If we’re honest with each other, we know that sometimes, on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny.
Barack Obama ~ Berlin speech, July 24, 2008
Now, what's all this about President Obama returning the bust of Sir Winston Churchill to the British Embassy? You know, the post 9/11 gift to President Bush from Prime Minister Blair. No room for that dust collector in the Obama Oval Office.
It took less than one month in office for our fearless (or should that be graceless?) new leader to send Sir Winston packing. So much for "shared destiny."
During Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit, there was little fanfare and a lot of gaffes. Among the flubs was a demotion of the British from an ally of "special relationship" to "special partnership," no state dinner, no remarks to the press, a tacky gift of DVDs, and the lame excuse that Obama was "too tired" to fuss over his guest.
This is the man who was going to restore America's image in the world? And it's only seven weeks into his term. I shudder to think of the diplomatic damage that is yet to come. Clearly, Obama has no clue on how to conduct himself in foreign relations. As an American, I'm mortified at his boorish behavior towards our closest ally.
A set of DVDs, just like you see on sale at Target, as the official gift to Britain's Prime Minister? Blimey. Rather rude, that.
