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The idea that U.K. tows the line on US endeavours in a way that countries like Canada and Australia don’t is absurd. Canada and the US share an enormous border
by bb123 6y ago
The idea that U.K. tows the line on US endeavours in a way that countries like Canada and Australia don’t is absurd. Canada and the US share an enormous border and it’s often joked that Canada is like USA-lite. As for Australia - you may be right, as they’re too busy towing China’s line instead. (Although that didn’t stop them going into Vietnam).
- pydry 6y agoThe idea that they don't also tow the line IS absurd and I would never claim that. Nonetheless you can measure each country's contribution to the Iraq War as a rough proxy for how much they supplicate. The UK contributed by far the most of the three while Canada's involvement was minimal.
- Normille 6y agoThere's fierce a competition amongst many countries of the world to see who can shove their tongue furthest up the USA's arse. The UK may be out in the lead [through sheer long-term dedication to the cause, if nothing else]. But the equally supine devotion of countries like Australia, NZ, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Iceland [and several others] shouldn't be under-estimated.
- Anthony-G 6y agoI upvoted Normille’s comment to offset the downvotes. It may have been crudely put but it’s not wrong – at least in the case of Ireland, the country I know best. For as long as I can remember, the Irish government has been quite deferential towards the US, e.g., allowing the use of Irish airports (mostly Shannon, a civilian airport – but also Casement Aeorodome, the headquarter of the Irish Aer Corps) by US military to carry troops, weapons and – quite possibly (aircraft were never inspected) – victims of “extraordinary rendition”. Every year, our Taoisigh (prime ministers) are always eager to have a photo opportunity with the US president on St. Patrick’s day. I’m guessing that this is mostly to attract Foreign direct investment into Ireland from US multi-national corporations as can be seen by our notably low rate of corporation tax – and the government’s unwillingness to accept the tax income that the EU considers to be owed to us by Apple. Neo-liberalism has been the dominant political ideology over the past few decades with one former Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) famously declaring that Ireland was (ideologically) closer to Boston than Berlin. This dominance left Ireland particularly vulnerable when the 2008 financial crisis eventually hit us – without the widely touted “soft landing”. However, the relationship isn’t all bad: a number of US administrations – particularly Bill Clinton’s – helped to bring about the end of armed conflict in Northern Ireland. That was probably the most important political achievement in the recent history of Britain and Ireland (one that Brexiteers, sadly, don’t seem to care about or have forgotten about).
- Normille 6y agoIrish myself. So I upvoted you back for expanding on my [perhaps puzzling to some] inclusion of Ireland in the list of US sphincter hygienists. Ireland is officially a neutral country but, as you correctly point out, has a long history of allowing the US to use Shannon as a de facto US Airbase. And, as you also correctly point out, has almost built its entire economy in recent years on providing tax incentives and other bribes for US mega-corporations to set up [nominal] HQ there. The phrases "House of Cards" and "They don't love you back" immediately spring to mind.
- bananapub 6y agoaustralia goes along with america's stupidity all the time. iraq, afghanistan...Australia introduced conscription of Australians to go to help the US with vietnam.
- pydry 6y agoAustralia is critically reliant upon shipping which means it needs the support of the world's most dominant naval power. That unfortunately means sending kids to die in Vietnam.