NationStates Jolt Archive

Apparently a British think tank has found that despite all sorts of sacrifices by the British, Tony Blair has been unable to influence George Bush on Iraq. In other words, it was a one-way relationship.

As a result, they say, Britain's standing in the world has further slipped.

Well, duh!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6190909.stm
...
"Blair has learned the hard way that loyalty in international politics counts for nothing," said Professor Bulmer-Thomas.

"And his successor will not make the same mistake of offering unconditional support for US initiatives in foreign policy at the expense of a more positive relationship with Europe."
...

Their answer is therefore a shift towards Europe, which offers a more inclusive decision-making process. At the same time, of course there is a degree of losing sovereignty (or at any rate, it's more immediately obvious if they go this way), and the Brits are still rather sceptical about the EU.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6190877.stm
...
It is all part of a picture that shows that Britain has still not really decided where that place should be.

Getting too close to the US runs the risk of being swept up in American-dominated policies and ones that might lead to war.

But nestling up to the European Union runs the counter risk of adopting a joint decision-making process that might lead to a surrender of sovereignty.
...

So to Brits and non-Brits alike: what would you like the next PM to do? Continue playing second fiddle to the PotUS, or maybe play only one of many fiddles in the EU concerto? Which way should this "rebalancing" go?

And, no, "let's revive the Commonwealth and be all important on our own" is not a valid response. I think that idea died with the Suez Crisis.

Well its about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Britain is the only state in the world to describe itself as "GREAT". and its about time the people realise that we are a rubbish country. To believe that we are the great nation that once ruled the waves and the world is utter nonsense and well in the past.

Its time to look towards out future, which i believe to be fully and firmly in the EU. We should relax the 'relationship' the the US and I'm not just saying that post Iraq/september 11 etc. The unilateral thinking of the US has led the majority of the world to distrust america. i don't agree with many foreign policies of the US, and bringing war to nations in the fight against terrorism.

instead i believe that peace can only be achieved through prosperity. a major EU policy towards its neighbours and the middle east.

the world needs a power to readdress the balance of power, the eu can perhaps reach a great way to do this.

britain needs the EU to remain in the world forum.

Apparently a British think tank has found that despite all sorts of sacrifices by the British, Tony Blair has been unable to influence George Bush on Iraq. In other words, it was a one-way relationship.

In other news, General Augusto Pinochet is still dead :rolleyes:
Why do they bother with these think-tanks whose only job is to state the bleeding obvious? We were never anything other than a supply of expendable troops for the US's crusade and an easy lay for Gee-Doubya.

At least with Europe we're about as big and powerful as any other member, and we get to move anywhere in the EU into the deal.

In more important news, I had wild sex last night.

See this is another problem. only intelligent Brits understand the value of the EU and how important it is in bettering this country as well as contributing to the world.

how do we get the dumb brits to realise it too?

Take control of the press. ban the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express and all that other rubbish.

Britain is the only state in the world to describe itself as "GREAT".

Wow. Not only did you just not get it, but you're also wrong.

See this is another problem. only intelligent Brits understand the value of the EU and how important it is in bettering this country as well as contributing to the world.

how do we get the dumb brits to realise it too?

Take control of the press. ban the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express and all that other rubbish.

Interesting logic. If someone agrees with your view of the world, they are "intelligent".

In more important news, I had wild sex last night.

i had it all day monday so heres to us two

Interesting logic. If someone agrees with your view of the world, they are "intelligent".

Many people work on that principle.

wasn't the loss of (overt political) empire the BEST thing ever to happen to great brittan?

i'm pretty sure the loss of its corporacratic hegemony would be equaly the best thing ever to happen to the u.s. when ever it comes about that it does!

=^^=
.../\...

Sadly, the loss of the empire never seemed to dampen our politicans desire to interfere where they're neither wanted nor needed...

Interesting logic. If someone agrees with your view of the world, they are "intelligent".

Pretty much......

Did you really mean to put the title in the present tense?

We lost most of our international influence years ago.

Next PM will be cameron or brown.
They will suck.

Then it'll be me. just watch.

I shall invade ireland.

GREAT BRITAIN :D

Invade african nations.

BRITISH EMPIRE.

Kisssup to the E.U

ALLIES!!!

Invade canada.

EMPIRE!!!

Kissup to america.

More allies.

INVADE EVERYONE ELSE!!!

EDIT: Genocide on the chavs.

Well ner, we've been losing influence since the 1800s

Next PM will be cameron or brown.
They will suck.

Then it'll be me. just watch.

