size per hour. Umm... that is basically ONE person full time. Sounds like CNN could be a 'job creator' here!! Find a vet coming home (comm specialist maybe) and give them a job! All mostly tongue in cheek of course, but not really a bad idea from a PR perspective... just saying.
Thomas: Couldn't say it better myself. I would be late to point out the errors. The man is sloppy and probably considers himself too good for a copyeditor. Doesn't matter how good the thoughts are, sloppy is how sloppy does and this is journalism basics - proofread yourself before handing in your assignment. It wasn't like this was done under a tight deadline. I am more curious as to how many other bits of plagarism Mr. Zakaria might have committed and why he is only being suspended for a month.
Proof-reading goes a long way...
You do not miss a chance to take a swipe at Israel!
The relation of the USA with Great Britain has nothing to do on a comparative level with that of the USA with Israel.
They are different in their context, their purpose and their entire structure.
Again, youe views as far as Israel are concerned have been and continue to be a disgrace.
Excellent post spencer.
The U.K. has signed the non-proliferation treaty; Israel has not. The U.K. does not dictate US policy. Israel does. Time for the U.S. to declare its independence from Israel.
freank, I agree. Isreal is a terror state, and america should cut off all ties with these evil zionist pigs.
Frank's post is much more valid than Spencer's – and more on target, too.
First off, I don't see how he took a swipe at Israel, second, the difference between the U.K. and Israel is that the U.K. doesn't cause trouble for the United States, Israel does.
Understand who you are dealing with when it comes to Mr. Zakaria. All you need to do is what his CNN program or read some of his materail. He's an Obama cheerleader. This is no reason to be mentioning Isreal in this story whatsoever, but the temptation couldn't be avoided by the author.
i think a lot of Americans underestimate Britains support. If Britain had pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan in say 2005, you can guarantee the likes of Canada, Australia and the EU would have followed suit. The fact of the matter is, the world hates America, yet the US seems to treat its one true friend like some kind of doormat
Too true.....
What about our true friend to the North we so often take for granted? Canada...
We still love you America! Just take it down a notch. HAHAHAHA
Sad but true. This is a very astute post.
No, Toby, Shaun's post is not astute. The world doesn't hate America. Of course, some within it do, but to say the world hates America is a gross overstatement. To say the U.S. treats Britain like a doormat is equally incorrect.
In what way, Shaun, has the U.S. treated Great Britain badly? We Americans hollered loudly in 2009 when the Scottish government released the Lockerbie bomber, but other than that, I can't think of much U.S. criticism of our British cousins. And as an American, in retrospect, I would say we Yanks were absolutely right to complain as loudly as we could about the Scots releasing a man who murdered 270 people, most of them American.
Besides which, the Brits burned Washington, D.C. We ought to be able to tweak 'em once in a while in return.
I'm sorry, but many people greatly overestimate the role of their countries in areas such as Afghanistan. Looking at the ISAF troop totals for 2012, of the ~130,000 troops in Afghanistan, ~90,000 are US. Guess how much from the UK? ~9,500. Australia? ~1500. Canada? ~1000. In fact, while the UK is the largest of the secondary contributors, they are only 10% of the commitment of the US. In fact, going by casualties, the UK has 1/5 of US casualties, an indicator of a far smaller force size
Of course you might say "But we supported a US war!", but that data is pretty consistent across most modern conflicts, Boania, for example. The US bears the lion's share of the burden with nominal support from other countries. As a political maneuver, our allies send nominal support and claim in the share of 1. the credit and 2. claim the US owes them one.
Matt M, you state that Britain's contingent in Afghanistan is less than 10% that of the US troop number. You then say that British casualties are 1/5 of those of the US's casualty number. 1/5 translates to 20% which implies that soldiers serving the crown are suffering a higher rate of attrition per, lets say, 1000 servicemen and women than those from the US, undermining your argument. As a veteran of 2 British conflicts, where US involvement was minimal (N. Ireland) or simply restricted to the logistical and intelligence areas of war (Falklands Conflict) I can assure you that British commitments are not simply 'Token political gestures' but are limited by the size of Britain's military, (9,500, is roughly 10% of the British Army) and every casualty suffered is keenly felt.
