The "Special Relationship"........

[10ClarionSt]

.....with the USA isn't something that was borne out of mutual fondness and friendship. Quite the opposite. The "Special Relationship" began when the USA declared war on Japan. Japan had an allied agreement with Germany, so Germany then declared war on the USA. The USA didn't come riding over over the hill, like cavalry to the rescue for the UK. As a consequence, military co-operation was a necessity and so was intelligence. Churchill was reluctant to reveal Operation Ultra to the USA but when he did, that was the start of the ridiculously so-called "Special Relationship" In 1934 the USA developed a plan called War Plan Red. This involved the possibilty of the USA declaring war on Britain and the British Empire. The initial stages of the "war" would involve invading Canada and British held Carribean territory. The "Special Realtionship" was war time thing folks. Nowt else.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/57438410

[Mozz71]

Okay, anti-British then, Mr Pedantic.

[gingejbee]

For "anti-British" (TTT's version) read "anybody who doesn't totally agree with my blinkered idea of Britain".

[ichkeria]

I don’t know if it’s “anti-British” but it’s certainly a load of nonsense.

[gulliver1]

John Bull.

[10ClarionSt]

For the record, I've only ever claimed "dole" once in my life, for 3 weeks in 1982. I've always managed to find work, cos I was good at what I did. I'm retired now, and I can definitely get used to it. The best part of being retired for me is that I don't have any health issues. None. I know, I keep telling you all. And why not?! :o)

Back to my OP. It's just stating facts. Nothing to do with being anti anything. And it shouldn't be posted in History, as "The Special Relationship" is wheeled out on a regular basis. Maybe some people don't like being made aware of the fact that the Americans have no particular affection for the British. That's always been my perception anyway.

[Jackdaw33]

Yet they make more fuss over the Royal Family than we do.

[ichkeria]

No one claims that the “special relationship” is some sort of international equivalent of Romeo and Juliet. That’s just silly.
The US and the UK are very different places. They have a problematic history relating to the colonial beginnings. They’ve fought wars with each other. There’s no doubt who the major partner is. But the relationship is based perversely enough partly on the ties that can come from such a past: it’s a mad bad dangerous world out there and for all our differences the shared values, especially in the field of intelligence sharing, mean more than the differences. It’s true just now that the relationship is strained due to us having an utterly untrustworthy PM. But, as he says, it’s “indestructible” :-)

[Peter Pedant]

Churchill was reluctant to reveal Operation Ultra to the USA but when he did, that was the start of the ridiculously so-called "Special Relationship"

ultra was the name for the decrypts of german codes
operation ultra is like saying operation lend lease or operation convoy - - it s kinda hinky

Ultra was the beginning of BRUSA 1942 ish ( code sharing ) which then gave rise to UKUSA - later and different and then Five Eyes ( UK, Canada Oz NZ and USA) - longest code sharing agreement ever.

we have to accept that we are an ex imperial power and it is hard

Biden is preparing the gt american public of the US of A for the same thing - the century will be the Chinese Century

nowt else

[THECORBYLOON]

YNNAFYMMI, why do you think 10CS is an, "eejit", if he's not British?

Can non-British folk not make the comments he made? If an American made those comments, would he or she also be an, "eejit"?

[tomus42]

The only special relationship the US has is its one with Israel. I wish they (politicians and media alike) would stop using the term in relation to the UK as its meaningless.

[ichkeria]

The term isn’t meaningless. As Peter alluded to it’s based primarily on intelligence sharing that grew out of WWII. But there was a “special relationship” of sorts before that.

[jno]

I agree with tomus, though with the possible exception of adding Taiwan to the short list.

The reason it's in the news section is that Boris said he didn't like the term

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/07/boris-johnson-prefers-not-to-use-term-special-relationship-says-no-10

It turns out he prefers "indestructible relationship", which sounds equally optimistic

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/15231735/boris-johnson-indestructible-relationship-us-joe-biden/

[naomi24]

I haven't read all the posts but just to say I'd rather have them on our side than on the other side.

[ynnafymmi]

@21.21.According to Mamy,10CS comes from Yorkshire.Why cant or why didnt he just say "our"queen then instead of saying "yer"?She is as much his monarch and queen as she is ours.Sorry for being pedantic and all that.I see i had an answer removed...i wonder who had it removed...?....Anyone in the vicinity?

[Mamyalynne]

As I stated on the other thread - he is not from Yorkshire.

Is this an obsession?

[ichkeria]

“I haven't read all the posts but just to say I'd rather have them on our side than on the other side.“

That’s the thing, as I said earlier. It’s a mad bad dangerous world and it’s essential for the comparatively civilised nations to stand together and cooperate.

[William51]

The Special Relationship is relevant because we are close allies, today.

[tomus42]

Ok, so what special benefits do we get from this relationship that the other friends and allies of the US don't also get?

Special trade benefits? Special consideration of extradition requests? Special intelligence sharing that other NATO allies aren't privy to?

Of course it's essential for civilised countries to co-operate. It's great that they are an ally, and I'm not knocking either them or us, but I don't see the relationship as anything different to what they have with any other ally.