The US/UK 'Special Relationship'

Iain Dale is again playing Chicken Little with claims of the 'special relationship' between the US and UK has been permanently damaged over the Lockibie Affair, this time with a little help from the News of the Screws.

Much gets made of this 'special relationship', which only exists in the minds of people desperate to cling on to America's coat-tails. We're the defeated to them, they were one of our colonies who shucked off our dominion and then took our place on the world stage. We're now a collection of curios, a holiday destination, a fascinating history and a useful tool to them.

And that is the extent of it. Our governments are useful fools to them, to be offered scraps in exchange for their unwavering loyalty to the pax americana. Our resources are regarded as little more than extensions to their own, and being on the UN Security Council we make for a handy extra vote at times.

People point to Lend/Lease - which even the lightest fisk will tell you wasn't done from the purity of the heart. For starters, the number chosen - not randomly, but purposefully chosen - for the bill was H.R. 1776. Any historians recall what happened in that year? Hmmm? Anyone? The Declaration of Independence was signed and it was the start of the American Revolution.

That was rubbing our noses in it. Prior to that we'd had to pay, up-front and in cash, for any materials purchased from the US to fight Nazi Germany, and it was only when we were near bankrupt and in danger of our war effort collapsing that the US stepped in to help.

Even then, Lend/Lease was used to destroy our post-war economy and provide the coup de grace for the British Empire. We were not allowed to sell on items, or export similar items to those acquired via lend/lease, even if we'd had entire industries doing so pre-war. Even when the prospect of a Nazi Europe was coming perilously close to a reality, our relationship was so damn special they played politics to ensure Britain was hamstrung after the war.

That's the 'Special Relationship', a powerful America condescendingly nursing it's abusive parent in it's dotage.

People like Iain Dale need to take off their rose-tinted specs. It's okay to be pro-American - I certainly sing their praises - but from a point of liking their culture and ideology, not from some retarded lie peddled through ignorance and wishful thinking.