Britain wasn't treated like a doormat until Obama came to office. Absolutely lacks class and has no idea about protocol when it came to any dealings with one of our oldest allies. Shameful.
I was very dissappointed with the US coverage of the games. Of all the stupid games to shoiw-we had to endure half naked women and beach balls while China and other developing countries were challenging in many different but real sportin events. There was no direct telecast! But this shows the American mind. The soccer ( really Football) coverage sucked-the commentarst in the USA talked so much, that there was no way could one watch the game adequately. I suggest that the English commentarst be allowed to comment-that would be super!
You've obviously never played beach volleyball. Also, nobody in America worth a damn cares about soccer.
just look at how many people play soccer in the world and how many play volley ball on the beach.
and don't equate the people that are not worth a damn, like you, with the rest of the intelligent world.
Your ignorance is a good thing you do not speak for the USA.
'You've obviously never played beach volleyball"
on a beach, while on holiday, like most people. Why a beach version of a sport already in the olympics is even considered worthy of entry I have no idea. Lets face it its only in there to give people something oggle at, wether its the guys or the girls.
Oh, you're just so, so knowledgeable Adam.
I agree with Vincent. I understand national broadcasters should focus on USA players during the Olympics. But I feel like it was too much focus. There was no general broadcasting of the olympics games just as sport coverage. Barely caught glimpses of Judo, and Boxing. Only caught those online. Also during live events...they kept jumping to different sports during qualification rounds...finish one sporting event first! That was so annoying when finally cheering for a player to advance they cut to different things. Also enough with player background drama and interviews....but online coverage great! No annoying commentators and all the sports live!
UK is now a decaying old country with nothing to offer.
USA is now a decaying old country with nothing to offer.
Except the world's largest economy, most powerful military, and largest commercial sector.
The world is a decaying old place with nothing to offer. I win.
WRG001
You win what?
The planet Mars is rising. Earth has nothing to offer.
Scott, america is sliding further anf further down the tubes every year. Decadence and aroganct will distroy us soon.
Wow Jen, very negative view to write off the UK in within a few taps of some keys. I think the UK has amazing things to offer, you just have to get off your buttski, to find these things.
We have manners – You are crude
We speak English – You crucify it
We are respected across the World – You are ridiculed
We have a strong Prime Minister – You have a spineless, apologist for a "Leader"
We respect religion – You wage war on it
Shall I go on
Where were those 'manners' when The Telegraph published a list of the worst national anthems on the eve of the Olympics? Pretty rude thing to do if you ask me.
To claim that Britain is those things is just lying. Your leader is who exactly? NO ONE CARES ABOUT BRITAIN ANY MORE, GET OVER IT.
A war on religion should be waged. Enough is enough with the all powerful fairy B.S. You sir are an idiot.
But by all means go on and keep making an ass of yourself.
You come off as a petulant child, stop fooling yourself.
If that's what you call manners, I'd hate to see what you consider rude.
You're not much respected by France. Also, your "respect" of religion is why your countrymen fled England and came to America in the first place!
Really, Jen? And how are you managing to rank the other 200 or so nations according to your astute analysis?
An ignorant comment..look at Detroit and other large US cities who know littel outside their own county lines..the UK is re-inventing after 1000 years and will evolve again with the right politcal will
In my experience with the British intelligence we generally treated them as the poor relative....Most Americans wanted to boss around the Brits and this created a lot of tension which impeded productive cooperation. The arrogance of American leaders was more the rule than the exception....
When you say British Intelligence are you talking about MI5 and 6, or their collective intellect? If its the former, than we treated them the way we did because their organization was full of Soviet moles at the highest levels (see Cambridge Five), we simply could not trust them.
