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A Further Perspective
Obama, the British, the Gulf, and Afghanistan
Barack Obama seems determined to shoot himself in both feet as far as his relations with Britain go.
Barack Obama seems determined to shoot himself in both feet as far as his relations with Britain go. In Afghanistan he is, it seems, building up for a diplomatic and perhaps military disaster that may have repercussions far beyond that country’s borders.
Obama has already brought U.S. relations with Israel and some Latin American states to their lowest point in modern history. However, in addition it seems almost as if he is determined to break up the Atlantic alliance, and sees the war is just the way to do it. Sending back the bust of Winston Churchill from the White House to the British Embassy was a good start to his presidency by way of signaling that the special relationship was dead, and that the world’s fourth-biggest economy, constant ally, and a nuclear power to boot had nothing in particular to offer the U.S. But that was not really more than a curtain-raiser. An equivocal, quasi-neutral, quasi-hostile stance over the Falkland Islands, where huge undersea oil reserves have apparently just been discovered, has pushed things along. His undiplomatic, hysterical gutter-language attacks on BP (which most British probably still think of as British Petroleum and still have some pride in) have pushed things further yet.
More importantly, however, his attack on BP — sometimes giving the impression he thinks it caused the oil-spill deliberately — has hit the ordinary British citizen hard in the hip-pocket. BP shares are in free-fall and a large number — probably a majority — of British superannuation and retirement funds have invested heavily in them: Obama is immediately felt to be not so much behaving undiplomatically — that’s something far away for diplomats and readers of the high-brow press to sort out — but as directly pushing individual British people: “You! You! And You!” into poverty-stricken old ages — and to be old and poor in Britain is no joke. BP has seen its market value drop by 40% since the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20. Obama seems determined to talk its share price down further. Previously it was Britain’s biggest company and worth £122 billion, but now more than £49 billion has been wiped from its value. It is also facing a multi-billion dollar bill for the clean-up operation
Further, it is an obvious course for traders to dump BP stocks due to fears of ongoing costly legal action and possible punishment by the U.S. Government — normally governments don’t talk, or give an impression of lusting to “punish” large companies owned by friendly countries. The only outcome — financially, politically, economically, and strategically — can be negative and damaging.
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has told the Senate BP would be asked in addition to repay salaries to workers laid off because of the six-month ban on deepwater drilling imposed since the spill.
The British response to Obama’s continued attacks has already gone well beyond the niceties of diplomatic language and the next step looks all too obvious: pull the British troops out of Afghanistan, both to save money and in a retaliatory gesture. There are nearly 10,000 British troops from all services in Afghanistan — not a huge army but a considerable one, and there are many complaints about their underfunded and obsolete equipment. However, unlike some of the NATO partners they actually fight. The death-toll among British forces is now approaching 300. General Petraeus has said British support is vital to the success of the war: “The scale of the British contribution in Afghanistan is such that the coalition cannot succeed without you,” he said in London, where he met David Cameron. Cameron, in his latest visit to Afghanistan, however, said the British public expected to see progress and hinted that he would like British forces to pull out at the end of the year. Insulting Britain seems the worst way of trying to keep them there.
The Times has reported that a senior member of the Bush Administration delivered a warning in early 2006 to Ministry of Defense officials preparing the plan for Helmand province: “I remember going to London and saying it would be good to have more troops, but I was told that Britain couldn’t add more until they were out of Iraq,” said Eric Edelman, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy during George Bush’s last term in office. Mr. Edelman said that British officials told him that UK troop numbers would not be increased until France and other European powers committed further to the coalition in Afghanistan. The whole thing looks like a house of cards that Obama’s irresponsible and amateurish diplomacy might knock over.
A British pullout at this time would be disastrous for the U.S., especially because the Australian, Canadian, and other NATO troops would probably follow. At the very least it would increase the load on the U.S. economy enormously.
There is not, or not yet, a strong anti-war movement in Britain as there was during Vietnam (one reason being that there is no KGB to bank-roll and organize it this time). Rather, across the political spectrum there is a war-weary disillusionment, with the right as unenthusiastic as the left. Indeed some sections of the right are leading anti-war protestors.
It is surprising, and a tribute to the KGB’s organizing skills in the early 1970s, that an anti-war movement has not gained more traction now. It is not at all hard to imagine Britain suddenly deciding it needs its scanty defense assets to protect the new Falklands oil-fields. The push-me-pull-you ass of a coalition government also contains the far-left Liberal Democrats, infected with the European Left’s reflexive anti-Americanism. They are shutting up for the moment, but for who knows how long?
