He claimed that diplomatic efforts to halt Iran's nuclear programme were doing better than many people think.
But he declined to rule out British participation if it should ever come to attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.
Malloch-Brown ... isolated
Posted on 11/12/2007 1:50:29 PM PST by Stoat
GORDON Brown yesterday quashed fears he wants to break Britain’s links with America — and vowed to make them even stronger.
The Prime Minister moved to dispel unease over a minister’s claim that the two nations would no longer be “joined at the hip”.
Malloch-Brown ... isolated
He hailed the US as “our most important ally over the years, a country that we share values with”.
And Mr Brown added: “The strength of our relationship with America is incredibly important to the future of the world.”
His remarks to Sky News left gaffe-prone Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch-Brown out on a limb.
The toff peer — dubbed “B*****k Brown” over his off-message outbursts — was branded a “liability” by officials. His remarks raised fears that the PM wants to distance himself from the White House to avoid being seen as a “poodle”.
But tonight Mr Brown will pledge his determination to forge even closer links in his Mansion House speech. And he wants to go further still by bringing France and Germany into the “special relationship”.
Mr Brown believes pro-US French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel can create a better working partnership.
And he signalled fresh moves to modernise the United Nations and global financial markets.
He said: “As France and Germany and the EU move closer in understanding to America, then the chances we have together to reshape these institutions, now fall to this generation of leaders.”
Mr Brown stressed the work will start before President George Bush has left the White House.
Lord Malloch-Brown was last night looking increasingly isolated. A Foreign Office insider said: “He will probably resign in the end.”
From the article:
The toff peer — dubbed “B*****k Brown” over his off-message outbursts — was branded a “liability” by officials.
The English-to-American Dictionary
Definition of toff - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Brown hails Bush's war (Great Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers glowing endorsement)
Somebody want’s to push the unification of America and the EU.
Prove it, Gordo - fire Malloch (not Moloch?) Brown.
So Britain, France and Germany all want close ties to the U.S.
John F——ing Kerry will not be pleased.
I detect the Brits getting a little concerned that we’ll move toward the French, who are growing closer and closer with the US under the demi-god Sarkozy. If not for Sark’s open affection for the US, Brown would be giving us the bird. But Brown is clearly worried about France becoming our new best friend in Europe and the strong US-UK bond under Bush and Blair now being transfered to Paris instead. Who’d have thought we’d see the day?
GW Bush - a Uniter, not a Divider. Who’d a thunk?
You may be on to something there. The new French President has been a healthy addition to the mix.
Three words explain why:
A resurgent Russia.
Somebody want’s to push the unification of America and the EU.
I was thinking, "thank God the Americans are going to take care of Iran for us."
Can’t say I saw this one coming.
This may be of interest (linked page includes video interviews)::
Gordon Brown Won't Rule Out Brit Role In Iran Sky NewsPolitics
Gordon Brown has refused to rule out British participation in any future military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
(edit)
He claimed that diplomatic efforts to halt Iran's nuclear programme were doing better than many people think.
But he declined to rule out British participation if it should ever come to attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.
As usual, the devil is in the details on these sorts of things.
From the tone of the rest of this interview, I would suggest that "modernize" COULD mean "transforming the UN from a rabidly-anti-American, anti-Capitalist and anti-Western swamp, ruled by third-world Socialist tinpot dictators into a halfway-reasonable and credible international forum"
Although the UN has done little to inspire confidence in sane folks over the past several decades, having it stay the course does nothing to improve things for the UK. I also fail to see how "forging closer ties" with the USA translates into "making the UN even worse than it is".. Thoughtful Americans HATE what the UN has become, and I suspect that PM Brown is fully aware of this.
I suggest waiting for more details, which hopefully will be forthcoming in his Mansion House speech.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to dump on you, but I do not ever see a time when our nation should sign on to global governance.
We are a sovereign nation. I don’t mind a meeting place for things to be discussed between nations. Everything else is simply a way for the U.N. to exhert and develop more influence.
The U.N. should never have become more than a dispute resolution facilitator.
That’s my take on it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Neither do I, and I don't see him saying that in these sparse words that are quoted here.
What he's said is in no way definitive and is largely positive.
The U.N. should never have become more than a dispute resolution facilitator.
Agreed. The main superpowers who appear happy with the current state of things in the UN are Russia and China. PM Brown is speaking of forging closer ties with the USA, France and Germany. Russia and China weren't mentioned.
I suppose our only disagreement, if you can call it that, is that I'm seeing the glass as being half full but this doesn't mean that I'm going to be happy if he declares "more of the same" for the UN. I'll (metaphorically) toss the glass right at him if he does that.
I'm merely suggesting that this Sky News interview can be interpreted optimistically, but I'll wait for more details before doing a full-fledged Stoat Happy Dance. We've all been disappointed many times before in regards to the UN, after all.
I completely agree with your comments. My (-10) was a rather hypothetical what if. We’re in full agreement and sorry I may have implied otherwise.
It is certainly refreshing to see Sarkozy and Brown take this route. It certainly puts to rest the left’s claim that we are isolated, and that is significant in and of itself.
Canada even honored their troops in Afghanistan a day or two ago. Wow, it’s rather refreshing to know there are others out there who either get it or are showing signs of getting it.
Thanks for the follow-up.
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