Than being said. i have a great deal of affection for GB.
British Intelligence is an oxymoron.
Moron
Philly is a moron.
Of course, it's always useful to have a rabid pet poodle to bark and bite your enemies, while you stand back and maintain facade of respectability.
You are talking about respectable rabid bulldog, not some dumb French poodle right?
Isn't that Israel's role?
Or is it the Americans that are the poodle doing the barking and biting for them instead?
your right, thats why america provides 90% of the manpower for our collective wars, and we brits 10%....
Well, I think that British people are still concerned about perceived decline of British influence in the world. They probably expected that their strong allegiance with US would help it. But I do not think it is working. They probably have got similar feeling: so it goes...
Actually it's the rest of the world that is preoccupied with Britain's 'decline in the world', banging on about colonialism and the 'imperial past', when in fact most of the UK just couldn't give a stuff. We really couldn't. We're not the ones who can't refer to Britain without reference to the past. We're moving forward and have been for a long time. Perhaps if those wishing to take a swipe at us would find a relevant, contemporary argument, instead of the tired ones that are about fifty years out of date, there may be a valid point to make. Sadly most of the world still thinks Jack the Ripper is running around London and that the capital is swathed in industrial revolution smog. Until everyone else educates themselves instead who we really are, nothing is going to change.
true post. true post.
Well said
Actually it's the rest of the world that is preoccupied with Britain's 'decline in influence the world', banging on about colonialism and the 'imperial past', when in fact most of the country just couldn't give a stuff. We really couldn't. We're not the ones who can't refer to Britain without reference to the past. We're moving forward and have been for a long time. Perhaps if those wishing to take a swipe at us would find a relevant, contemporary argument, instead of the tired ones that are about fifty years out of date, there may be a valid point to make. Sadly most of the world still thinks Jack the Ripper is running around London and that the capital is swathed in industrial revolution smog. Until everyone else educates themselves about who we really are, nothing is going to change.
Just be proud of your glorious history. Even your imperialism has brought immeasurable benefits to the four corners of the world. The biggest mistake of the British Empire was to loose America over tea taxes.
One of the best examples of positive, constructive and progressive international relationships on this earth is between Great Britain and the USA. That will never change!
The British have always been an empirical people – prepared to go with what can be shown to work without letting historical ties or rationalism or dogma holding them back. At the same time the British recognize Britains rich historical legacy for what it is – the foundation of todays society without it becoming the chains that tie them to the past as in some societies toady.
Jude, my friend, you speak with a lot of sense. I'm and American, proud of it, and happy about it. But if I ever left here, the only other place I'd want to be is in Great Britain. It is a facisnating place filled wonderful people, and I've always felt welcomed and at home there. I don't know if the U.S.A. will always feel a "special relationship" with the U.K., but I always will.
Excellent comment..the blinkered need to open their eyes
UK is tired of US, and US sees UK as boring, short people. They were enemies in the past, later united by common enemies. Just as an example, have you ever heard about the Destroyers for Bases Agreement? UK was on its knees in 1940, and Secretary Hull signed an agreement to the transfer of the warships to the Royal Navy. In exchange, the U.S. was granted land in various British possessions for the establishment of naval or air bases, on ninety-nine-year rent-free leases. Friends? Who friends? Wtih friends like these...
Most of the people here underestimate the friendship between our two countries.
We have much more in common than not. We have stood by them and they have been a very reliable ally at present and the past. The economic balance in the world may be shifting towards Asia, but Britain and the USA will be together in whatever adversities they encounter.
CORRECT !
I'm both British and American and have lived in the US for over 12 years. I think the British feel a special relationship for all the reasons have been expressed, but Americans do not. I think that is because Americans are a mix of many people, the majorty of whom are not of British descent and therefore do not feel anything towards the British.I will add that the British people are Americans most dependable ally, regardless of which president is in power and when push comes to shove you will see the UK stand shoulder to shoulder with the US. Yes, the cultures are very similiar, the language is common but above all else, we share the same values. The UK has the same relationship with Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well.
