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No mate there never was such a relationship as it was always one way. The UK has restructured it's entire military to focus on a new strategy to secure it's interests. The days of it being the US lapdog and putting tens of thousands of boots on the ground for US wars are gone. This is why US generals are now angry at the UK and ridiculing it for no longer being a tier 1 force but I say let them. Many British lives will be saved. The Iraqi and Afghanistan invasions were the last straw. Afghanistan still has the Taliban and Iraq is a mess. Even Libya is a worse mess. The only country they failed to overthrow was Syria and that's ironically one of the more stable nations.
Even the American people don't have the stomach for invading yet another invasion. That's why war with Iran is being avoided as best as possible. The US has even changed it's approach in recent years. The good news is we might see a ceasefire in Gaza soon so hopefully that means the Houthis will ease off aswell.
When do you see something like that coming about?
Fact is, the British did follow the US into the occupation of Afghanistan and later, during the US evac, they were left out of the loop and had to scramble to get their own people out.
Recently, the British again followed the US into the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to sabre rattle with Iran and assist the US in striking previous bombed Houthi sites.
As far as I can see, Britain's status is entirely tied to preserving US hegemony and they know it.
I've always saw the U.S./U.K special relationship in the sense of being family. Might not like what you're doing, but at the end of the day you're family so I'll ride with you. A course family can often be the first ones to take advantage of you.
It's not just the U.K., Canada seems to be apprehensive as of late about backing the U.S. on everything. Seems only Australia seems to be lock and step with U.S. policy. I wonder why the divide?
I hope we don't end up to the point of conscription for any nation. As the Russian-Ukraine war is showing, conscription will not be popular. Can't imagine being the politician in trying to force it on the population.
I think Iraq and Afghanistan are now seen as painful mistakes in the UK (and possible in Canada), whilst British sacrifices were quickly forgotten about.
In terms of WW2, it's faded in to history and is not that relevant any more, especially in relation to current generations, so all this talk of WW2 is just pure nonsense.
As for US politics it's become increasingly toxic, and some of the rhetoric and threats made in relation to Britain are well documented, along with major strains on relations such as the the forced resignation of the UK Ambassador in Washington and Constant threats regarding a trade deal that was never going to happen, as well as constant unwelcome US interference in British domestic politics.
Our relationship with the US is almost schizophrenic, with the US one minute coming out with threats relating to non-existent trade deals and the next going on about some none existent Special Relationship, usually when it's time to drum up support for military support, and tbh I think everyone is sick and tired of it, and especially in light of the disastrous post 9/11 US led campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It's also worth noting that many Britons feel that Britain got in right in terms of refusing to become involved in the Vietnam War and that in terms of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we should have taken a similar approach to our European neighbours.
As for Conscription, it has already been re-introduced in some European countries including most of the Scandinavian countries. although in terms of Britain what was actually mentioned by the Chief of the Defence staff was to increase the ability of the British Army to rapidly expand through increased reserves whilst laying the foundations for a voluntary call up if war broke out.
The issue of selective military service, which is what they have in parts of Scandinavia was mentioned, however this involves selection based on fitness, academic performance and interviews in order that the best are selected, and as such it is seen as an honour to serve and is something that young people are keen to put on their CV or to tell potential employers, and as such it is seen in a positive light.
At the moment Britain is merely examining and debating options in relation to it's future defence needs, and tbh I fully support the need for Britain to move away from relying on the US and towards more self reliance and defence collaboration with Europe and beyond, and the fact that the US may wish to leave NATO and close the remaining US bases means this is more sensible than ever, as we can not be tied to the political whims of another nation.
In this respect the UK is working on the next generation of Military Fighter Aircraft with European allies such as Italy as well as Japan, whilst in terms of nuclear and missile technology there is an ever closer relationship between the UK and France through the Lancaster House treaties, and the UK and Europe may need to collaborate further in terms of future nuclear deterrence etc.
In reality it's time for our politicians to stop all this juvenile talk of special relationships, and to just look after our own interests, which is what the rest of Europe does, and what the rest of Europe does is usually nothing.
Last edited by Brave New World; 02-07-2024 at 05:47 AM..
When do you see something like that coming about?
Fact is, the British did follow the US into the occupation of Afghanistan and later, during the US evac, they were left out of the loop and had to scramble to get their own people out.
Recently, the British again followed the US into the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to sabre rattle with Iran and assist the US in striking previous bombed Houthi sites.
As far as I can see, Britain's status is entirely tied to preserving US hegemony and they know it.