I shall invade ireland.

GREAT BRITAIN :D

Invade african nations.

BRITISH EMPIRE.

Kisssup to the E.U

ALLIES!!!

Invade canada.

EMPIRE!!!

Kissup to america.

More allies.

INVADE EVERYONE ELSE!!!

EDIT: Genocide on the chavs.

try to invade Australia you get a ass full lead

Anyone who saw his {Blair's} first meeting with George Bush in the snows of Camp David soon after Mr Bush's inauguration as president in 2001 can be in little doubt that there was a sudden meeting of minds, indeed almost of souls

What happens when matter and anti-matter collide? :p

try to invade Australia you get a ass full lead

Which would also be why he said kissup to America.:D

Which would also be why he said kissup to America.:D

for the best S.A.S who do the USA call Australia, so he should add kissup to Australia to the list

Why do they bother with these think-tanks whose only job is to state the bleeding obvious?

Perhaps because, sadly, it wasn't obvious to everyone.

for the best S.A.S who do the USA call Australia, so he should add kissup to Australia to the list

Agreed. After all, the best Britons left for either Austalia or the USA a long time ago.:D

Agreed. After all, the best Britons left for either Austalia or the USA a long time ago.:D

yup they were the smart ones :D

try to invade Australia you get a ass full lead

Ohhh shit, don't we own that alrady? Saaay we havn't given it back to the aboribiginals have we?:D

Agreed. After all, the best Britons left for either Austalia or the USA a long time ago.:D

Well I'm still here! :D

We have the best Comedy and Music anyway. Green Wing, The Office, Black Books, Spaced (you may not have heard of this but its good), Blackadder the list is endless.

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones says it all really. (Also more recently Muse, but I'm taking it there's not much of a fanbase here)

Well I'm still here! :D

We have the best Comedy and Music anyway. Green Wing, The Office, Black Books, Spaced (you may not have heard of this but its good), Blackadder the list is endless.

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones says it all really. (Also more recently Muse, but I'm taking it there's not much of a fanbase here)


Not forgetting, Red Dwarf, Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibbley, and Hyperdrive.

Ohhh shit, don't we own that alrady? Saaay we havn't given it back to the aboribiginals have we?:D

1. we no long listen to you :p
2. they are trying to get back off us

1. we no long listen to you :p
2. they are trying to get back off us

Heheh soo what you only pay rent then?:D

Ohh okay a bergruding congrats to you for that whole umm Ashes thing:rolleyes:

Not forgetting, Red Dwarf, Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibbley, and Hyperdrive.

miss Red Dwarf,i keep dropping hints that i would like all of the DVDs of it
Only Fools and Horses may have seen some of it,last two are ?

Heheh soo what you only pay rent then?:D

Ohh okay a bergruding congrats to you for that whole umm Ashes thing:rolleyes:

rent ha fix the water then :p

Ashes i didn't watch it as i was busy :D but got told of it

miss Red Dwarf,i keep dropping hints that i would like all of the DVDs of it
Only Fools and Horses may have seen some of it,last two are ?

The Vicar of Dibbley? Really you don't know it? That is a huge shame, google it!, do it now, now!

Hyperdrive is a new British space comedy, staring the fat one from Shaun of the dead. Bloody great man, just google 'Kill the Humans'.

Not to mention England losing the Ashes in the smallest time period ever.

The Vicar of Dibbley? Really you don't know it? That is a huge shame, google it!, do it now, now!

Hyperdrive is a new British space comedy, staring the fat one from Shaun of the dead. Bloody great man, just google 'Kill the Humans'.

was it a female Vicar,oh a new show let's see how long ABC take's to pick it up

Not to mention England losing the Ashes in the smallest time period ever.

so i was told,but like i said i was busy

See this is another problem. only intelligent Brits understand the value of the EU and how important it is in bettering this country as well as contributing to the world.

how do we get the dumb brits to realise it too?


When did the Government ever listen to what its people want? The British people did not want a war in Iraq but we got one. Just let the Government move us away from the U.S. and towards Europe.....alot of people won't care anyway.

was it a female Vicar,oh a new show let's see how long ABC take's to pick it up


Yep yep, fat bird, very funny, married to Lenny Henry, quite attractive. Sorry totaly forgot her name.

Yep yep, fat bird, very funny, married to Lenny Henry, quite attractive. Sorry totaly forgot her name.

Dawn French

Yep yep, fat bird, very funny, married to Lenny Henry, quite attractive. Sorry totaly forgot her name.

then i have seen it,just can't call most of it

Dawn French


Bingo!