By what may be no coincidence at all, an article by senior journalist Simon Jenkins in the far-left and anti-American Guardian calling for the total disbanding of British armed forces has just been reprinted in the whacky, grotesquely misnamed American Conservative. It could have come straight from the New Statesman circa 1938, pooh-poohing any possibility of a threat to Britain and suggesting that displays of military hardware were provoked by nothing more than Freudian egotism. So far, I have only seen one article like this, but it is unlikely to be the last.
About the Author
Hal G.P. Colebatch’s “Immram,” Counterstrike, is being published by Australian publisher Imaginites.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (70) | Leave a comment
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Gabriele Molinelli| 6.11.10 @ 6:55AM
The british are not people to run shy of their commitment. They are likely going to stay in Helmand and sort it out resolutely as they always do. But nonetheless, from where i sit, here in Italy, i can say that the british have done far more than they should have. They are the second largest contributors to the operation in Afghanistan, and they've been supplying lots of important equipment on top of the soldiers fighting in the area. They are tackling the most dangerous area of Afghanistan, and making progress, paid with blood and treasure.
And Obama has been treating them almost like dirt. Sending back the Churchill bust was a true insult, not just to the brits, but even to america's own past of alliance and collaboration with the UK. An insult to all the blood shed together, shoulder to shoulder, in the second world war, where Churchill's plans, words and ideas have had so immense importance. (the D-Day was largely Churchill's plan, to tell about one).
I say it openly: was i the prime minister of the UK, my soldiers would have already started coming home, in answer to how Obama treats the nation and its people.
And he should be careful with BP, too. Because by now BP is more american than british, looking at the list of the main investors. And because, anyway, the US are gas-guzzlers, and a fight with BP and maybe other companies as well would be disastrous if the price of US gas rises to european levels.
He'd better talk quietly and reason, instead of playing loud-shouting.
I dunno what ally he dreams to obtain... But was he to become Argentina's best friend tomorrow, it would still be an alliance worth a miserable tenth of the alliance with Uk.
I say it as italian and european. Don't think you'll ever have true help from european nations that aren't the Uk.
Tire the UK, and you are left alone. And sincerely, the UK should indeed stop losing blood and treasury fighting your wars. I think that, after they sort Afghanistan enough to get back home, their answer to your next request of help will be far different than the one the US received in 2001 and 2003.
Swiss Bob | 6.11.10 @ 12:45PM
Damn, I forgot to add that you do know Churchill was half septic, don't you?
Gretchen| 6.12.10 @ 3:25PM
What Obama conveniently ignored, when he so rudely returned the Churchill bust, was that Sir Winston's mother was an American -- Jennie Jerome! That bust SHOULD be displayed in the White House. If Obama didn't want to look at it, there are a number of other rooms it could have been displayed, or it could have been put in storage with the many other works of art currently not on display. Let's hope that bust is restored to a place of honor in January of 2013!
Richard| 6.11.10 @ 7:02AM
This article demonstrates an astonishing lack of knowledge on all things British. As a Brit myself, I can assure you that no-one here installs their pride in BP as some kind of national symbol. The Guardian newspaper is to the left yes, but far left? No. The Liberal Democrats are not far left either. I could go on. I'd stick to writing about things that you understand if I were you Hal G.P. Colebatch
JP| 6.11.10 @ 8:15AM
I don't suppose you are retired, or depend upon BP dividends in order to pay your bills? Considering the grave fiscal situation of your nation, I would think the bankrupting of a firm like BP would trump politics. But then again, I am not a Leftist.
Liam | 6.11.10 @ 4:09PM
Richard, while we may not have any actual pride invested in BP (NOT British Petroleum), our pension funds have a lot of our money invested in it and other "blue chip" multinationals, as do a lot of American pension funds. Obama is doing us and future American pensioners a grave disservice with his hysterical outbursts.
I am a member of the UK's Libertarian Party (Chairman of the North East Branch), and so see myself as not being part of the Left-Right continuum (which should really be regarded as a circle, rather than a straight line). But I see the Guardian as an extreme "socialist" publication, and we as a party are recruiting considerable numbers of disaffected Liberal Democrat members who are repelled by the LibDem's leftist leanings, and who opt to join us because we stand for minimal government, which sets us aside from the other parties, whose motives are interference and direction of peoples' lives, usurping their Liberty.
