Target Rich Environment

In addition to returning a gift bust of Winston Churchill that was given to the United States (link), giving British PM Gordon Brown a few DVDs (probably a re-gift from a Hollyweirdo) as an insulting gift (link), and then canceling a public press conference appearance with Gordon Brown (link), now we give our closest ally this (link):

State Department Official Insults Britain    [Nile Gardiner]

Further confirmation that the Obama administration may be downgrading the Special Relationship with Great Britain is provided by a State Department official in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph.

Asked about the underwhelming reception given to Gordon Brown when he visited the White House last week, the “furious” unnamed official, who was involved in the planning of the meeting, declared:

“There’s nothing special about Britain. You’re just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn’t expect special treatment.”

It would be good to know who this official is, and whether the Secretary of State agrees with this insulting portrayal of the Anglo-American alliance — especially at a time when thousands of British soldiers are putting their lives on the line alongside their American allies in Afghanistan, while most of Europe sits on the sidelines. If the State Department doesn’t support the views expressed, it should disown them immediately.

It’s one thing if you want to try to forge bonds with nations that we have traditionally had contentious relationships with, that’s one thing.  But the UK has supported us where other allies haven’t, and now we treat them like this? 

It doesn’t even seem sane.  Did anyone vote for this?  I feel like Obama is trying to punish the Brits for something (or punish the United States), perhaps to split our allegiance with them on behalf of one of his billionaire supporters’ agendae. No matter what, it’s terrible form.