Gee, Mr Robert – try getting with the 21st century . . . .
btw – did you know Greece was an ancient civilization and not just a modern European basket case/joke (you choose which)?
As an American, I think I feel more "at home" in Canada...not Britain, and I think Britain would feel more "at home" in Canada than America.
Yes...the three do seem to be on a scale, with Canada somewhere between the two. Canada, though, seems closer socially and culturally to the US than it does to the UK...but, if so, for obvious geographic, economic, political and defense related reasons. Love the UK and Canada...I don't expect any nation to love everything about the US and I don't love everything about every other nation in the world...some are friends, some are not...some differences just don't matter and some do. The US and all the Commonwealth nations are family...loving or fighting each other, we'll always be family.
Besides, Obama's father is from a Commonwealth, yes? Isn't Kenya a Commonwealth nation? There's another bond!
No Kenya was not part of the British Empire – it was called "East Africa" as was "Rhodesia" and Southwest and Southeast Africa. Try a simple google fella's and look at all the countries in 'Pink' the colour of the British Empire on Maps!
"No Kenya was not part of the British Empire "
well thats a technicality, the land that became Kenya was ruled by the British.
You can get Maynards wine gums and HP sauce in Canada – thats always a positive thing
Nice post, maybe the most rational here.
Michael, you are wrong.
Let's not forget here the Russia and six other East European countries also enjoyed "special relationships" between 1949 and 1989. More and more, the European countries of today are becoming subservient states of the U.S. like Poland was to Russia after WW2, sadly enough.
Obama has done a few things to sabotage the special relationship as of late, like the offensive gesture of sending back to England the bust of Churchill which has been housed at the Whitehouse since WWII. It was there to serve as a symbol of strength through tough times. But one of the first things Obama did when he was elected was to wrap it up and ship it back. As I recall, this stunt was ill-received with the UK, straining our relations a bit. It was a tasteless move on his part.
'like the offensive gesture of sending back to England the bust of Churchill which has been housed at the Whitehouse since WWII"
Actually it was not there since WWII, it was given to bush junior, and was intented to be a temporary loan, as stated by the British Embassy.
Cait....
You are not supposed to remember things like that...... or the US format DVD's that were the gift for the Brits....
BS. We LOVE Obama here... He has class, intelligence, grace, diplomacy, he's a genuine guy we can relate to, has a sense of humour, Michelle is great, he's a fantastic father to his kids, he's kept the USA (and therefore the rest of the World) from falling into another Great Depression, got Osama Bin Laden by allowing your Seal team to kill him, he saved GM from going under and taking millions of jobs with it........ what's NOT to like?...
We liked Reagan; he seemed decent and had some good ideas, we even liked Bush the 1st... GW Bush?? He was an imbecile of epic proportions, a buffoon, a Man bereft of anything resembling tact or diplomacy, he massacred the English language, tortured us with his constant Warlike rhetoric, presided over the collapse of the World's economy because he let his wealthy friends destroy the USA's Banking system through lack of oversight.
Romney? He's even worse that GWB ! An empty suit, a Manchurian Candidate a Man who subscribes to an absurd Cult started by a con Man, he has taken every position on a subject and then turned 180 degrees on it, he came here and insulted our entire Nation; his companies made money from aborted fetuses, he destroyed American Companies and shipped their jobs to China, he is LOATHED by the majority of us here.
I think we still have a special relationship with America.I spent many years working with special forces in the British Army and often with the US army. We share common values, we have the same enemies and we probbaly need each other more than you realise. I get disheartened when I see negativity on a debate like this, I have alot of time for my American cousins, they are a bit louder than us and we are a little reserved sometimes but thats just culture. I have always felt very welcome in the US and most Americans I know enjoy coming here to England, like it or not we are often related and connected, keep the politicans aside and look at the people, the Americans I know are fun, considerate and always very polite. No negative publications would change my mind about a people and country that looked after me well on my travels, Heres to you Mrs Robinson!
