Posted on 09/10/2014 1:44:18 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
Next week’s referendum on Scottish independence has largely flown under the radar screen here in the United States. The cable news networks have devoted little attention so far to the issue, as the Isil threat in the Middle East continues to dominate international coverage. There has been no polling conducted on the Scottish question in the US, and it is doubtful that many Americans outside of the Washington policy bubble or the financial milieu of New York are particularly exercised by the outcome of a vote taking place over 3,000 miles away.
They should be concerned, however. What happens in Scotland will reverberate on this side of the Atlantic, and not for the better. Here are five reasons why Americans should be nervous about the outcome of next week’s vote if Scotland votes for independence.
1. The Special Relationship will be undercut.
The United Kingdom is far and away America’s biggest and most important ally. Anything that weakens Britain, and chips away at the Special Relationship, is a big negative for the United States. This fear has been amply expressed by dozens of members of the United States Congress, both Republican and Democrat, who are backing a resolution in the House of Representatives declaring that a “united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom” is vital to US interests.
The Special Relationship is too powerful a partnership to be set adrift by a Scottish vote for independence...
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...
Funny you should mention him; I think Australia is a better ally than the UK. Sent troops to Vietnam, were quick to help both pre- and post-9/11...
“Most of the socialists in the UK are in Scotland. Cut them loose. See how they do without someone else’s money to spend.”
Doesn’t Scotland claim most of the oil?
You get der Spiegel where you live?)
Britain has fought in two world wars, alongside America. We fought in Korea. And the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan. And every American knows how the British were the first at their side after ‘9-11’. Even in Vietnam, we quietly both sent the SAS and also trained US SF units in Hong Kong.
The reason we didn’t send troops (officially) to Vietnam was that we had just fought a very similar war in Malaya 1948-60 (we won btw), and between 1962
and 66, were fighting yet another similar war in Borneo (again victory), not to mention other British conflicts at the time (South Arabia, the Radfan, Aden, Northern Ireland).
Not to mention (successful) counterterrorism in Kenya and Cyprus, both of which only finished in 1960.
At the time we were asked to join in Vietnam, we’d just come out of one war and were fighting another two or three conflicts!. I don’t think Americans are aware of this.....
The British, even after being stabbed in the back by America in 1956, has stood by the US. Your comments are a disgraceful slur.
70% at best. And it was cultivated with British money, in other words around 92% of it was English, Welsh and N Irish taxpayers. The Scotland’s Oil argument ignores this.
No kidding. "Special Relationship"??? ROFLMAO
The 'special relationships' exist only behind the scenes in banking, government & copying of population control. IMHO, the british 'special relationship' and the 'UN' 'special' relationship need severed, not subsidized.
A 'partnership' of similar ideals will exist regardless; that's the nature of 'allies'...but I'm having great trouble reconciling the problem of British coddling of Islamists...(ironically similar to US policies the past decade).
“May those that love us, love us.
May those that don’t pray God turn their hearts.”
You know the rest (even though I’m not sure if this is Scottish or those other guys...)
I’ve been saying for years, Britain should join the US and not the EU. Maybe, a piecemeal approach?
A lot of people want a lot of things...
There is no date for a Catalonia Independence Referendum, unlike Scotland which is next week.
One story is historic, the other can be covered in a single post... thanks.
That would make him Scott Smith.
I think you meant a Scot. Only one T.
And there was one living in England who was against indy because she felt it would mean England would be much more conservative and forever electing Tories.
It's kind of bizarre, when you think about it. History has turned the world upside down. Great Britain is almost functioning like a colony of the U.S. right now.
If my knowledge of Scottish history serves, they have wanted “secession” from England for quite a long time, particularly the Highlanders.
Our “secession” from England was wrought with concern over how we would survive, if we would become “socialist” (read: Whiskey Rebellion) and such. I think we did pretty well (until 2008) so good on the Scots.
Every freedom-loving peoples should be for independence and
self-determination...we used to be.....
Basically, I agree...but didn’t the Brit intelligence community screw things up with the Saddam was onto yellow cake uranium info?
Or was it true but the Brits backed down?
Yes! You are correct. That is probably why England is fighting to keep it. But isn’t the North Sea oil production declining?
Yep. An independent Scotland will fall somewhere between Cuba and Venezuela on the political spectrum.
Apparently not Yellowcake shipped to Canada
Also one of the reasons that there is panic over ISIS is that it appears ISIS has acquired chemical weapons that were being stored in Syria but which may have been made in Iraq in Saddams day.
The US diplomat who went to Niger to check on reports that Hussein was still trying to acquire more yellowcake was Valerie Plames' husband, who apparently was not a disinterested agent.
Yes but oil revenues are declining rapidly Oil Revenue decline
Perhaps they need to study history. When the Act of Union was signed in 1707 Scotland was bankrupt. If they implement the Socialist policies of the SNP and Labour they'll eventually have a repeat performance.
If the yes vote prevails I hope what's left of the UK makes it clear that the Scots will be treated no better than other non-members of the European Union- especially in the matter of employment which will almost certainly be a problem for the Scots
Too many Scots have been watching Braveheart and not thinking rationally.
Scotland with all their Labour party members will however make sure the rest of the UK goes right wing.
The readers’ comments were much more interesting than the article.
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