As I said in another publication the other day, BP and Tony Hayward (CEO) will still be there when the Jug-Eared Idiot is long gone.
I have great faith in the Americans' love of Liberty, and am sure that they will do the sensible thing and get rid of the sabateur in the White House in a few short years.
Andy| 6.11.10 @ 5:04PM
Great reply Tony. I hope all Brits know how sorry most Americans are in how the corrupt, lying, empty suit we have as our president has insulted our greatest ally. I hope the next Republican president (2012) makes his first official visit to GB to bring back Sir Winston's bust. Obama wouldn't make a small pimple on WSC's ass (or arse).
Stammon| 6.11.10 @ 10:42PM
If I have any say in it, on inauguration day 2013 Winston's bust will be sitting on the podium.
Alan Brooks| 6.11.10 @ 11:07PM
"I hope the next Republican president (2012)"
Yeah, that's what we were told in '95. You people are lousy futurists.
AMENBRO| 6.12.10 @ 2:12AM
Possible your heightened scale perspective can enlighten us as to exactly what the gestural purpose was of sending Winston Churchill back across the pond.
Was Shout BAMMA LAMMA flirting with those pillars of wisdom, the members of CODE PINK?
Merely one of the plethara of recent heights in really smart cool, collected,composed and sublime intelligentsia behavior yawl.
Alan Brooks| 6.12.10 @ 8:59AM
But can't you stop the jive-talk?
Bro, you can do it-- sho nuff!
AMENBRO| 6.12.10 @ 4:04PM
Soon as you quit the shite talkin.
Love droppin those GGGGGGS ever since I heard that pencil dick from NPR idiosyncratically liberal way of assuming he was intelligent cause he sounded that way.. Google it Al you might get a laugh at yer-self,, YAWL.
After all in our current shot in both feet condition as a nation we can use all the laughs we can get.
Course that's only us folks who can see the forest fer da trees.
Now please directly answer my question sir.
Alan Brooks| 6.12.10 @ 5:34PM
You worry about a little statue of Churchill??
There is far more to worry about today than a tiny bust of Churchill.
Deep down Churchill didn't care for symbolic gestures; he was no fool. Churchill wasn't idolatrous.
Rodney T. Walton| 6.12.10 @ 11:53PM
First off I own BP stock in my retirement account. I bought it 2 years ago for the dividends. No it's not large my investment. I'll survive being down $500.00. But yes this current President is such an empty suit. It's like People Magazine runs the White House!
I was disturbed when Obama removed the bust of
Chirchill. He wasn't going to let some old imperalist-dead-white-guy hang around! It's just so sad he is so inexperienced. What's scares me is not knowing who Obama talks to for advise. This guy obviuosly doesn't have a clue. I just pray he doesn't call Jimmy Carter!
Patrick| 6.13.10 @ 4:42PM
Oh, he has plenty of friends in academia who also haven't done anything useful.
As for Carter, no, he will be worse than even Carter. Even so, this is therapeutic for the nation and the world. If the West does not learn exactly how bad socialism and nihilism are, all will be lost.
Obama's presidency is a costly education, let us not waste it.
Mike| 6.11.10 @ 7:16AM
I would agree with the above articles concerning Obama. Still having traveled the world a bit and both listening to and overhearing the discontent with then President Bush and the seeming joy of electing someone like Obama (heck the Nobel Prize being thrust upon him and all)... it seems that the world got what it demanded.
AMENBRO| 6.12.10 @ 2:14AM
Beetles lay eggs in dungballs also.
Cat| 6.11.10 @ 8:24AM
Our Anti-capitalist president is clearly out of his OIL LEAGUE.
BP made a promise to clean up this mess -- a mess that is bigger than just one multi-national company.
I support BP. Do you? I don't see Exxon, Shell, Ammoco helping to clean up this spill? So why should I buy gas from them? They are not helping. Nope politicans and other petroleum companies are just sitting on the sidelines hoping that BP fails, so that they can take the spoils.
Support BP before this bloody oily muck ends up across the pond!
pipe fittings | 6.12.10 @ 9:31PM
Why is the long form birth certificate not forth coming ? Some say it might go to his parentage , as in , his grand father is in fact his daddy. That kind of stikes me as unlikely from the political calculus angle , as William Jefferson Blythe Clinton has already reputedly broken the bastard barrier. Whether or not Obama is or is not natural born is not the point, the point is he acts like a foreigner and no wonder.