What you said is so very true. A lot of folks here in the USA have no sense of history to realize how we have been always allies and fought on two world wars together. The defeat of fascism around the world was mainly due to our sacrifices and cooperation. The world without our alliance would have been a very terrible place indeed.
Whenever I visit GB I appreciate the politeness and the friendliness of the average Briton.
I am surprised by CNN producing this low brow copy,this guy clearly doesn't know much about history,is clearly playing to his perceived audience and I expected much much more of CNN.I guess times have changed and I will no longer be checking opinion at CNN.
you have this clown Fareed Zakaria and his editor to thank.
The United States is all about power, power and power. We live in a power, money mad world.
You couldn't be more wrong.
It's Britain with its post colonialist hangover that is about power trying to make a quick buck hanging on american coattails.
America is about Integrity and courage. When we sing the banner that's what we're thinking about.
Do you perhaps work for a bank?
I don't think you know what you're thinking about. You sure don't know what you're talking about.
I always viewed the relationship between the UK and America like that between a parent and child. In 1776 the teenage America rebeled againest its parent and dad being busy with other things let the teenager get away with the rebellion thinking that they could lay down the law later.
When America and parent England got into again during the War of 1812, America resorted to picking on its sibling to the North. ("Canada you always were the good child." Canada responds "Dad always liked you best."). Seeing how much America had grown and not wanting to really get into a knock down drag out with its child England and America called it a draw.
Then during WWI and WWII dad found they had got in over their heads with that second mortage on the house so the child came to the rescue helping them out.
Now the UK is happy to admit how far its child has come ("don't forget where you came from") if only it would listen to the advice its parent tries to give for its own good. The US response? Sorry Dad love you lots, but you're old and behind the times now go sit on the porch swing while we take care of business.
Someday when the US is past its prime maybe we can both sit around on the porch swing thinking about better days.
You feel good analogies bought a smile to my face but the UK burnt Washington DC to the ground in 1812. And America never retaliated. Get a grip on your history and feel good about what your country managed to do.
Burned Washington down and america never retailited. I think it is you that needs to take a look at the history books. The US invaded Canada. Take a look at the Wikipedia entry for the war of 1812 its reasons and its outcomes.
Funny analogy but sadly untrue.
Proofread this ****, please!
I'm confused. So there isn't a special relationship between the U.S. and U.K. anymore, because the undiminished relationship they have with each other is not central to global affairs? The article even admits the bonds between the U.S. and U.K. are "very strong" and the citizens of both feel most at home in the other's country? So what does "global affairs" have to do with it?
its nauseating Fareed that you too should jump on the Brit bandwagon.
Why are we so obsessed whether the Brits like us ??
They do everything to make a quick buck while contravening US laws.
what – you don't think americans are all about making a buck? you must not know any americans!
"aren't"
Idiot
There is nothing British about you. What you exemplify is the muslim penchant for setting one side against the other by pretending to be one or the other. Idiot!
Just check the BBC (the bolshevik broadcasting network) to see how brimming with US hatred the UK is.
You really ought to get out more!
^Agreed.
double 'agreed'
and fox news for Brit bashing.....
Obama toasting the queen on youtube is always good for a laugh.
From a strictly personal perspective, I have never been treated poorly any time I have visited the UK, or Canada or Australia for that matter. Of course, in the pubs, there are all manner of friendly jabs that, if one is so inclined, could be taken poorly, but then I expect that our friends suffer the same in our bars (and probably worse). On a professional level, whenever I work in our UK office, they are very professional and accommodating. I feel completely at home in the UK (aside from some trepidations about driving there) and have never had any issues. You'll also notice that, for the most part, their policemen on the streets don;t have to be armed to the teeth like ours do. That picture is worth a thousand words.....
