'The special relationship.'

[eelcat]

Just a quick pointer...Canada is represented in the World Series too for what it's worth

[palo5]

Originally Posted by GreenSkull

Hmmmm you know what else i love about the USA ?, it`s their abject refusal to admit that China has bought up Trillions of dollars of their debt so now retain the marker and so technically own them

They do indeed hold a lot of US govt debt, more than a trillion from what I've read

It would be interesting if they gained control of US oil companies in a way that didn't bring war

[knobby109]

Originally Posted by tmee2000

I think Britain did pose a real threat and did exert real might on its Empire.
It was fighting in places like Ireland, India, the North-West Frontier, Khartoum, and South Africa. And in China as well.

Yes, but look at some figures.The Army numbered 240 000 of which most were stationed at home . Many were support troops (cooks, medics, logistics etc) and many would be unfit for duty.The rest were spread out over millions of square miles to look after hundreds of millions of people.Probably one active soldier for 10 000 natives and 500 square miles.Doesn't allow much scope for might.
There was of course the Navy, incomparably powerful but then half the shipping on the planet was British and looked to the Navy for protection.It could exert power around the globe but not of course in the middle of a continent.

[jokerman]

The Kiwi's were also in Vietnam as well as the South Koreans.
That's another overlooked fact from America's disasterous involvement in that war. Along also with the fact that during the second world war the then Viet-Minh were actually trained & funded by the OSS detatchment 101 led By Carl Eiffler, who were anti French as well as anti British. A parallel with Al-Qaeda there given the CIA's involvement with them during the Soviet-Afghan war.
At that time the Viet Minh were supposed to be fighting the Japs, & mostly didn't.

[MaxJoker]

Originally Posted by eelcat

Just a quick pointer...Canada is represented in the World Series too for what it's worth

Well sure , i mean someone has to wash all those jockstraps

You know i actually met a bloke called Jock Strap , mad as a hatter and had changed his name to it by deed poll but still true and he`s ............... Gulp .......... still out thereeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[billybunter]

The Dutch and the French had their "empires" as well. I'd be surprised if the Aussies vote to keep Liz as head of state next time. What in gods name has the English royal family got to offer modern Australia

[palo5]

Originally Posted by billybunter

What in gods name has the English royal family got to offer modern Australia

Nothing, but they can't agree how to replace her

Do the people elect an Australian President, or the politicians? And what power should he have? Maybe it's not so simple

Venomous snakes & spiders would worry me more if I lived there

[Mal Hombre]

Originally Posted by billybunter

What in gods name has the English royal family got to offer modern Australia

Or modern Britain come to that,Of course We'd have the same problem,What do You put in it's place?.

[knobby109]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

Or modern Britain come to that,Of course We'd have the same problem,What do You put in it's place?.

Fact is that the Queen has never put a foot wrong in over 50 years.Just think that without a monarchy we might heve had a President Brown or Kinnock.
The value of a monarch is not the power but the power it denies others.It's a system that works very well.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by knobby109

The value of a monarch is not the power but the power it denies others.It's a system that works very well.

Did it deny Blair the power to take the UK to Iraq?

You could argue that Boosh had more power over British policy than the Queen. Which sounds shocking, but how do you argue against it?