You know the British establishment is in full panic mode when not only do they allow President Obama to visit the nation just a month after throwing Cameron "distracted by other things" and his European neighbors under the bus over the collapse of Libya, but, despite 100 members of Parliament signing a letter telling Obama "not to interfere" with Britain's domestic affairs, The Telegraph prints an Op-Ed in which the lame-duck president lords it over the British citizenry with a veiled threat that should they "his friends" leave Europe, the "special relationship" could be in jeopardy as "now is a time for friends and allies to stick together."
Just a month ago, Time.com noted that almost 70 years to the day since Winston Churchill immortalized the term in his historic ‘Sinews of Peace’ address, the “special relationship” between the U.K. and U.S. is looking strained once again.
President Barack Obama threw the diplomatic equivalent of shade at British Prime Minister David Cameron in an interview in The Atlantic published this week. In his conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg, Obama laid the blame for the collapse of Libya in the aftermath of dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s downfall primarily at Europe’s door, saying he had expected his allies to do more to stabilize the situation. Cameron, he said, was “distracted by a range of other things.”
The White House hastily put out a statement pronouncing the U.S-U.K. relationship just as special as it had ever been, but the damage was done. The British chattering classes wailed and gnashed their teeth, as they are wont to do whenever the transatlantic bond is called into question.
So now, a month later, on his way back from The Middle-East, President Obama's apology tour stopped off in Britain today (accompanied by the Op-Ed below) despite more than 100 members of Parliament signing a letter telling Obama “not to interfere” with Britain’s domestic affairs...
The letter states: “With so much at stake, it is imperative that the question of exiting the European Union is not one answered by foreign politicians or outside interests, but rather by the British people who must ultimately live with change or the status quo.
The British politicians declare: “issues of national sovereignty must be decided exclusively by the people of the United Kingdom”.
They state: “even a passive diplomatic recommendation in the matter of our national decision will receive the opposite of the intended effect.”
“The referendum vote is an act of democracy in its most direct form, and the question of whether or not to leave the EU is a rare political topic that is not owned by any one political party. This is a chance for the British people to choose the path of their country. Interfering in our debate over national sovereignty would be an unfortunate milestone at the end of your term as President.”
Furthemore, almost 35,000 Brits have signed a petition to prevent Obama from speaking in Westminster on the Referendum:
And even Obama admitted:
"I realize that there’s been considerable speculation — and some controversy — about the timing of my visit. And I confess: I do want to wish Her Majesty a happy birthday in person.
But also I understand that there’s a spirited campaign under way here. My country is going through much the same. And ultimately, the question of whether or not the UK remains a part of the EU is a matter for British voters to decide for yourselves."
But still he had to say his piece... And so here it is, in all its glory, via The Telegraph, with a few ZeroHedge-ian annotations (in patriotic blood red)to help the casual reader chew through it all...
In 1939, President Franklin D Roosevelt offered a toast to King George VI in the White House. “I am persuaded that the greatest single contribution our two countries have been enabled to make to civilisation, and to the welfare of peoples throughout the world,” he said, “is the example we have jointly set by our manner of conducting relations between our two nations.” [ZH: Indeed The US and Britain have achieved a lot together... but what has that got to do with us being part of EU?]
Nearly 80 years later, the United Kingdom remains a friend and ally to the United States like no other. Our special relationship was forged as we spilt blood together on the battlefield. [ZH: So we are blood brothers - Brits and Yanks - but if The Brits leave The EU, then what?]It was fortified as we built and sustained the architecture for advancing stability and prosperity in Europe, and our democratic values around the globe. From the ashes of war, those who came before us had the foresight to create the international institutions and initiatives to sustain a prosperous peace: the United Nations and Nato; Bretton Woods, the Marshall Plan, and the European Union. Their efforts provided a foundation for democracy, open markets, and the rule of law, while underwriting more than seven decades of relative peace and prosperity in Europe.
Today, we face tests to this order – terrorism and aggression; migration and economic headwinds [ZH: Indeed, all largely things that either emanated from US actions or from European ignorance]– challenges that can only be met if the United States and the United Kingdom can rely on one another, on our special relationship, and on the partnerships that lead to progress.
During my visit to London, Prime Minister Cameron and I will take on the full array of these challenges. We must be resolute and adaptive in our efforts to prevent terrorist attacks against our people, and to continue the progress we are making to roll back the threat posed by Islamic State (Isil) until it is destroyed. We must work to resolve political conflicts in the Middle East – from Yemen to Syria to Libya – so that there is a prospect for increased stability. We must continue to invest in Nato – so that we can meet our overseas commitments from Afghanistan to the Aegean, and reassure allies who are rightly concerned about Russian aggression. [ZH: a ha - so perhaps just a little concern that one crack in the 'Union' of Europe and the whole proxy war via NATO argument blows up in America's neocon face?]And we must continue to promote global growth, so that our young people can achieve greater opportunity and prosperity. [ZH: yeah, that makes sense because all the actions of these nations combined governments and unelected money-fixers has led to dismal living conditions for much of Europe's youth, devaluation of their currency - and thus living standards, and in some cases death.]
