Great Britain
March 3, 2009 - President Obama meets with Great Britain's PM Gordon Brown. The British morning papers and TV had plenty of comment focused on Obama's odd treatment of a British PM. Squeezing in a meeting, denying Brown a full press conference with flags etc., leaving the British press outside for an hour in the cold. A reporter from the Telegraph.co.uk wrote "We get the point, sunshine: we're just one of many allies and you want fancy new friends. Well, the next time you need something doing, something which impinges on your national security, then try calling the French, or the Japanese, or best of all the Germans. The French will be able to offer you first rate support from their catering corps but beyond that you'll be on your own. There were a plethora of other disgruntled published media reports in Great Britain. Gordon Brown landed in Washington to discover that the joint press conference with Barack Obama was canceled. Something that Bush Sr, Clinton and Bush Jr never did in the past.
D: Ironically it was President Obama who touted and promised better international relations during his presidential campaign. Many Americans voted for him based on this promise. But in both cases with Great Britain (although not major concerns), insulting them so early in the game leaves many people wondering. This is certainly not a great start in the relations department to, historically, America's strongest ally
- Feb 15, 2009 - The bronze bust of Sir Winston Churchill (once voted the greatest Briton in history) designed by Sir Jacob Epstein was taken out of the Oval office by President Obama. This statue enjoyed pride of place in the Oval Office during President Bush's tenure. It was given to America in good gesture after the Sept 11th attacks. British officials offered to let Obama keep it for another four years during his tenure. Obama still rejected it. A British official spokesman said "The new President has decided not to continue this loan and the bust has now been returned. It is on display at the Ambassador's Residence."
D: This gesture is insignificant compared to the more important issues Obama has to face in improving America's international relations. And this certainly will not dramatically affect America's relations with Great Britain. However many in Great Britain took this as an insult .
D: Ironically it was President Obama who touted and promised better international relations during his presidential campaign. Many Americans voted for him based on this promise. But in both cases with Great Britain (although not major concerns), insulting them so early in the game leaves many people wondering. This is certainly not a great start in the relations department to, historically, America's strongest ally
- Feb 15, 2009 - The bronze bust of Sir Winston Churchill (once voted the greatest Briton in history) designed by Sir Jacob Epstein was taken out of the Oval office by President Obama. This statue enjoyed pride of place in the Oval Office during President Bush's tenure. It was given to America in good gesture after the Sept 11th attacks. British officials offered to let Obama keep it for another four years during his tenure. Obama still rejected it. A British official spokesman said "The new President has decided not to continue this loan and the bust has now been returned. It is on display at the Ambassador's Residence."
D: This gesture is insignificant compared to the more important issues Obama has to face in improving America's international relations. And this certainly will not dramatically affect America's relations with Great Britain. However many in Great Britain took this as an insult .
JOIN THE NEXT BIG ONLINE NETWORKING CRAZE: 