On air at 1100GMT: Is the US UK relationship essential?
|
Tuesday, 5 May 2011
|12:00 - 12:30 GMT
They say it is no longer a special relationship but an essential one. David Cameron and Barack Obama have written a joint article in the British press saying,
"It is a perfect alignment of what we both need and what we both believe. And the reason it remains strong is because it delivers time and again. Ours is not just a special relationship, it is an essential relationship - for us and for the world"
But is it essential?
Writing for the 主播大秀 Steve Clemons from the New America Foundation says Obama has been keen to play down any kind of special relationship with Britain since taking office...
"Mr Obama has been incrementally de-emphasising the UK-US relationship as the place to start in the international community, not because Mr Obama doesn't like or appreciate the Brits but because the world is changing and he needs other key stakeholders to feel the love too."
The 主播大秀's North America Editor Mark Mardell talks here about the White House's acknowledgment of how sensitive some people in Britain are about the relationship
But there are those, who believe that the special relationship is no more and much of that is down to strong signals from President Obama. From snubbing Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister and refusing to met him back in September 2009 to ....
"During Britain's stand-off with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, the Obama administration has been at best neutral, at worst pro-颅Argentine. And throughout the Gulf of Mexico oil spill last year, the American President was keen to emphasise the British provenance of BP, the chief 颅perpetrator, and to make it pay"
Charlesm186 tweeted "Never met an American who thinks the USA - UK relationship is special - this exists only in the UK media's mind."
Ben Chu tweeted "主播大秀's Nick Robinson keeps saying Obama doesn't GET special relationship. Has not considered that it's Britain that doesn't get it. There isn't one"
Is the idea of any two nations having a special relationship, at the exclusion of others, an out dated concept? Do you welcome the "essential relationship" or think with it comes with an expectation to follow each other's policies?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
12:25
113631290
<p>
Kingsley in Nigeria posts: It is an essential and special relationship and it is going to be of an immense benefit to people all over the world, especially Africa!</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:23
113631290
<p>
Carlos in California posts: No offence, but how is having a "special" relation with the UK beneficial to the US? I just don't see the UK having anything to offer us really.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:21
113631290
<p>
Tom Coates tweets: Why do I get the feeling that the UK is the Nick Clegg of the Special Relationship?</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:19
113631290
<p>
The Faceless Bureaucrat writes on Kings of War: For London, a special relationship with Washington makes some sense. In an age of austerity, perhaps any relationship is a good relationship, but for Washington…what are they getting in return? London is punching below its weight in terms of military capabilities. And, the US doesn't gain much in terms of legitimacy. The 2003 Iraq invasion pretty much negated any 'we are all in this together, and therefore we must be right, and should be trusted' factor that could be gleaned from having two red, white, and blue flags behind the podium at the press conference. So where does that leave us? Not so much 'special as in better' and not so much 'special as in useful', either.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:18
113631290
<p>
Jackie posts: I think we have a very common goals for our nations, and that makes it a special relationship. I app</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23057
12:11
115797818
Yes, I agree. I like President Obama, he is genuine in his efforts. But forget this "special relationship" *Bush and Blair* @主播大秀_WHYS
Comment sent via Feed
12:11
113631290
<p>
Roger Cohen column in the New York Times: The immediate test of the redefined U.S.-British relationship is the ability of Obama and Cameron to deliver change in Tripoli fast and stop the conflict festering.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:10
113631290
<p>
Bruce posts: The world economy is changing but historically the ideological and military links naturally run very deep. An important economic relationship can be seen as very separate to important ideological and military ones.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:04
113631290
<p>
"Slicer" on the Daily Telegraph website: This "Special Relationship" tripe has to stop. It's pathetic. There is no special relationship, never has been and never will be. We need to do what's right for the UK and the UK only.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:04
113631290
<p>
Deja in Ghana posted: Essential? There's China, Brazil, India,..etc now so what's essential about the UK who have lost their credibility a long time ago!</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:04
113631290
<p>
Temitope posts: Wherever the US goes, the UK follows. I think the UK has lost relevance in international scene, it depends solely on the US.</p>
Comment sent via host
11:54
113631290
We''re on air now discussing the ''special relationship'' between the US and the UK as President Obama arrives at Buckingham Palace on a two day state visit to Britain. What do you think of the relationship?