Ret. Marine| 6.11.10 @ 8:49AM
What is really of concern here and no one is talking about it the blantant theft this usurper-n-liar is talking of these days.
In the article, the usurper-n-liar is almost demanding that BP pay lost wages of anyone effected by HIS decission to shut down these wells for the forseeable future, making it HIS decission to steal from BP without the consent of CONgress. Now I may not be the smartest or brightest bulb on this here line, but I do know this, We are a Representative Republic, I don't remember the president being able to or have the jurisdiction or power to demand a privately held corp. pay the cost of HIS decissions to reak havoc of any indusrty on these shores, let alone a British held Corp. and their shores, it is time to impeach this usurper yet for crimes and misdemeanor. I say without any doubt this punk is in waaaaaaaay over his head. His alligator mouth has now officially over-run his hummingbird ass.
Liam | 6.11.10 @ 5:26PM
Hi Marine,
Long time since we had comms, you would have known me as Flatdog previously.
Your comment about the Jug Eared Idiot acting beyond his authority rang alarm bells for me. It may be that he has been "got at" by an originally British organisation that seems to masquerade as a management training organisation called Common Purpose International. (CP also stands for Communist Party). They advocate "acting beyond authority", and many political figures and civil servants, including police chiefs have attended their courses. Aparently they train many people within the European Union, which is itself modeled on the Soviet Union.
I used to dismiss this as pure conspiracy theory, but now, I'm not so sure, as too many bricks are falling into place as time goes on.
AMENBRO| 6.12.10 @ 2:32AM
Constitution Law Professor my aching haggis yAWL.
Lest we forget the hurry to staple the GM Chrysler Stockholders to the WALL. Who cared what the LAW entitled them to.Sure wasn't the executive branch of this country. The UNIONS walked off fat & sassy screwing the daylights out of the risk taking entrepreneurial investors.
Course taking a bath in the stock market is for the little schmmuck like us while we pay taxes to cover their incompetence. We don't donate damn near a million dollars to presidential campaigns or fake ones that garner 20 million walkin around cash Chris Dodd Banking Committee chair style.
How did you democrats get to be so enlightened??
Any of yawl bout had enough yet?
Old Joe| 6.11.10 @ 10:21AM
I have a difficult time figuring out if this man is smart or stupid. Is he smart and understands that he only has one term to destroy America, all it stands for, and to isolate us from our allies insuring our destruction. Or is he a stupid politician who makes dumb moves that will insure that he will only get one term. Smart or stupid, he wins and we lose either way. He, his family, his friends, and his staff will be set for life.
Living in south Louisiana, being an avid gulf marsh fisherman with a camp in Venice, La, I am crushed with what is happening ecologically in the gulf. Living in south Louisiana, being in an oil and gas family with many deep water exploration friends, I am crushed with what Obama is doing to our economy, the future of our friends, and the investments we were depending on for retirement. The truth is that Obama cares neither about the ecology, the economy, or the future of our nation. Remember, he and his trusted advisors believe that one should never waste a good crisis.
Gr0w1er| 6.11.10 @ 12:33PM
That alien Kenyan has stooped to a new low. He is disgusting.
Eric| 6.11.10 @ 1:11PM
The great majority of British and the Europeans were hoping Obama would be elected. You got what you wished for and have to live with it now. Unfortunately, we do too.
Mike| 6.11.10 @ 2:56PM
I was in the UAE on Election Night 2008. I was working in the country as a contractor. In the building where I lived were many Brits and a few Germans. They were partying and making all sorts of noise when the election was called for Boob-ama. You'd have thought he was THEIR new president. The next morning, coming down the elevator heading to work, the car picked up 4 British school teachers--ladies all. They were going on and on about O-BAM-UH; and one of them finally asked me, "Isn't it GREAT that O-BAM-UH was elected!?!!" I quietly gave them the evil eye and said I didn't vote for him, I couldn't stand him, and if they loved him so much they could certainly have him as P.M. in Britain. They were absolutely stunned; and could not fathom why I wasn't agog, with a thrill running up my leg too probably. haha Those ladies never spoke to me again, although I saw them nearly everyday. They'd get quiet and whisper when I walked by. I sure wish I was there now to give them a resounding, "I told you so!!" I recall encountering a Kenyan at the driver's license ministry in the UAE with much the same effect. He asked if I was American; when I said yes, he said how happy he was to see Obama elected president. I pointedly asked him if he was Kenyan or American; he replied Kenyan. I then said I couldn't stand Obama; and that if he loved him so much we could arrange to send his ass back to Kenya where he could become his tribal chief. He was very upset at my words and muttered something in his own language. I just laughed. Just like the faux Andy Warhol 'impression' of Obama--what you see is NOT what you get--the anointed one is ALL illusion.
