The "Special Relationship"

Those who are paranoid about the demise of the so called "special relationship" between the USA and the UK, especially in the light of last night's defeat of the British government's plans to launch punitive strikes with the US against Syria, should have no fears.

The "special relationship" is only ever invoked by the USA or UK when one or both governments wants something from the other or the people of those two nations (usually backing for a war). On other occasions, non military, it is rarely invoked or used for emotional blackmail.

The UK gave no direct military backing to the USA during Vietnam, and the US gave no support to the UK during Suez; yet the "special relationship", or rather the invocation of the "special relationship", has continued.