WHY is britain allies with America?

[Mike111 0]

"Britain helped America to conduct a secret and potentially illegal spying operation at the United Nations in the run-up to the Iraq war, The Observer can reveal."

What is he exact reason why Britain would want to ally herself at such a supposed cost publicly at home (in the eyes of the terrorists etc) to the USA, and not so much to other countries with strong power?

WHat is Blair's main reason? is the UK trying to mark itself as a world power due to its small size?

What do the Americans at home generally view the alliance as?

Don't get me wrong, i think its great we are allies, but was just wondering what the real intention behind it really is.

Please Discuss and share your views...

mike
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[Nightingale 0]

I think many Americans view Britain as an ally and friend. Part of the reason for such a strong alliance may be the common language. I think many Americans have a similar view of Canada. Places like Mexico and Germany feel farther away culturally, primarilly because of the language barrier. Places where English is not a primary language feel more foreign.

[AlexCrowley 0]

This story ( US Spying on UN members) broke in the run up to the war. The UK is just being implicated now?

I dont know much on history, but Britain was bankrupt towards the end of WW2, my guess is that concessions were made (such as the permenant US bases on UK soil). The UK and US have always been close, there's a lot of trans-atlantic investment on both sides.

Historically the UK has remained outside of Greater Europe, the US was really the only other ideologically similar ally. Plus you wouldnt believe how much of the US business is British wholly owned or partially owned.

I always found British arrogance amusing, as a native I always felt it was rapidly heading in a downward spiral.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[Mike111 0]

I guess, in some ways, its great we share the same common ideology, as it means both countries can benefit from each other, and i think the UK is lucky to be allied to the USA considering, like you mentioned the UK is outside of greater europe.

However, even as a native yourself casting all british off as arrogant is slightly unfairdont you think, there are plenty of lovely people who aren't snobby and " stiff upper lip" - they are just friendly and lvoing people so many in so many other countries.

Do you think trade is part of it to?

[Mike111 0]

lol it must be quite good we speak thesame language, imagine trying to fight a war based on sign language or a confusing dialect.

Outside of language, do you think the alliance could change if a new PM or pres came forward with different intentions?

[Duckwater 0]

www.bp.com

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[AlexCrowley 0]

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Do you think trade is part of it to?

Trade in part, mostly investments on both sides of the Atlantic.

dont mistake cultural arrogance for snobbery. Both US and British have a strong belief that they are the superior race on earth.

Rule Brittania and all that. Britain still has the mentality that it is great. Remember that less than 100 years ago that tiny island owned the greater majority of the civilized world (over 4 million square miles!). Add in the fact that they did it with remarkably little planning, it just sort of happened within a space of 30 years. That has instilled a lot of cultural arrogance that is only now starting to erode (I think anyone under 40 might understand what I'm talking about). The US shares this outlook, but from their own point of view, because they're pretty much where the UK was.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[Mike111 0]

A trait i hope will unwind quicker than it is now, or , might not do us any favours with other countries in years to come.

[Trent 0]

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dont mistake cultural arrogance for snobbery. Both US and British have a strong belief that they are the superior race on earth.

First, neither country can be classified as a race since both the US and UK are 2 of the most diversified countries in the world. What you mistakenly perceive as racial snobbery is probably both countries' belief that capitalism and democracy are superior to other forms of government.

You want to say the US and UK feel superior to other people and countries? Go visit, China or the middle east for some good examples of that. Hell, just about all countries come off that they're superior to others at one time or another.

Oh, hello again!

[Trae 1]

The Americans kicked the pommies out of their country 200 years ago. Since then the USA has helped save the pommies arses on several occassions. ..eg WW1 & WW2 !

Everyone but the pommies seem to realise that the USA owns & runs pommie land and can make it do anything it wants.

That's why they back up the USA .....cause they have to............. or else!

The pommies get their rocks off by picking on poor little Ireland and poor big Australia.

I think its called a pecking order.

[billvon 3,120]

>Everyone but the pommies seem to realise that the USA owns & runs
> pommie land and can make it do anything it wants.

>That's why they back up the USA .....cause they have to.............
>or else!

I imagine the Romans thought something similar round about 400AD. After all, an empire that controlled most of Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and that had the largest army in the world, could never fall - right?

The US is the most powerful country in the world right now. It wasn't always that way, and it won't be that way in the future. Let's hope China is a little more charitable to us (when it's their turn) than you seem to be to the English.

[Mike111 0]

Could i say that, although this might not be a reason fore the alliance, that America was founded by UK colonists - therefore you could be descended from a UK colonist. so youre kind of having a go at yourself!

[Trae 1]

in rep to 'so youre kind of having a go at yourself!'

I think you might of touched on something quite profound here.

I like to think there isn't a drop of pommie blood in me... more like a mixture of Viking , and Irish. ( the odd pommie beauty might have been picked up on occasion I guess)

You see my ancestors are amoungst the ones that whipped those pommies arses.

Having a go at meself? I suppose so ..but from a much higher plane of reference such as " We are all connected and all a little part of god ."

[mr2mk1g 10]

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I like to think there isn't a drop of pommie blood in me... more like a mixture of Viking , and Irish.

umm... isn't that litterally exatcly what pommie blood is?

[Mike111 0]

.

Why you seem to hate the english now is rather confusing...

... you might not like the attitude or the culture or the British people...
... but is that a reason to dislike them that?

We have a veyr diverse culture...

... generally warm and welcoming people to tourists and immigrants and a very demoicratic society.

That sounds pretty good to me.

[Trae 1]

inreply to "Why you seem to hate the english now is rather confusing... "

OK you guys are really beautiful... don't worry ..I don't hate you...but please don't try and re-write history to suit yourself.

In fact I've got a lot of respect for some parts of your society.

It's just that some of us out here have suffered at the hands of some of your less restrained members.
Perhaps you kicked the bad ones our way or something and now pommie-land is wonderful.

• Quote

[Mike111 0]

Sure, there are some parts of our society who are asholes and has done terrible things - but that doesn't mean ALL Uk people are like that. There are people who are like that in every society.

+ what happaned years ago is hardly the fault of todays generation - we don't hold grudges again germany because it was hitler's lot that did it, not the generation of today.

[mr2mk1g 10]

ah you're just sore about the current cricket score

[Trae 1]

inreply to" what happaned years ago is hardly the fault of todays generation "

There are still many wrongs and injustices that haven't been righted yet. Just because you may not have been directly responsible doesn't mean that you haven't benefited from these injustices.

Some of us are constantly forced to face the effects of these injustices and find it hard to forget. Even the slightest little "we're sorry " would go a long way to dispelling the evil which some of your forebears spread around the world.

Up til this time I have never heard a pommie say sorry.

You sound like a likeable chap. Perhaps you can see the depth of what I'm getting at here?
I feel good about you replying as you have and wish you all the best.
Cricket? ...the great distraction....BORING.

[Mike111 0]

Yup i see the point,
May I also add my apologies that you stil face these injustices; i hope they are resolved for you.

Well i guarantee one thing, evven if some whuffos are dickhead in the UK, if you go to a UK DZ, im sure youl love all the people there - ive only met very few myself, but they are all great.

Thankyou for also replying in the kind manner with which you have, thats is a real great thing.

[Trae 1]

Cheers bloke


If you're cold you're welcome round my fire buddy

CYA later

[Mike111 0]

Likwise.
If youre in the UK at a London Dz or Norfolk, give us a shout.
Cya later

[shropshire 0]

Hi Trae,

I'll appologies for every wrong done by a Brit since the year dot if it helps and then all you need to do is appologise for giving the world... Rolf Harris and Fosters

Australia 340-7

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Mike111 0]

england drew.

the Aussies , especially PONTING, played really well tho. well done Aussies!

[Trae 1]

I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry

Now we've just got to get our PM's to say sorry and we'll all be VERY rich.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$