Haynes| 6.11.10 @ 2:57PM
Just a thought.
I can imagine "big zero" having a tough time living in the same room with the likeness of Churchill. I bet Churchill had better men than he shining his shoes.
Patrick| 6.13.10 @ 4:49PM
Yet the likes of Stalin and his American counterpart were unfazed.
smith| 6.11.10 @ 3:53PM
I am sorry to say that large numbers of my friends
and neighbours here in Britain, were very happy when Obama was elected, including me.
After his appalling undiplomatic "kick ass" posturing, most now think that the special relationship with the US is practically finished.
Prime Minister Cameron will no doubt try to cool it, however he is sat on a time bomb of British public frustration. Afghanistan is a killing ground for Britain's finest, stood shoulder to shoulder with a friend fine, but America is no longer our friend in the opinion of most people here.
Liam | 6.11.10 @ 4:29PM
Why were you, your friends and neighbours happy that Obama was elected in America? What happens in America affects all of us deeply, whether we like it or not.
Obama came to power by promising "Change" without explaining what that change would be, using a slogan "Yes We Can", without explaining what it was that they could! What on Earth caused the joy in your vaccuous brain cells (one each) from all of that?
Someone once said "Beware of idiots in large numbers". How true.
Bob Grant| 6.11.10 @ 4:40PM
I believe Obama feels a deep-seated personal animosity toward Great Britain. After reading Dreams from my Father, his returning the Winston Churchill bust - one of the first official acts as president, the shabby treatment of the Prime Minister and his wife during the first official visit, and his constant intimidation and bad mouthing of BP indicates a pattern. Obama doesn't seem to have a problem showing his disdain for people and countries he doesn't like. Just ask Israel.
macdaddy| 6.11.10 @ 5:12PM
The Left keeps trying to blame the Iraq War on Bush trying to avenge his daddy. Obama on the other hand, is torpedoing the single most important ally we have because they dissed his grandfather decades ago. Maybe Obama is Muslim because he sure can seem to hold a grudge.
Liam | 6.11.10 @ 5:42PM
I heard that he was born in Mombasa, and I've seen a signpost on the border with the Sudan saying "Welcome to Kenya, Birthplace of Barack Hussein Obama". Whether that was put there for a laugh, or if it was official, I can't say.
jaycee| 6.11.10 @ 6:11PM
I am British and I thought the election of the unAmerican Barry O was a dreadful shame for America. I think the only reason people over here thought it a good thing was because he was to be America's first 'black' president. But even from that angle people were duped -his mother was white and his place of birth has still not been proven. People did not do their homework. Barry is incompetent, inexperienced, unpatriotic, Marxist, arrogant and purely the result of politically correct affirmative action taken to the extreme. What a shame Condaleeza Rice wasn't a candidate. She would have been the genuine article - she has class too. The mainstream media are to blame for their biased, sycophantic so-called reporting in swaying the public to vote for the objectionable fraud.
I love America and its people, it is a great nation. To have this juvenile in charge beggars belief. The world is a much more dangerous place now that the White House has such a strutting, puffed-up useful idiot in residence. If I as a British onlooker thinks this, what I ask myself must the American military feel who are putting their lives on the line everyday and yet have such a lame Commander-in Chief who appears to tacitly support the enemy - i.e.radical Islam.
I have spoken to others over here (who think for themselves) and someone the other day sais it was surprising that Obama was still in office, considering the amount of guns in private circulation. Not all Brits and Europeans are left-leaning, seriously deluded idealists. Just ask some of our own soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.
Let me quote Churchill to those Americans who wonder when this nightmare will be over "If you are going through hell, keep going". In other words keep tea-partying, campaigning and get the word out that November is a crucial month for America (and for that matter for world stability in general).
Thank you for reading this far. I have wanted to say this for ages.
