This is for readers who thought I was overstating the case when I wrote yesterday that the British idea of a special relationship between the U.S. and U.K. is British brains and American muscle with the British supervising. From the January 27 Daily Mail:
May also warned Donald Trump to 'beware' Russian president Vladimir Putin and chose to evoke the memory of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher during the Cold War.
She said: 'When it comes to Russia, as so often it is wise to turn to the example of President Reagan who - during negotiations with his opposite number Mikhail Gorbachev - used to abide by the adage 'trust but verify'. With President Putin, my advice is to 'engage but beware'.She made these statements publicly at the Republican retreat in Philadelphia while an invited guest of the White House. Yet whatever foreign policy advice she had to give President Trump should have been made during her private consultations with him.
If the British have a hard time understanding this rudimentary point of diplomacy, how would they like it if Trump publicly advised May's government while their guest that they need to beware of the Saudis?
Now look, the British should stop using the U.S. government as a battering ram against the Russians.
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Pundita,
ReplyDeleteYour roots are showing. Don't let the past cloud your vision.
"the British idea of a special relationship between the U.S. and U.K. is British brains and American muscle with the British supervising. "
**"British brains and American muscle with the British supervising. "
There are worse things that could happen.
You could have the State Dept supervising.
We tried that since George Ball invented the EU [EEC], undermined Belgians in Congo, created the Bilderbergers, fatally undermined US in Vietnam....
As the Grandson of a sworn and blooded, made Feinian: I don't know about May yet, and we don't know about Brexit vs Europe yet but I'm rooting for Britain over EU and so would my Grandpa who hated them....but would hate more how far they fell...
May is undoubtedly speaking publicly to a British constituency [possibly the FO].
Let her soothe their nerves. Poor FO darlings had finally adjusted to Europe and then *POOF* Democracy snatches it away. Sir Humphrey Applebee needs occasional stroking too.
Your remarks remind me of the definitions of a friend and an enemy. A friend is, no matter how much bad he does you say, "Must have had a good reason." An enemy is, no matter how much good he does you say, "Must be a mistake."
ReplyDeleteAnd offering me the hair of the dog doesn't mollify me.