'The special relationship.'

[sydney1]

A question for our 'Colonial cousin's', do you, or more precisely does any American believe in that quote: "The special relationship"?

The reason I ask this is because as an avid-reader and follower of North American history(I include Canada in this) it seems that the more I know, the more I think that there is no 'Special relationship.

Until recently Britain was a superpower (Pax Britannia) a rival and a threat to American interests. Once our political and economic power declined, so our threat to American interest's declined and our mutual interests and perceived threats merged. (The rise of the Soviet-Union for example) So the idea of the 'Special relationship' emerged,(I think it was Winston Churchill who coined the phrase)

Apart from the War of Independence and the 1812-1815, well..another war between us, we very nearly turned the American Civil War into a global war. but managed to keep out of that because so much of British industry and trade was involved.
A little known fact that Great Britain despatched 13,000 troops to Canada and the Canadians themselves raised a militia of 40,000 men to counter a threat to cross the the 49th parallel and invade at that time British territory.

Another little known fact that until 1927 America had a foreign policy which still included 'The British threat' and in the beginning of the First World War, America had pro-German sympathies. until the sinking of the Lusitania and the release of the German telegraph regarding German support for the Mexican's claim for lost former territories.

Having said all that, I believe that we both need each other in good times and bad We work best when we're mates..

Here's a few wise words from a fellow colonial:
The British working class population, most notably the British cotton workers suffering the Lancashire Cotton Famine, remained consistently opposed to the Confederacy. A resolution of support was passed by the inhabitants of Manchester, and sent to Lincoln. His letter of reply has become famous.

"... I know and deeply deplore the sufferings which the working people of Manchester and in all Europe are called to endure in this crisis. It has been often and studiously represented that the attempt to overthrow this Government which was built on the foundation of human rights, and to substitute for it one which should rest exclusively on the basis of slavery, was unlikely to obtain the favour of Europe. Through the action of disloyal citizens, the working people of Europe have been subjected to a severe trial for the purpose of forcing their sanction to that attempt. Under the circumstances I cannot but regard your decisive utterances on the question as an instance of sublime Christian heroism which has not been surpassed in any age or in any country. It is indeed an energetic and re-inspiring assurance of the inherent truth and of the ultimate and universal triumph of justice, humanity and freedom.

I hail this interchange of sentiments, therefore, as an augury that, whatever else may happen, whatever misfortune may befall your country or my own, the peace and friendship which now exists between the two nations will be, as it shall be my desire to make them, perpetual."

—Abraham Lincoln, 19 January, 1863

[jokerman]

Winston Churchill coined the Special relationship phrase, to hide the fact from the British people that when he signed the Atlantic charter in 1942. He also signed away the British empire & what was at the time the Sterling area & effectively turned it into the dollar area. Thus enriching the USA evenmore than ever, after they'd already bankrupted us by charging top dollar for useless junk in the way of tanks such as the Honey & Sherman & ships which were rust buckets which were hardly used because they were in such a poor condition that it wasn't worth it. As well as a lot of antiquated aircraft such as the Brewster Buffalo.

When lease lend was introduced by FDR it was passed under the title of Congressional act 1776.
Which for those of us who are not to familiar with US history is also the year that the declaration of independance was issued by the US rebels.

Thus since then the so called non existent special relationship has been used mainly by British politicians to justify their arse kissing of US presidents ever since.

[marlon]

The fact that the question has been asked means there is a relationship that is 'special'. Name a European nation state that the USA has a relationship with that is more than that it has with the UK or visa versa? USA France? Germany USA? Like it or lump it we share so much more than a common language.

[keefriff]

It's me again Sydney1. I seem to be the American on point when you are looking for Yankee answers.

First off, most Americans are clueless with respect to US/World/Anything history. The post that you just made would be more than 95% of what most Americans know. Sad and infuriating but true.