Liam | 6.12.10 @ 2:04PM
Hi Jaycee,
We need people like you in the Libertarian Party! If you're interested in getting involved, visit www.libertarianparty.org.uk
Andy| 6.12.10 @ 4:19PM
There are several reasons Obama was elected, none good. I think the biggest factor was his weak opponent. McCain was a sell-out to the conservative cause, and millions refused to vote for him (regardless of the consequences). If there had been a true conservative in 2008, Obama would still be the MIA senator from IL. When Obama won, I was extremely disheartened, not simply because we just elected a godless America-hating empty-suited corrupt Marxist, but that Americans were so far gone that they actually voted for an evil man. Mr. Platitude; Mr. Speech Reader; Mr. Nothingness. How could any true red-blooded American watch Reverend (sic) Wright preach, “God damn America” and vote for Obama, who attended Wright’s church (sic) for 20 years? How on God’s green Earth could they have been so utterly blind and naïve? Lots of reasons: Racism: 90% (+) blacks, and what percent of whites?, voted for Obama *because* he is black (that’s racism); The lies about Bush, the war, the economy, etc; US schools being run by leftists; and especially because many Americans form their opinions by doing nothing but sitting around watching the idiot box all day. How many people no longer have the ability to tell right from wrong because they have turned their backs on God? (Either by being anti-Christian or by following false Christian doctrine). However, I am convinced that if we are fortunate enough to find an unapologetic conservative candidate in 2012, then Obama has a chance of losing the next election by the largest margin ever. The American people are not that far gone— at least not yet – I hope. 2008 was a fluke, and so we got a flake. In the mean-time it’s sickening to see what Obama is doing to harm our country and our relations with our true allies. I hope most people know Obama does not represent the average American’s feelings or views.
Ken (Old Texican)| 6.11.10 @ 7:35PM
jaycee,
Thank you for joining our conversation.
Well stated, sir.
jaycee| 6.12.10 @ 5:51AM
Thank you Ken, its the first time I have plucked up my courage to contribute. Its nice to be acknowledged. I am a Mrs. who can now think of myself as an honoury Sir:-)
Clinton Nee Publius| 6.11.10 @ 7:36PM
I read all of these comments by our European friends and I am ashamed. I am ashamed that we allowed a corrupt media to help perpetrate this fraud upon the world. On this very website one of the commentators asked which leaders Mr. Obama could count amongst his friends and which countries were now more closely aligned with the goals and aspirations of American foreign policy now that he was changing the face of America. None came to mind, though America's enemies must be emboldened.
I well remember the bust incident and the stupid CDs to the Queen and forgetting her birthday so that they could send the birthday wishes on the wrong day this year. I practically cried. I despise the social welfare democracy of Britain, but I am a student of history and well realize the contributions and support our countries have mutually enjoyed. I have British relations and I have to be honest about that; I have a dog in this hunt. Still, it is obvious that our relations are going to cool for a few more years, but the reality can be quite different once people in Britain realize you have to be careful what you wish for and that there really is no free lunch.
And yet I have hope; my hopes are for the day when an American president crosses the Atlantic to fetch back the bust of Sir Winston, to visit the Queen and make a proclamation of a day of thanksgiving and national observance for the honor and sacrifice the people of the Crown have made on our behalf.
It is my hope for change, but it need not die upon this page.
flip video converter | 6.11.10 @ 8:44PM
just thinking
Wesley Mouch| 6.11.10 @ 11:29PM
We have a leak spilling 100000 bopd into the gulf, every day. It is trashing the entire gulf coast. I don't care who's feelings get hurt, this needs to be fixed. NOW. No one can defend BP here, because they made shortcuts to try to save a few bucks at America's expense. Trying to make political points over this is just satanic. You are killing me with the political horseshit. I don't care if the Queen of England is upset, get on it & fix the damn leak!
Patrick| 6.13.10 @ 5:00PM
Yet the Obama government also shares in responsibility, as they inspected, regulated, and authorized all those shortcuts. It's amazing how easily an enviro-fanatic can be corrupted with a couple thousand in campaign contributions.
As for stopping the leak, that would be great. So if you have an idea of how to successfully plug it, I bet BP would love to hear about it.
