A number of commentators in the Big Media and of course in blogosphere have remarked on how UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s decision to back up the US on the Iraq issue has put Britain at odds with Germany and France while mightily improving the standing of lil ‘ol Britain in the eyes of Uncle Sam.
Christopher Caldwell makes the point eloquently in the latest edition of British weekly, The Spectator. The whole thing is worth a read but I have one quibble with a remark he makes in the final paragraph, where he says Britain has an “economy in far better shape than that of the United States”. Huh? The British stock market has been falling proportionately more severely than the main indices of the U.S., a fact which can be explained by the higher taxes and red tape emanating from Whitehall and Brussels.
But that is a quibble. Overall, Caldwell’s article reads true to me and suggests that Blair, either by luck or judgement, has put the UK on a much stronger geo-political footing by siding with the U.S.. Optimism is always easy to knock but I cannot help thinking that Blair may have unwittingly given the Anglosphere a powerful boost, and pushed this country a little further from the EU behemoth.
Of course, I may be eating these words soon.
… mightily improving the standing of lil ‘ol Britain in the eyes of Uncle Sam.
Indeed, and in more concrete terms in the eyes of the American people. My wife and I aren’t poor by any means and when we take a trip we do it properly, guess where we’ll be spending our vacation dollars? We decided today that our next jaunt would be to the UK. Believe me, this sentiment is widespread here – I think it will take a long, long time for many of those Western European nations to regain the American tourist dollars they have squandered with their asinine antics of late.
That’s three blogsites Caldwell’s quoted on. Iain Murray, here, and Airstrip One (declaring interest on the latter).
It’s rather irritating that we have to take the praise of Blair with the optimistic stance of the article.
They say everything has a price. Britain may become a great power again but we have to accept that Tony Blair had a part to play in that success.
Philip, I sympathise. Yes, for a libertarian like me it is hard to have to say the occasional nice word about our Tony, but I believe in being fair. I think the Tories can sometimes damage themselves by treating the guy as closely related to the Devil, even on issues where he has a point. That’s just dumb.
well, it’s not just the anglosphere supporting the US – spain, italy and eastern europe have expressed support. as for the economics, the UK has lower unemployment than the US (5% versus 6%) and has grown faster over the last 5 years. (we’ve avoided recession)
well, it’s not just the anglosphere supporting the US – spain, italy and eastern europe have expressed support. as for the economics, the UK has lower unemployment than the US (5% versus 6%) and has grown faster over the last 5 years. (we’ve avoided recession)
“this sentiment is widespread here”
I second that. As if Americans didn’t already like the Brits, they’ve certainly proven they’re no summer soldiers or sunshine allies, and most Americans are quite cognizant of that fact.
Mr. Blair may have come to the realization that a choice between an economic and political union with “Old Europe” vs. an “Anglosphere” Free Trade Agreement is now possible. As indeed it is because of his resolute adherence to the special relationship between England and America. Those brash Colonials have nothing against the Pound, never mind inches and feet and they even call a mile, er, well, a mile! And in some form of English, no less.
There is the drawback that Mother has been expecting one to bring home a rather sedate “Madame” or “Hausfrau” to comfort one into their old age but perhaps She will understand that this vibrant, exciting American Woman makes ones blood race, feel young and awake and ready again to rush out to explore the World. It is so very nice to be wanted again!
One of my co-bloggers has posted extensive thoughts on this topic from an optimistic American perspective that doesn’t ignore Blair’s failings.
For what it’s worth…
Many Americans, myself included, have been watching to see how other countries react to our requests for support.
The support the UK is giving to the US has not gone unnoticed over here.
Thank you.
Yes damn it roll on the Anglosphere Free Trade Agreement.
Poor little New Zealand hasn’t been the same since you British bastards joined the EU. Wrecked our economy and consigned us to genteel poverty.
I’m a middleaged Anglophile, although my last
two trips to the UK left me dejected, and con-
vinced that Blairistan was on the ropes for the
last time. I was wrong, if not about the Brits
themselves, but about Tony, who has correctly
perceived that much of what happens today is
not about Iraq, but about the survival of Western
Civilization, and the realignment of the post
Cold War world. He intends for the UK to be on
the right side of this one, whether his party or the
average British Europhile wants to be or not. He’ll
be remembered for a long, long time.
I’m a middleaged Anglophile, although my last
two trips to the UK left me dejected, and con-
vinced that Blairistan was on the ropes for the
last time. I was wrong, if not about the Brits
themselves, but about Tony, who has correctly
perceived that much of what happens today is
not about Iraq, but about the survival of Western
Civilization, and the realignment of the post
Cold War world. He intends for the UK to be on
the right side of this one, whether his party or the
average British Europhile wants to be or not. He’ll
be remembered for a long, long time.
I’m a middleaged Anglophile, although my last
two trips to the UK left me dejected, and con-
vinced that Blairistan was on the ropes for the
last time. I was wrong, if not about the Brits
themselves, but about Tony, who has correctly
perceived that much of what happens today is
not about Iraq, but about the survival of Western
Civilization, and the realignment of the post
Cold War world. He intends for the UK to be on
the right side of this one, whether his party or the
average British Europhile wants to be or not. He’ll
be remembered for a long, long time.