As the decline of Britain continues, France now our biggest ally.

[Danno 1,228]

France is our biggest ally, declares Obama: President's blow to Special Relationship with Britain

By TIM SHIPMAN

Last updated at 6:27 PM on 11th January 2011

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/11/article-1346006-0CB628F3000005DC-227_634x422.jpg

Barack Obama has declared that France is America’s greatest ally, undermining Britain’s Special Relationship with the U.S.

The President risked offending British troops in Afghanistan by saying that French president Nicolas Sarkozy is a ‘stronger friend’ than David Cameron.

The remarks, during a White House appearance with Mr Sarkozy, will reinforce the widely-held view in British diplomatic circles that Mr Obama has less interest in the Special Relationship than any other recent American leader.

Mr Obama said: 'We don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.'

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The comments follow a pattern of coldness towards the UK. When Gordon Brown was prime minister, Mr Obama snubbed his requests for meetings in the U.S.

He also denounced Britain during his inauguration speech.

The UK has lost nearly 350 troops in the war against the Taliban – seven times as many as France.

And there are more than 10,000 British soldiers serving in Helmand province, compared with just 3,850 Frenchmen.Mr Obama's stance was swiftly condemned in Westminster.

Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former commander of the Sherwood Foresters regiment, said: 'I’m getting a bit fed up with the American President using terms like "best ally" so loosely.

'It’s Britain that has had more than 300 servicemen killed in Afghanistan, not France.

'That to my mind is a lot more powerful than any political gesture making.'

The remarks also angered conservatives in Washington.

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Centre For Freedom at the Heritage Foundation think-tank, said: 'Quite what the French have done to merit this kind of high praise from the U.S. President is difficult to fathom.

'And if the White House means what it says this represents an extraordinary sea change in foreign policy.'Dr Gardiner, a former aide to Lady Thatcher, added: 'To suggest that Paris and not London is Washington’s strongest partner is simply ludicrous.

'Such a remark is not only factually wrong but insulting to Britain, not least coming just a few years after the French knifed Washington in the back over the war in Iraq.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1346006/Barack-Obama-declares-France-biggest-ally-blow-Special-Relationship-Britain.html#ixzz1AsEPDyT9

[^_^ 5,021]

We don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.

Sounds like diplomatic boilerplate to me, but feel free to make yet another mountain out of yet another molehill.

[Danno 1,228]

We don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.

Sounds like diplomatic boilerplate to me, but feel free to make yet another mountain out of yet another molehill.

Hey man... are you questioning our Presidents judgment in these matters?

[^_^ 5,021]

We don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.

Sounds like diplomatic boilerplate to me, but feel free to make yet another mountain out of yet another molehill.

Hey man... are you questioning our Presidents judgment in these matters?

Hey man... did a bird take a dump on your mouth while you slept again? Get yourself indoors, fool!

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Who can we surrender to?

[luckytxn 2,265]

Neither liked us while we had a GOP president but both loved us when we voted like they wanted. They were both fair weather friends so who cares. They are both European countries and mean squat in world affairs anyway and their opinions mean squat so big deal. Wait when we no longer have a Socialist president and see which of them likes us and sticks by our side. Friends stick by you through thick and thin.

Edited January 13, 2011 by luckytxn

[^_^ 5,021]

Friends stick by you through thick and thin.

I am not sure nations can (or should) have friends by that definition. I certainly wouldn't want to see American foreign policy "stick by" a foreign nation regardless of what they (or others) do.

[Peikko 1,575]

Well, that throws new light on the decision by socialist Tony Blair to throw his lot in with president Bush during the Iraq situation; Britain didn't like the US because it had a GOP president so they supported the decision to spite the US. Fascinating. Seriously, can people get any sillier?

As to whether there still exists a 'special' relationship between UK and the US? I don't know and I don't care but clearly they aren't enemies.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Well, that throws new light on the decision by socialist Tony Blair to throw his lot in with president Bush during the Iraq situation; Britain didn't like the US because it had a GOP president so they supported the decision to spite the US. Fascinating. Seriously, can people get any sillier?

As to whether there still exists a 'special' relationship between UK and the US? I don't know and I don't care but clearly they aren't enemies.

And you certainly can't call Blair a "fair-weather friend".

[Peikko 1,575]

The article is a Daily Mail special, it's for consumption in the UK. I shan't go into the boring details of what the average Daily Mail reader is meant to take from this

[^_^ 5,021]

The article is a Daily Mail special, it's for consumption in the UK.

Then they shouldn't put it online. Haven't they ever heard of Drudge?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Its in most papers, telegraph included.

Personally, It sounded boilerplate to me as well after watching the video.

Edited January 13, 2011 by Sousuke

[Peikko 1,575]

Then they shouldn't put it online. Haven't they ever heard of Drudge?

That doesn't make sense. Just because something has a target audience doesn't mean that it should not be put online, the paper is online but it is not written to appeal to a worldwide audience.

Its in most papers, telegraph included.

The readers of the Telegraph are upmarket Mail readers

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The readers of the Telegraph are upmarket Mail readers

You probably read the Sun

[Peikko 1,575]

You probably read the Sun

I read them all - well, when I can get the time. Each has its own special qualities

Interestingly, the online Sun has a lot more words in it than the printed versions I remember, the articles sometimes have two paragraphs