Marc Jeric| 6.12.10 @ 12:51AM
Everything I read here about Abu Hussein al-Nairobi or al-Mombassa or whetever Kenyan hellhole this Muslim was born in - I agree with. But still - it is a mistake to forget that this empty suit is a great danger to the USA. He is a dedicated communist, he has his 35 komissars as advisers in the White House (unelected and unconfirmed by the Senate but who have executive powers over the federal departmennts); he has his system of local soviets in place financed by his stimulus bill to the tune of $8.7 billion (ACORN brownshirts, SEIU and AFSME and AFL-CIO union goons, teacher union agitators and lobbyists) who are ready to demonstrate, intimidate, beat up opponents, and perform voting fraud by the millions of votes. He already nationalized automobile industry (GM and Chrysler), insurance and mortgage companies (AIG, Fannie, Freddie), health care industry, certain banks, he is looking for excuse to nationalize oil & gas companies, coal mines, electricity companies through his cap & trade nonsense (you know - globaloney cooling scam)...
He will not part peacefully.
John II| 6.12.10 @ 12:54PM
It's occurred to me that Professor Obama's pathological hatred for Britain may be more convoluted than supposed. The usual reason given is that Kenya was part of the British Empire and that the Professor is thus filled with a more personal version of the standard abstract Lefty resentment of the Brits' old notion of "white man's burden."
But there's another reason as well, I believe, for the Professor's animosity, which is tied to the Left's less-fabled self-hatred. The Brits not only lorded it over blacks in the east African portions of the Empire; they also bequeathed the chic socialist ideas of the Laborites to east Africa and India before abandoning their Empire.
It must be particularly galling to a racialist Lefty like Professor Obama to know, at least subliminally, that his own superannuated socialism was cooked up in the same schools and salons as gave the world the notion of white man's burden.
Long Ben| 6.12.10 @ 5:17PM
Obama is the living example of the Founders wisdom , in writing into the Constitution the rule , that only natural born citizens shall be qualified for the office of the Presidency. Why is the long form birth certificate not forth coming ? Some say it might go to his parentage , as in , his grand father is in fact his daddy. That kind of stikes me as unlikely from the political calculus angle , as William Jefferson Blythe Clinton has already reputedly broken the bastard barrier. Whether or not Obama is or is not natural born is not the point, the point is he acts like a foreigner and no wonder.
Given how seemingly his mom and his Pop/granddaddy and all associates of his and theirs loathed the USA along with all the America haters he has chosen and sought out to hang with subsequently , along with his time in Indonesia , Pakistan and such. As for practical effect we have a Foreigner for President , who despises this truth : that if the USA had not Britain for Mother there were no way we ascended to such greatness as a Nation or people .
Wesley Mouch| 6.12.10 @ 11:35PM
Dick Cheney please help us, you are only hope! You have been so forthcoming on so many matters up until now & you absence here is disconcerting. I don't care if you are D or R I just want Venice fixed & this is sincere I promise you. Dick you have a lot of experience, Obama knows nothing about this, please help us. This is real bad! I shouldn't have said our only hope I guess but I am in a bit of a panic here!
stormin| 6.12.10 @ 11:49PM
This morning my daughter knocked on my bathroom door and said daddy did you wipe the hole yet?
1066| 6.14.10 @ 6:29AM
The UK should withdraw from Afghanistan immediately. Next step: extradite all US missile defence systems,troops and military hardware from our shores that make us a front line target for nuclear attack. We should quietly boycott all American products; whether you are a CEO procuring IBM or Microsoft IT systems, or just an ordinary person buying breakfast cereal. Then unequivocal condemnation of Israel and its actions in the middle east.
Ken (Old Texican)| 6.14.10 @ 12:12PM
1066,
OOPS! you made a typo! Your Number is 666.
It is stamped on your forehead, dummy! Can't you read?
1066| 6.15.10 @ 4:18AM
Ken (Old Texan), somehow I don't find much in your argument to make me recant my (admittedly extreme) views. Perhaps you are subtly agreeing with me... indeed, I struggle myself to understand how exactly the UK benefits from its relationship with the US, so I sympathise if you are unable to reveal anything.
1066 is no mistake, by the way. Read your history books and report back. ;)
vladdy| 6.16.10 @ 9:51PM
"I struggle to understand how exactly the UK benefits from its relationship with the US" followed by "read your history books"? Guess yours left out the chapters on World War 2.
1066| 6.17.10 @ 4:51AM
The best you can do is something that happened 60+ years ago, before the "special relationship" even existed? hmm, that is really not a great advert.
Don't even get me started on world war II. You should consult some history books that aren't 'written' in Hollywood. Contrary to popular belief, the last great war was not a Mel Gibson movie. There is no doubt that the US is a super power now, but it was only through a devastated, battle weary Europe that it accelerated into global ascendency.
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