WikiLeaks Cables: US Mocked UK Over 'Special Relationship'

[Turborama]

Source: Sky News

US officials mocked senior members of then opposition leader David Cameron's party who vowed to run a pro-US regime if they won this year's election, new leaked diplomatic cables have revealed.

Conservative party politicians also lined up to pledge that they would buy more weapon systems from the US if they came to power, the US London embassy cables released by the WikiLeaks website and published in The Guardian show.

In meetings held before Mr Cameron came to power last May, some US diplomats were amused by what they call Britain's "paranoid" fears about the so-called special relationship between the two countries.

One said the anxious British attitude "would often be humorous if it were not so corrosive" and suggested it would be possible to take advantage of this neurosis to "make London more willing to respond favourably when pressed for assistance".

Read more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/US-Mocked-UK-Over-Special-Relationship-According-To-Wikileaks-Diplomatic-Cables-Citing-Paranoia/Article/201012115847205?lpos=Home_News_Your_Way_Region_8&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15847205_US_Mocked_UK_Over_Special_Relat

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Video report at the link.



WikiLeaks cables: Conservatives promised to run 'pro-American regime'
Leaked dispatch reveals how US diplomats are amused by Britain's 'paranoid' fears about so-called special relationship

David Leigh
guardian.co.uk, Friday December 03 2010 23.00 GMT

=snip=

The incoming Conservatives appear to have made some wide-ranging offers of political co-operation with the US. The cables detail a series of private meetings with Tory frontbenchers, many of whom are now in the cabinet.

Liam Fox, now the defence secretary, promised to buy American military equipment, while the current foreign secretary, William Hague, offered the ambassador a "pro-American" government. Hague also said the entire Conservative leadership were, like him, "staunchly Atlanticist" and "children of Thatcher".

Fox met the US ambassador, Louis Susman, a year ago. In a 10 December 2009 cable marked "confidential", Susman recorded: "Liam Fox affirmed his desire to work closely with the US if the Conservative party wins power … adding that 'we (Conservatives) intend to follow a much more pro-American profile in procurement'." He reportedly went on: "Increasing US-UK 'interoperability is the key' since the US and UK will continue to fight together in the future" and "expressed confidence regarding US leadership in Afghanistan and optimism about the way forward".

=snip=

In a lengthy classified dispatch in February 2009 headed "The British ask, is our special relationship still special in Washington?" LeBaron wrote: "More than one HMG senior official asked embassy officers whether President Obama meant to send a signal in his inaugural address about US-UK relations by quoting Washington during the revolutionary war , while the removal of the Churchill bust from the Oval office consumed much UK newsprint."

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-us-special-relationship/print

The cable: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/239153

[DonCoquixote]

1. Hey Hillary

When Obama hired you, I agreed to it. I thought if nothing else, you were well liked by the world, which is what was needed, and that you would help shore up unity among Democrats, since you were given control over the very aspect of policy that you were supposed to be good at.

However, as Tariq Ali and others so plainly point out, Foreign Policy is still very much what it was. It would be easy to say that it is the same as it was under Bush, but that would hide a real truth, it is the same as it was UNDER CLINTON. Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, even Korea, all still are having the same dirty bandages placed on it that you and Bill used back when you ran the show. Our policy is still as if we were ruled by Tel Aviv, as if the best policy was to enable Bibi Netanyahu to get whatever he wants, rather than force him to get off his warhorse, and get to work beating swords into plowshares.

There are those that love you, that sincerely believed you would have done better with the Oval Office. Sadly, as far as foreign policy goes, wikileaks has killed that. You can now join the long, sad list of people that would need be to be fired if Obama has a hope in hell.

Your husband said something that I once believed with all the solemnity of a Biblical scripture: "there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be solved with what is right with America." You have made me doubt that.

[razorman]

3. The players may change, but the game never does.

[Cherchez la Femme]

5. Isn't the real point

Who her BOSS is?

Unless Obama's Secretary of State is running rogue and unchecked -- just does whatever she wants and wildly gets away with it with Obama powerless to stop her; I do believe your sentiments are skewed not to mention severely flawed.

Sure, after all: Bill Clinton = DLC (and Triangulator)
Hillary Clinton = DLC (and Triangulator)
Barack Obama (where the current buck stops) = DLC (and Triangulator)

They're all the same/have the same philosophy, one can hardly denigrate one and ignore the other.
Nor can she ignore the wishes of her DLC affiliation -- which same goes especially for the head honcho presently in the Oval Office.

If she were to buck the DLC I'll bet dollars to donuts Obama will throw her out on her sweet patootie -- she'll suddenly 'need to spend more time with her family'
Yet somehow I don't think with both of them home full-time the Clinton household will be very pleasant... just MHO :)

[No Elephants]

2. Welcome to the U.S. Department of Junior High, Mean Girls Division

[Turborama]

4. The BBC's take on this: Wikileaks files show UK considered 'paranoid' by US

Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11917398

& the other cable they refer to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/148026

[panzerfaust]

6. Am I Still The One?

[Solly Mack]

7. Wonder what the was 'safe word' is...

Snicker