As a Hispanic-American, I could give a damn about Britain. The 'special relationship' for us is with Latin American and Spain!
No one cares about that! hahaha jokes
'No one' except 50+ million Hispanic-Americans.
Simon,
Sorry bud, but Spain was never supportive of us (Think Spanish-American War, 1898), they were on the wrong side of WWII (Franco's Fascists), and while they may be part of NATO now, they still aren't our best buds. And for the record, America doesn't have a special bond with Britain because all of the white people in this land are descended from them (which we did not, most of us are Irish, German, Russian, Italian, etc.), we have a bond with GB because of our long relationships in commerce, military, and diplomacy. And I'm fairly certain that most Hispanic Americans don't care about Spain... seeing as many of them come from countries that haven't had real ties with Spain for nearly 200 years.
Spain wasn't supportive of the US? Along with France, Spain helped the colonies gain their independence from the UK! Spain also sent troops to Iraq to support the US.
But yes, most Hispanic-Americans care more about Latin America than we do about Spain.
Simon the difference between the British and Spanish empires?
when we left our colonies, we left them speaking 1000 languages and preying to 1000 different gods.. their culture was pretty much intact. (with some cross contamination that went both ways)
ex Spanish colonies all speak Spanish, are catholic. and use Spanish names.. their culture was completely destroyed by a process that makes sharia law look soft... the Spanish inquisition...
and do you ask the Spanish to apologise???
Double negative ?
Like I said before, if I were the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the first thing I'd do would be to put that country out of NATO and quit carrying out orders from Washington D.C. All this good for nothing David Cameron seems to do is to pander the the Washington bureaucrats.
The UK is just a shadow of what it was when the USA and UK entered 'special' relationships. The world has changed drastically and so has the influence and power of UK.
There is no need to give the same place to UK as we would have in the past. It has no land, it has very little natural resources – most of it is imported, ever been to UK? It is pretty expensive.
It has quality to offer but a lot of other countries now offer a similar or better level of quality of everything. I will not expand on this or else it will get too long and half the people may not read it.
Yes we are alike in many aspects – but the USA has to develop relationships with other nations which will be more useful to her – even if it may be at the expense of its relationship with the UK; for its own good.
we have always punched above our own weight...
the olympic rankings right now, for a modern example...
I do not understand your comment.
Could you rephrase and provide examples, otherwise you are a waste of space.
Englad is evil, and we should have perminatly cut all ties with then at the end of the revalutionary war. and let then burn in ww1, and ww2.
Are you stupid or just trolling? Or did mom let on the big boy sites?
cc, you are ignorant. Ive been to england before. Everything they have, they have stolen, they pay to keep a worthless figurehead monarch in power, and there restriction of rights makes america look like an open and free place, even after the PATRIOT act was signed. I think you are trolling, because your posts above are anti england, and now youa re comeing to those dus che bags aid.
cc, he is both.
Probably just Irish.
learn to spell and articulate your hate...moron
Remember any "independence" you have is not real, you still are property of the crown as your Masonic forefathers saw fit to do.
Let's not forget that 9/11 was a cover-up.
I never thought conspiracy theorists read Fareed Zakaria.
Its not a theory, it is the reason we still contunued to business with england after the war. It was because america was never liberated from england, it was just taken out of the public awarness.
It is a sad day when Fareed Zakaria can't be bothered to proof read his own work. Lordy.
Most SANE and respectable Americans hold the U.K. in high regard, unfortunately the internet does not block uneducated idiots from posting things on it.
But, I personally fear of any future without Britain by our side more than I do Israel. When it comes down to it, I think Britain would have our back more than Israel. Israel seems to only get us in trouble.
