[Skybird]

Reasons I could imagine:

1. As already said, there is nothing to be gained from being associated with Brown. quite the opposite.

2. It is a payback for the way London handled the Scottish release of the Lybian bomber.

3. Brown very likely sought support from the US for Britain blocking European attempts to tighten control of the financial business, which bankers in London do not want to hear of at all, since they have not learned anything, act as before again, and Hedgefonds already are marching again, with bank advisors throughout Europe already acting even worse than before the crisis. Not even the American government support that British attitude, and maybe this is Obama's way to tell Brown that he has to deal with the Europeans all alone on this.

4. Obama's pro-europe attitude is massively overestimated. Obama, different to his public image, is a relatively cold personality, not much interested in personal and warm relations to those officials he has to meet. He uses political representatives as he sees fit, personal warm relations he does not see as a precondition for that. Also, he has no special sympathy or feeling for Europe, since he has no relations whatever to it. It is very likely therefore that the European and especially British posture of always conjuring the close ties between America and Europe - simply are something he cannot perceive as something he wants to personally get involved with, not beyond the pragmatic and opportune use of that phrase in speeches.

5. And finally, the headline of the thread holds a grain of truth, too. Britain is not that important anymore. All Europe is not that important for America anymore. Obama has very clearly shifted American focus further to the Pacific and ME than any president before him, and sees greater priority in improving ties with Russia and China. Strategically he is absolutely right in doing so, since the potential Europe means is waining, not growing. That he did so in a less sensational and obvious way than others did and would have done in his place, does not change the deed's meaning. That he did it so silently only helped to keep European protest at a minimum. Most of European politicians do not even wish to see it.

There will be a day when America already will be happy with an Euroislamistan just not messing things up again and just not getting in the way while America sets eyes on the real important fields of global chess. And who would criticise the US for that. I can't.