This is different. With the Houthis firing on international trade ships something of course had to be done. However lets say the US does want to put troops on the ground in a war with Iran, somehow i don't see the Brits following them this time and instead would more likely provide more of a support role similar to what they are now which is better off. They no longer have the numbers to put tens of thousands on the ground in a conflict and more importantly they are no longer interested.
No mate there never was such a relationship as it was always one way. The UK has restructured it's entire military to focus on a new strategy to secure it's interests. The days of it being the US lapdog and putting tens of thousands of boots on the ground for US wars are gone. This is why US generals are now angry at the UK and ridiculing it for no longer being a tier 1 force but I say let them. Many British lives will be saved. The Iraqi and Afghanistan invasions were the last straw. Afghanistan still has the Taliban and Iraq is a mess. Even Libya is a worse mess. The only country they failed to overthrow was Syria and that's ironically one of the more stable nations.
Even the American people don't have the stomach for invading yet another invasion. That's why war with Iran is being avoided as best as possible. The US has even changed it's approach in recent years. The good news is we might see a ceasefire in Gaza soon so hopefully that means the Houthis will ease off aswell.
Now here's the bad news. Israel will not destroy Hamas. In fact over the next few years they'll have the most successful recruiting campaign in existence since the hatred for the Jews after all the death and destruction in Gaza will live on in memory. Iran will continue on it's course of eventual destruction of Israel and Israel will never agree to a two State solution. In fact it has already encroached considerably into the Palestinian West Bank.
America unfortunately is up to its neck in this mess, dolling out billions in aid not only to Israel but to the Ukraine.
I'm beginning to see the light in voting for Trump. He would I hope abandon the whole lot, bring all the troops home and let Europe, the middle east and the rest of the world deal with their own local messes.
Anyway, enjoy the temporary cease fire in Gaza (if it actually happens of course)
Trump would just greenlight Israel in whatever they choose to do. It's all self-serving politics though, not based on any ideology or morality - if he had rich Palestinian backers then he'd be against Israel instead.
Trump would just greenlight Israel in whatever they choose to do. It's all self-serving politics though, not based on any ideology or morality - if he had rich Palestinian backers then he'd be against Israel instead.
I've been wondering how much of the "aid" that's being "given" out in the two wars we've got going on at the moment, is actually, trade. Even in the name of future trade.
Trump would just greenlight Israel in whatever they choose to do. It's all self-serving politics though, not based on any ideology or morality - if he had rich Palestinian backers then he'd be against Israel instead.
Since when was there ever any morality in politics? So long as what they do pleases the voters that all that matters.
America could use the billions of dollars in foreign aid for the betterment of the people and there are plenty of domestic needs here that need the money
I've been wondering how much of the "aid" that's being "given" out in the two wars we've got going on at the moment, is actually, trade. Even in the name of future trade.
Trade for what? America is going to have to fund the Ukrainian national economy since they're almost flat broke. We dont need Ukrainian grain which is about all they have to export.
Never yet seen any imports from Israel. Not in my neck of the woods anyway.
The US and the USSR won WW2. No-one disputes that fact. At the end of the day it wasn't much of a victory of eastern Europeans under Soviet control
Dont dismiss the UK's part in that conflict. Germany's first defeat was during the air battle of Britain. The second in North Africa.
The fact that Britain fought on later provided the base for the build up for Normandy. I wouldn't see the US transporting thousands and thousands of tons of war materiel across the Atlantic direct to mainland Europe on D-Day and also without the British and Canadian Armies involved.
Too bad for the east Europeans. Stalin, always the paranoid wanted a solid buffer zone between Russia and western Europe which he had always distrusted
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Not true at all. The UK warned Hitler that it would declare war if it didn't withdraw from Poland. Putin will NOT invade and start a war with a Nato nation. They are already pinned down in Ukraine. Nato is the most powerful alliance in the world. He claimed in a Speech he wouldn't go to war with Nato conventionally as he knows Russia can't compete. He did state that it would most likely be a Nuclear war. Russia's Nuclear Aresenal is the major reason Nato isn't and won't get involved. Don't worry about Russia invading Nato
Misconception: Hitler really believed that Chamberlain would back down from war and turn his back on Poland as he had Czecheslovakia. Nobody was more surprised than Hitler when Chamberlain kept his word to Poland ..
Misconception: That the invasion of Russia would be completed by the end. of summer 1941. His famous pre-invasion words were" "All we have to do is kick the door down and the whole rotten structure will collapse"
Misconception" America is a nation of racially inferior people without the will to fight
That little Austrian Corporal was full of misconceptions
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