A Fast One On An Ally

IBD Editorials ^ | June 15, 2009 | Investors Business Daily

[Kaslin]

Diplomacy:Should the U.S. scrap its special relationship with the U.K. to fulfill an ill-considered campaign vow? That's the trade-off the Obama administration made by secretly foisting terrorists onto Bermuda. It's wrong.

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The British Foreign Office had a right to be angry at the U.S. transfer of four Uighur terrorists from Guantanamo detention to the U.K. colony of Bermuda without its knowledge.

After all, Britain is a sovereign state and, like any nation, has a right to know who's on its territory. Instead, it got treated like some banana republic. It didn't learn of the move until after the four Gitmo detainees were set to land on the island.

Britain is our top ally, having a long-term "special relationship" that has been carefully built over 200 years. Seen in this context, the U.S. move is unprecedented and will likely cost the U.S. more than just Britain's trust.

Any nation pondering an alliance with the U.S. will think twice after seeing how the U.S. treats its best allies when it's in a pinch.

The root of this pickle is the Obama administration's ill-considered campaign promise to shut down Guantanamo detention camp, in a bid to win far-left voters unconcerned about terrorism.

If not for that promise, there'd be no such pickle. The president could make an honest reassessment of the promise in light of the absent alternatives but hasn't.

Instead, he's now strong-arming an ally against its own interests, something sure to create resentment.

The four Uighurs now sampling the good life on Bermuda are wanted back in China for terrorism. Britain will now get heat from China — and possibly retribution — for a problem it didn't cause.

[naturalman1975]

And Reagan invaded Grenada - a British overseas territory.

Seriously - no, I don't think Obama should have sent these people to Bermuda - but the US has a history of doing things involving British territories within it's geographic sphere of influence that the British don't always agree with. Republicans shouldn't get too precious about it - because they'll do the same when they get in office. No reason they shouldn't either - America should always act in America's best interests, first, even over allies. All nations should.

[yldstrk]

Guess what Bambi, paybacks are hell..........

And Briton will pay you back I bet..............

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

What’s the back story on this? Did they sneak them in in a diplomatic pouch or something? How did they land in Bermuda without Britian’s knowledge?

[yldstrk]

Sending terrorists to Bermuda was in our interest? Get real

[naturalman1975]

I don't believe it was, no. But Obama apparently does.

And considering President Reagan's actions in 1983, I think it's rather ridiculous for American Republicans to try and act as if Obama's actions are a problem simply because Britain doesn't like them.

Britain seriously objected to the invasion of Grenada as well.

[taillightchaser]

Don’t you english people realize zero is emperor of the world? If the one wants to send terrorists to your country-suck it up!!

[autumnraine]

Man without a face. Obama reminds me of that movie more and more everyday. I only hope karma is real.

[Paladin2]

W was “the Decider”, 0bama is “the Teller”.

[expatpat]

I guess they bribed the leading politician on the island.

[Intolerant in NJ]

The British Foreign Office had a right to be angry at the U.S. transfer of four Uighur terrorists from Guantanamo detention to the U.K. colony of Bermuda without its knowledge...and all this time I thought Bush was our cowboy president, acting unilaterally and without consulting our allies, and insulting all the other countries of the world......