I'd have been shocked if he hadn't squeezed Israel in there somehow. lol
"I think that Americans will still find Britain the country they feel most at home in, and Briton’s will probably find America the country they feel most at home in" Seriously? What planet is this guy from? I'd feel more at home in Canada or Australia. I'd feel more in paradise in Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland or Costa Rica. Why wouldn't Brits feel more at home in New Zealand or Canada? Those nations were commonwealth lickspittles, use the metric system and have the same kind of nanny state mentality. However, I do think "the ambiguously gay duo's" honeymoon is over. We're both gold-digging nations and since China and India are the cash cows these days, we're both better off finding a new lap to sit on.
The Beatles!!!!!!! yeah, baby!!!!!!!!!!
The Rolling Stones, Richard Thompson, Small Faces, The Waterboys, Van Morrison, the Clash, The Who, the Zombies, the Buzzcoc*s, David Bowie – the list is endless.
The US-UK relationship is very special and will remain so for all time.
.
Brits just like to complain. It's how they express affection.
Are you able to provide any examples?
You really come off as an ignoramus.
I grew up being called "gormless" by my Yorkshire gran.
One silly granny explains all Brits. OK????????????
The USA Needs to have a special relationship with India to offset a rising china. That being said the UK is valuable as their knowledge and relationship with India is far greater then ours.
I’m perplexed by this non-story story. Where is the news in this? Next, you’re write an article letting us know that peanut butter is made of PEANUTS!
We do have a lot in common with Britain. Israel on the hand we don't. Try and visit Israel as a non-Jewish American and see how they treat you. Israel simply has massive control over our government due to rich Jewish American donors that put Israel's interests above America's. – Don't believe me. See what happens if candidate for office doesn't support Israel.
Israel respects all its visitors no matter the religion or nationality.
Lies will get you nowhere.
Of course, it is still special, even if we have no handouts available, at the moment.
We only wish the UK would stop their 20th century policy of fomenting trouble all over the world, hoping somehow to engage us in their divide and conquer philosophy. There are better ways to support an economy than to promote war and hatred in distant lands, in the hope those nations will forever be dependent on the UK for policy and perhaps even monetary assistance....and this is crucial to understand, the Office of the Exchequer is bankrupt, bankrupt, bankrupt, just like the rest of EU !
US and UK...Two great countries, separated by a common language...Tony Blair put up with a lot of BS from GWBush and Dick Cheney..hoping to get some big contracts..but Mr. Milo Minderbinder changed his mind, even after many Brits had already died...That is Mr. Milo Minderbinder for you...
The Brits gave us MONTY PYTHON
We are _DEEP_ in their debt if you ask me...
On a more serious note, as an American I do feel a certain bond with the UK (and Ireland, but that's a whole other topic). When the terrorists bombed the subways a few years back, I remember my gut level reaction to a terrorist attack in London was much like how I would have responded if the attack happend in some US city on the other side of the country. I reacted, emotionally, much like my own countrymen were attacked.
So personally, I think the 'special relationship' is alive and well. I _DO_ see the UK, and our relationship with it, in a fundamentally different way than most other nations, including most of our Allies.
Or to paraphrase, if I am travelling abroad and some locals are harrassing UK tourists, and a fight were to break out... you bet your butt I am getting involved. Just as if they were Americans. So should such an unlikely event occur, we can discuss the status of our 'special relationship' in some foreign clinker with a few bruises and black eyes.
For my part, I say things are pretty solid between the US and the UK
Well said..we share a fundamental belief and philosophy, do the right thing and defend the defenceless wherever we can..this is a cultural thing not political.
Canada loves you all.......except france
Sure thing Abdul!
Go home Patrick your drunk, and take Dad with ya.
So if you are drunk Jim, everybody is?
I can't believe that Fareed Zakaria would plagiarize. What a dumb decision on his part!
Farid is mostly right. Brits are history with no chance to gain a victory, despite their out-of-date nukes...
"no chance to gain a victory" What victory?
I am a useless piece of camel dung. I post anti American, anti GB, anti semite, anti India, anti modern anything because I am a good moooooslem. I steal people's monikers because I am so ashamed of myself and post the most stupid comment. When people get angry with me, I claim insanity. I am the same guy.