On air at 1100GMT: Is the US UK relationship essential?
| Tuesday, 5 May 2011 | 12:00 - 12:30 GMT
They say it is no longer a special relationship but an essential one. David Cameron and Barack Obama have written a joint article in the British press saying,
"It is a perfect alignment of what we both need and what we both believe. And the reason it remains strong is because it delivers time and again. Ours is not just a special relationship, it is an essential relationship - for us and for the world"
But is it essential?
Writing for the 主播大秀 Steve Clemons from the New America Foundation says Obama has been keen to play down any kind of special relationship with Britain since taking office...
"Mr Obama has been incrementally de-emphasising the UK-US relationship as the place to start in the international community, not because Mr Obama doesn't like or appreciate the Brits but because the world is changing and he needs other key stakeholders to feel the love too."
The 主播大秀's North America Editor Mark Mardell talks here about the White House's acknowledgment of how sensitive some people in Britain are about the relationship
But there are those, who believe that the special relationship is no more and much of that is down to strong signals from President Obama. From snubbing Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister and refusing to met him back in September 2009 to ....
"During Britain's stand-off with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, the Obama administration has been at best neutral, at worst pro-颅Argentine. And throughout the Gulf of Mexico oil spill last year, the American President was keen to emphasise the British provenance of BP, the chief 颅perpetrator, and to make it pay"
Charlesm186 tweeted
"Never met an American who thinks the USA - UK relationship is special - this exists only in the UK media's mind."
Ben Chu tweeted
"主播大秀's Nick Robinson keeps saying Obama doesn't GET special relationship. Has not considered that it's Britain that doesn't get it. There isn't one"
Is the idea of any two nations having a special relationship, at the exclusion of others, an out dated concept? Do you welcome the "essential relationship" or think with it comes with an expectation to follow each other's policies?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Kingsley in Nigeria posts: It is an essential and special relationship and it is going to be of an immense benefit to people all over the world, especially Africa!</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Carlos in California posts: No offence, but how is having a "special" relation with the UK beneficial to the US? I just don't see the UK having anything to offer us really.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Tom Coates tweets: Why do I get the feeling that the UK is the Nick Clegg of the Special Relationship?</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> The Faceless Bureaucrat writes on Kings of War: For London, a special relationship with Washington makes some sense. In an age of austerity, perhaps any relationship is a good relationship, but for Washington…what are they getting in return? London is punching below its weight in terms of military capabilities. And, the US doesn't gain much in terms of legitimacy. The 2003 Iraq invasion pretty much negated any 'we are all in this together, and therefore we must be right, and should be trusted' factor that could be gleaned from having two red, white, and blue flags behind the podium at the press conference. So where does that leave us? Not so much 'special as in better' and not so much 'special as in useful', either.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Jackie posts: I think we have a very common goals for our nations, and that makes it a special relationship. I app</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23057
Yes, I agree. I like President Obama, he is genuine in his efforts. But forget this "special relationship" *Bush and Blair* @主播大秀_WHYS
Comment sent via Feed
<p> Roger Cohen column in the New York Times: The immediate test of the redefined U.S.-British relationship is the ability of Obama and Cameron to deliver change in Tripoli fast and stop the conflict festering.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Bruce posts: The world economy is changing but historically the ideological and military links naturally run very deep. An important economic relationship can be seen as very separate to important ideological and military ones.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> "Slicer" on the Daily Telegraph website: This "Special Relationship" tripe has to stop. It's pathetic. There is no special relationship, never has been and never will be. We need to do what's right for the UK and the UK only.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Deja in Ghana posted: Essential? There's China, Brazil, India,..etc now so what's essential about the UK who have lost their credibility a long time ago!</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Temitope posts: Wherever the US goes, the UK follows. I think the UK has lost relevance in international scene, it depends solely on the US.</p>
Comment sent via host
We''re on air now discussing the ''special relationship'' between the US and the UK as President Obama arrives at Buckingham Palace on a two day state visit to Britain. What do you think of the relationship?