With that being said, I think most Americans who are aware regard the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as our best nation friends and certainly ones with similar mutual interests. We have had a long history with England both good and bad but I think from the American perspective WWII changed everything. These country's, along w/ USSR and maybe France, were our best allies during WWII and we fought together for a common cause. After WWI, America was leery of everything European and wanted no part of any more European wars. There may have been anti-British sentiment at that time but there was certainly just as much or more anti-French or anti-German feelings. We wanted to isolate ourselves from the wars of Europe and didn't really want much to do with any Euro country. WWII put and end to that and we saw who our friends were, who we held common interests with and who was fighting for freedom. I don't want to start a political debate about WWII but America rallied, as did so many countries, to fight tyranny, genocide and oppression. All those country's I mentioned, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand believe in the same thing that America does; freedom and we fought together to preserve that. That I think is what binds us together. That or that effed up language you guys speak over there.

[tygrkhat40]

I've always looked at the relationship with the "Mother Country" and the other English-speaking nations this way. Ireland, the eldest, took a lot of shit from Mama, and still has a contentious relationship with Mom. The US, the second-born, fought to break from Mom and also had a testy relationship until the middle of the 20th Century. Canada, the polite third child, had a civil break with Mom while the Austrailians and New Zelanders are the rowdy, fun-loving babies.

The Irish have always had a soft spot for the Americans due to the number of Irish descendants in the US (myself among them), and the residence of the American ambassador to Ireland is larger than the Presidental mansion in Dublin.

A Canadian comedian was once told by an American that Canadians are so polite. His response was that we're downstairs and we're armed.

And if I'm not mistaken, the Americans and Aussies fought side-by-side in every war we fought in the 20th Century.

[marlon]

Originally Posted by tygrkhat40

The Irish have always had a soft spot for the Americans due to the number of Irish descendants in the US (myself among them), and the residence of the American ambassador to Ireland is larger than the Presidental mansion in Dublin.

?

The Irish have a special relationship with the UK because even more Irish move here than they do to the US. Don't fall into the misconception that there is an anti Brit/anti Irish relationship between the two nations in 2010. I'm English, I have Welsh, Scottish and Irish blood in me - as well as English - and many in each state is the same. I work with two Dubliners, count two others amongst my close friends. When push comes to shove it's a long time since The Quiet Man was filmed.

Originally Posted by tygrkhat40

And if I'm not mistaken, the Americans and Aussies fought side-by-side in every war we fought in the 20th Century.

Well, the Ausies were the American's main allies in the Vietnam war. But I don't remember any American President acknowledging that fact, let alone any Hollwood movie.

[pharoahegypt]

with regard to the above quote by marlon... its interesting to note how often hollywood movies twist history so that the americans won wars they didnt really win.... for example the unfunny 'churchill the hollywood years'.....

im not having a go at the americans here, i am in fact a big fan of the whole american way of life and upbeat way they look at themselves, its very refreshing...... but their war record makes less than good reading....

i wont notarise it, but we all know the history of the last hundred years or so, including the current ill judged campaigns we are all suffering fallout from. okay, so maybe, sorry, certainly, something needed to be done after 9/11, but does that justify the deaths we've both suffered since the start of the gulf and afghan wars??? no, didnt think so..!!??

[tygrkhat40]

Marlon, I never meant to imply anything about the peoples of the British Isles, merely the governments. The English, Irish, Welsh and Scots have been mixing for centuries. And actually, my Irish side is mostly Irish-Canadian, my mom's family is mostly in the Toronto-Burlington-Hamilton area. And even when "The Quiet Man" was filmed, it was still more af a Hollywood fairy tale of Ireland.

And no, to the best of my knowledge, no movie has ever acknowledged that the Aussies fought in Vietnam with the Americans. But when it comes to history vs. Hollywood; Hollywood wins every time.

[gtos4ever]

Originally Posted by tygrkhat40

And no, to the best of my knowledge, no movie has ever acknowledged that the Aussies fought in Vietnam with the Americans. But when it comes to history vs. Hollywood; Hollywood wins every time.

It's been some time since I've seen "The Green Berets" but I vaguely recall an Aussie in it. Whether he was a non-combatant or not escapes me. Was he the journalist David Janssen replaced?

[billybunter]

Another little known fact. The Bush family helped fund the Nazis. And they are very, very distant relatives of the Queen of England.