Cracks begin to show in US-UK relations

[dArKeR]

A strange thing happened when David Johnson, the US embassy's Ministerial spokesman addressed the Royal Institute of International Affairs in Chatham House last week.

The distinguished diplomat was barracked.

hatham House is the epicentre of the British establishment, as famed for its associations with the security services as for its gentlemanly rules of press access. An autographed portrait of the Queen hangs in its oak-panelled entrance.

Yet Johnson, who had come to try to mend fences with stealth-bomber sceptics in London, was left shaken by a string of critical questions.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9908A673-065B-47DA-B299-306D81089654.htm

[54anickel]

1. Great article. Last line says it all,

"It really is a strange war," he reflected. "Because if, as President Bush says, it is one which will never end, then how will we be able to tell if we've won?"

[Dhalgren]

2. Good article!

The Emperor has no clothes. And that estimate that the US would be in the Middle East for the next "thirty years" is horrifying - but rings true. Even if an establishment Dem gets elected (yeah, right), the corporations won't let us withdraw - too much at stake, profit-wise.

[northzax]

3. ok, kids, let's remember that this is al-Jazeera, eh?

nothing new to read here, and a strange spin on things, I think.

[ixion]

5. hey, these guys are more accurate than FAUX...

not that FAUX is news...;-)

[yolatengo]

4. wait til they discover we're going to freeze them to death!

Global warming will plunge Britain into new ice age 'within decades'
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor

25 January 2004

Britain is likely to be plunged into an ice age within our lifetime by
global warming, new research suggests.

A study, which is being taken seriously by top government scientists,
has uncovered a change "of remarkable amplitude" in the circulation of
the waters of the North Atlantic.

Similar events in pre-history are known to have caused sudden "flips" of
the climate, bringing ice ages to northern Europe within a few decades.
The development - described as "the largest and most dramatic oceanic
change ever measured in the era of modern instruments", by the US Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institute, which led the research - threatens to turn
off the Gulf Stream, which keeps Europe's weather mild.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=484490

So, not only do we screw them 7 ways to Sunday on Iraq, drive a big
fat wedge between them and the rest of the EU, and personally kill
about half their soldiers in 2 wars via friendly fire, we're ALSO bent
on exterminating them as a nation!

With 'special relationships' like these, who needs enemies? Christ,
HITLER wasn't as bad to Britain as BushCo ultimately will be, given
time.

Wise Up, TONY, and listen to your WIFE (and your PEOPLE)!

Bigby (who lived in Engerland for 4 years in the '90s).

[northzax]

6. hey, wasn't this the plot of the most recent Dirk Pitt novel?

I mean, it's not like I don't believe it, but doomsday scenarios get old.

[CaptainClark23]

7. I just KNEW crack had to be involved!

Oops, misread the title...

ah well, my statement still stands.

[RainDog]

8. just read that two booksellers in the UK

who have done biz in the US for years and years were stopped at their point of entry in Minneapolis and were denied entry into the US when they came here to participate in a San Fran book fair.

I have no idea what the rationale was for refusing them entry.

but doesn't it make you glad you have such intelligent customs decisions made in your name?