Britain is losing its influence? Tony needs be told this? Hmmm? That could make him him the least intelligent PM the UK has experienced since, well the end of WWII I suppose.

Churchill was at Yalta; Attlee attempted to keep the commonwealth together; National industries were subsidised to attempt to keep them competitive; Macmillian and Wilson attempted to gain entry to EC, but membership was vetoed by De Gaulle both times; Heath finally manages to get the UK into the EC once De Gaulle is out of the picture; Thatcher destroyed the manufacturing industry in the UK in favour of modernisation and a 'tertiary industrial revolution'; Both Thatcher and Blair attempted to cultivate the special relationship with the USA.

Every PM in the last century has attempted to combat the relative economic and influential decline of the UK, often to little or no avail.

Britain is losing its influence? Tony needs be told this? Hmmm? That could make him him the least intelligent PM the UK has experienced since, well the end of WWII I suppose.

Churchill was at Yalta; Attlee attempted to keep the commonwealth together; National industries were subsidised to attempt to keep them competitive; Macmillian and Wilson attempted to gain entry to EC, but membership was vetoed by De Gaulle both times; Heath finally manages to get the UK into the EC once De Gaulle is out of the picture; Thatcher destroyed the manufacturing industry in the UK in favour of modernisation and a 'tertiary industrial revolution'; Both Thatcher and Blair attempted to cultivate the special relationship with the USA.

Every PM in the last century has attempted to combat the relative economic and influential decline of the UK, often to little or no avail.


That would be because Britian had its time and now its Americas time to be the dominant influence on the world. This is hardly an eternal situation: In time Americas infulence will wane and another culture/nation/people will rise to the top. Just as it has always happened in the past.

Well its about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Britain is the only state in the world to describe itself as "GREAT". and its about time the people realise that we are a rubbish country. To believe that we are the great nation that once ruled the waves and the world is utter nonsense and well in the past.

Its time to look towards out future, which i believe to be fully and firmly in the EU. We should relax the 'relationship' the the US and I'm not just saying that post Iraq/september 11 etc. The unilateral thinking of the US has led the majority of the world to distrust america. i don't agree with many foreign policies of the US, and bringing war to nations in the fight against terrorism.

instead i believe that peace can only be achieved through prosperity. a major EU policy towards its neighbours and the middle east.

the world needs a power to readdress the balance of power, the eu can perhaps reach a great way to do this.

britain needs the EU to remain in the world forum.

Why don't you just move out then?!? Britain is the greatest country there ever was! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! And as far as Blair is conserned, he's daft and so is Bush. I'm a Conservative anyway!

That would be because Britian had its time and now its Americas time to be the dominant influence on the world. This is hardly an eternal situation: In time Americas infulence will wane and another culture/nation/people will rise to the top. Just as it has always happened in the past.Indeed. It would appear, even now, that America's dominance is waning. The powers in East, South and South-East Asia are rising. America will not be able to maintain dominance over these parts of the world forever. But just like Britain, and all the other hegemons before it, America is attempting to stem the tide through various means.

Next PM will be cameron or brown.
They will suck.

Then it'll be me. just watch.

I shall invade ireland.

GREAT BRITAIN :D

Invade african nations.

BRITISH EMPIRE.

Kisssup to the E.U

ALLIES!!!

Invade canada.

EMPIRE!!!

Kissup to america.

More allies.

INVADE EVERYONE ELSE!!!

EDIT: Genocide on the chavs.

Don't invade Canada, just support my dictatorship. :)

Yep, the entire West is declining down the crapper-hole. They never seem to realize it though. France ruled the world in the late 1800s...and they never quite got over it...Oh God, is America going to be the France of the future?

And as far as Blair is conserned, he's daft and so is Bush.

shouldn't that be "daft as a Bush"

try to invade Australia you get a ass full lead

*grabs shotgun*

I go get the bogans angry

Why don't you just move out then?!? Britain is the greatest country there ever was! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! And as far as Blair is conserned, he's daft and so is Bush. I'm a Conservative anyway!

God save the queen - she ain't no human being.

i'll move when scotland becomes independent. still considering my options though.....

and i shall not respond to your 'greatest nation country there ever was' comments.

*grabs shotgun*

I go get the bogans angry

lot and get more ammo

Britain is losing influence in the world.

About time and it is time it is recognized for what it is....museum of the world.:p

About time and it is time it is recognized for what it is....museum of the world.:p

The British Museum is rather nice - mostly exhibits pilfered from almost every nation on Earth.