President Elect Obama and Britain

[Icebreaker]

Attached is a link to a TimesonLine article about President-Elect Obama, and how his grandfather was arrested by the British in Kenya during the Mau Mau:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle5282113.ece

The author speculates that this might effect President-Elect Obama's attitude towards the special relationship between the U.S. and Great Britain. As an American of English decent, I have always been proud of the relationship between the U.S. and Great Britain (leaving out the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 - when you set fire to the White House).

I think that the author is hyping the issue somewhat, but I wanted the prespectives of other members, esspecailly those from Britain. Britain along with Australia has been the best allies America has had and I think I that it should stay that way.

Thanks

[datroy]

Honestly, I think this is a little dumb. My great-grandfather was beaten and had his teeth knocked out as a boy by the Black and Tans. It doesn't affect my opinions on Britain one bit.

The New Statesman has an article alleging that Obama called Cameron a lightweight due to his Euroskepticism. That didn't quite line up with the message of Obama's global citizenship lovefest in Berlin. My guess is, if anything, this would be more likely to affect the transatlantic relationship. I'm not crazy about Cameron, but I'm more on his side on the issue.

http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-polit...rope-president

[selil]

I'm deep Scots-Irish, and I ain't catholic, and I doubt President elect Obamas great grandfathers incident will effect the special relationship between the United States and Britain.

You know it is the same relationship a younger virile son has with a doddering Alzheimer's wracked grandparent.

[William F. Owen]

My wife's grand parents were both committed and successful members of a terrorist organisation that tried to kill my grandfather, when he was the British Ambassador to the Lebanon.

My advice to the President Elect is "get over it." - and if he can't then his inability to forget will give in a very valuable insight into everyday living in the Middle-east.

To a friend of mine from Jerusalem, "Here there are three Histories. Ours, yours, and theirs!"

[davidbfpo]

I am sure the background to President Obama, including the allegation his grandfather was tortured in Kenya will feature in a briefing paper for the UK government. Whether the President will be influenced by this history is a moot point.

Did this family history affect his decision-making on Gitmo Bay? I am not aware of his general attitude to human rights.

The much vaunted "special relationship" is highly prized here, notably by the Whitehall-Westminster establishment (akin to "within the Beltway") and of course the intelligence / military links.

IMHO UK public opinion is less convinced, even hostile to this relationship. Relatively minor issues, for example entry requirements to the USA led to much adverse comment in the conservative-leaning Daily Telegraph. In 2001 two million marched in London against any war with Iraq and this week an opinion poll stated 73% opposed the UK role in Afghanistan.

I shall watch to see President Obama affirms the "special relationship" and if his presidency affects how UK public opinion views the USA.

Incidentally one Whitehall observer, albeit in 2001, described the UK as "America's Ghurkha" and that within "The Beltway" few saw the relationship as that special.

[Granite_State]

I am sure the background to President Obama, including the allegation his grandfather was tortured in Kenya will feature in a briefing paper for the UK government. Whether the President will be influenced by this history is a moot point.

Did this family history affect his decision-making on Gitmo Bay? I am not aware of his general attitude to human rights.

The much vaunted "special relationship" is highly prized here, notably by the Whitehall-Westminster establishment (akin to "within the Beltway") and of course the intelligence / military links.

IMHO UK public opinion is less convinced, even hostile to this relationship. Relatively minor issues, for example entry requirements to the USA led to much adverse comment in the conservative-leaning Daily Telegraph. In 2001 two million marched in London against any war with Iraq and this week an opinion poll stated 73% opposed the UK role in Afghanistan.

I shall watch to see President Obama affirms the "special relationship" and if his presidency affects how UK public opinion views the USA.

Incidentally one Whitehall observer, albeit in 2001, described the UK as "America's Ghurkha" and that within "The Beltway" few saw the relationship as that special.

America's Gurkha, that's not bad. I understand where British public opinion is coming from, we seem to do better out of the deal than you do.