...
That said, when President Roosevelt toasted to our special relationship that night, he also remarked that we are friends who have no fear of each other. So I will say, with the candour of a friend, that the outcome of your decision is a matter of deep interest to the United States. The tens of thousands of Americans who rest in Europe’s cemeteries are a silent testament to just how intertwined our prosperity and security truly are. [ZH: Can't help but feel like you just played the "we died for you, you ungratful bastards" card] And the path you choose now will echo in the prospects of today’s generation of Americans as well.
As citizens of the United Kingdom take stock of their relationship with the EU, you should be proud that the EU has helped spread British values and practices – democracy, the rule of law, open markets [ZH: Seriously - where to start - democracy - aside from The EU's clear efforts to counter any sovereign's actual self-determination, rule of law - ask the Greeks or the Germans how that rule of law is helping the refugee crisis.. and ask the Eu citizenry if they feel safer now? And finally Open Markets - well for one cross-border trade is collapsing as Schengen explodes, but the capital markets of mainland Europe have become a manipulated joke with mario Draghi as the puppetmaster]– across the continent and to its periphery. The European Union doesn’t moderate British influence – it magnifies it. A strong Europe is not a threat to Britain’s global leadership; it enhances Britain’s global leadership. The United States sees how your powerful voice in Europe ensures that Europe takes a strong stance in the world, and keeps the EU open, outward looking, and closely linked to its allies on the other side of the Atlantic. So the US and the world need your outsized influence to continue – including within Europe.
In this complicated, connected world, the challenges facing the EU – migration, economic inequality, the threats of terrorism and climate change – are the same challenges facing the United States and other nations. [ZH: All largely blowback from America's actions and will certainly remain whether in or out of The EU]And in today’s world, even as we all cherish our sovereignty, the nations who wield their influence most effectively are the nations that do it through the collective action that today’s challenges demand. [ZH: Wait what! Did you just say that the best way to maintain your own sovereignty is to relinquish it for the greater good?]
When we negotiated the historic deal to verifiably prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, it was collective action, working together with the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, that got the job done. And the EU’s seat at the table magnified the United Kingdom’s voice. [ZH: And what a deal! But that smells like another veiled threat - leave The EU and lose "your seat at the table"]
When the climate agreement in Paris needed a push, it was the European Union, fortified by the United Kingdom, that ultimately helped make that agreement possible.
When it comes to creating jobs, trade, and economic growth in line with our values, the UK has benefited from its membership in the EU – inside a single market that provides enormous opportunities for the British people. And the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the EU will advance our values and our interests, and establish the high-standard, pro-worker rules for trade and commerce in the 21st century economy. [ZH: So all the trade deals will be torn up if The Brits say 'up yours' to Brussels? Just how special is this relationship?]
This kind of cooperation – from intelligence sharing and counterterrorism to forging agreements to create jobs and economic growth – will be far more effective if it extends across Europe. Now is a time for friends and allies to stick together. [ZH: Quick question - does that mean that UK will be cutoff from "intelligence sharing and counterterrorism to forging agreements to create jobs and economic growth" should the citizenry exercise their democratic right to maintain control of their sovereignty? Because if not - then why even bring it up?]
Together, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have turned centuries of war in Europe into decades of peace, and worked as one to make this world a safer, better place. [ZH: Except you mean, of course, for the terrorism plague spreading across the world, the refugee crisis that your wars have created, and the soaring military spending throughout the world?]What a remarkable legacy that is. And what a remarkable legacy we will leave when, together, we meet the challenges of this young century as well.
So there it is - In as passive-aggressive a manner as is possible - Stay in the European Union or all that "special relationship", security, economic trade, military assistance, and banking goodwill 'might' just disappear... and we note, maybe the whole loss of sovereignty to Brussels, dragging them into various wars (of your own making), economic and social unrest due to a refugee crisis created by American neocons, and echoing costs of a banking crisis is a small price to pay.
Vote No To Brexit, Vote Yes To Undemocratic Superstate!
We leave it to two outspoken British MPs to have the final word...
Kate Hoey MP said of the warning: “We felt it is important the President of the United States is aware that feelings will run high in the UK if he chooses to make an intervention. We have chosen to respectfully request he recognises matters of sovereignty are best left to the citizens directly affected. We would certainly never think of visiting the United States and telling the US public how to vote in an election or the amendment of their constitution.”
Peter Bone MP said: “Whatever the President perceives the interests of the US to be it would be better for the relationship between our countries and his reputation with the British people if he kept his counsel to himself.”
We cannot wait to see what Nigel Farage has to say on this one.