[Clemenza]

The UK just sucks up to us because they know they would be NOTHING in a united Europe without their "special relationship." Like the British people though, particularly the Scots and Welshies.

[LenS]

A nation with Trident submarines, that's the world's 3rd most powerful nuclear nation, that still has massive investments around the world, who's former colonies dominate the world, that is the only country besides the US capable of projecting military power around the globe, and is still the biggest financial market outside the US or Tokyo, is not nothing. Especially when you consider their relatively small population for such power.

[tom paine 2]

bump

[Robert_Paulson2]

Actually the brits do their "sucking up" because by and large, they consider us STILL their colonies, grown up, very strong and influential, but we and our kids, are seen by them generally as "the grandkids".

Like most grandparents, they will do almost ANYTHING to get to the grandkids (generally) but do get tired of them, and need to take frequent naps... I was going to say nappies in the afternoon.. but to them, that is a baby diaper.

We threw out king george, and cornwallis... not the language or their parliamentary form of government... to their way of thinking, we are like the teenager who threw a fit about mom going through his or her drawers, left home, got a job, and now is living four blocks away from mom and dad in a nice apartment complex.

AND another reason they usually stick with us in military ideological struggles... the brits as a people, LOVE to fight. They are glory hogs on the field of battle. If there is a fight that they COULD engage, and WIN... they often feel it is their duty, to at least join with us to share in the glory, prestige and honor that comes from winning...

They really are, for many of us, physically our not so distant cousins, uncles and aunties (with very crooked teeth, of course). They are family. AND, they are rich family to boot.