Thread: Nick Clegg and the End of the 'Special Relationship'

The endlessly fascinating topic of relations between the US and other nations is now a small but intriguing part of the UK election.

Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats who has won increased support and visibility in recent weeks as a potential new alternative in the UK elections, has made some intriguing statements about relations between Britain and the US.

He began by emphasizing the need to put distance between the two nations and for Britain to move closer to Europe and further away from the US.

BBC News - Clegg says UK must not blindly follow US lead abroad

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said the UK must not automatically follow the US on key foreign policy issues, and instead seek a lead role in Europe.

Mr Clegg accused Labour and the Tories of a 50-year consensus in which they had done "what the White House wants" rather than what was in UK interests.

This certainly fits precisely with what I have been expecting as the old and out-dated sytem of global relations collapses and a new dynamic takes its place.

Just recently, however, he has become more strident in his claims as he moved into the sort of crude - but crowd-pleasing - kneejerk anti-Americanism that is so popular today:

FT.com / UK / Business - Conservatives seek savings on defence deals

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, urged fellow British politicians on Tuesday to “move on” from slavish devotion to a “special relationship” with the US that had come to an end.

Certainly it is true that there is nothing left of the so-called 'special relationship', which likely never existed in the first place. The enormous gulf between our nations must inevitably widen.

But what interests me is the tone of smug self-pity and self-righteous posturing that is at the core of these statements: the preposterous suggestion that the hapless and victimized British are the mere puppets of those terrible Americans.

But it is popular, unfortunately, and Clegg is an interesting and compelling figure.

hey this could be big, a plane ride, an Obama speech at Trafalgar Sq. ( naturally), a few phone calls and Clegg will be the man, sppt. will jump 12% right off the bat.:rolleyes: