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unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 06:40 AM Jun 2014

Unity and Freedom

http://watchingamerica.com/News/240774/unity-and-freedom/

Obama is playing hard against the threat of division in the U.K. and Europe.

Unity and Freedom
El País, Spain
By Editorial
Translated By Álvaro Rodríguez
7 June 2014
Edited by Lau­rence Bouvard

Something very serious must be going on in crisis-ridden Europe for the president of the United States, Barack Obama, to involve himself in the two referendums that are taking place in the United Kingdom: one on whether the U.K. should stay in the EU, and the other on whether Scotland should separate from the United Kingdom, which is taking place on Sept. 18.

It's not the first time Washington has worried about the United Kingdom's EU exit. The relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. is one of a privileged and special nature, which is also important for the rest of Europe. In addition, it's the basis of the trans-Atlantic relationship, which is crucial to the security of the continent and the world. Despite its difficulty in adapting itself to new events, such as the Ukraine crisis, NATO is still the most successful military alliance in history, not so much for the conflicts it has been involved in, but for those it has avoided.

A United Kingdom weakened by the split with Scotland and less committed to the European continent because of its own intention to get out the EU is of little interest to Washington in maintaining the special relationship. "We obviously have a deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies we will ever have remains a strong, robust, united and effective partner," stated Obama with calculated words, which the Labour member of parliament Douglas Alexander welcomed, "Building bridges, not putting up new barriers, is the challenge of our generation."

In addition to that, there’s certainly a domino effect on the continent. To the United States, Europe without Britain is a more distant land and in many ways, more likely to be persuaded by the hostile views, which spread along its Slavonic boundaries and in the Middle East. Fragmented, Europe is weaker, less safe and of course, less interesting as a strategic ally.
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