The "special relationship". No, not the USA and UK

[Konovalov]

I hear often over here in the UK about the "special relationship" between the USA and the United Kingdom. Funnily enough from my viewpoint as an Australian I feel that Australia and the USA have an equal if not closer "special relationship". Both the USA and Australia have always fought in aid of nations in foreign wars far away from home not to mention on the same side be it WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War 1, and the current war in Iraq. We are both New World nations. We are both a nation of immigrants. We are both large continent nations. For me Bush and Howard think more alike than Blair and Bush. In short I think it is a good thing. I just hope that Labour doesn't win the next election and undo the good work of little Johnie as we like to call our PM. I was thinking about this after reading an article today in the Sydney Morning Herald online:

Bald, ugly, one hell of a guy: Bush on Howard


Geopolitical mates ... John Howard and George Bush take advantage of a lull in the day's pomp and ceremony to talk in private.
Photo: Andrew Taylor

By Phillip Coorey Political Correspondent in Washington
May 18, 2006

NORMALLY, when one world leader implies that another is bald and ugly, it would be safe to assume they do not get on so well.

Unless those leaders happen to be the US President, George Bush, and the Prime Minister, John Howard.

The feting of Mr Howard at the White House - a spectacular state welcome, a press conference in the grand East Room, then a gala black-tie dinner in the State Dining Room - cemented him and Mr Bush as the best geopolitical mates since Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

"Somebody said, 'You and John Howard appear to be so close, don't you have any differences?'," Mr Bush said when asked why they got on so well. "And I said 'Yes, he doesn't have any hair'." Even when Mr Bush tried to be serious about why he so admired Mr Howard, the jokes continued. "He may not be the prettiest person on the block but when he tells you something, you can take it to the bank," he said.

And if the Treasurer, Peter Costello, had been at the press conference, his heart would have been heavy because Mr Bush predicted Mr Howard would not be leaving office soon. "I suspect he's going to outlast me," said Mr Bush, whose presidency expires in January 2009.

Then again, had Mr Costello been at the dinner later on, he would have been buoyed by the comments of Rupert Murdoch, who said while he would like Mr Howard to stay, it would be a good idea if he went out while on top.

Tongues were also wagging when Mr Howard's son Richard, who is based in Washington, arrived at the dinner accompanied by a striking White House staffer, Kirsten Slaughter.

The dinner was the finale to Mr Howard's extraordinary day, which featured honour guards, 19-gun salutes, red carpets and marching bands.

Other guests at the dinner included the US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, the former politician Andrew Peacock and his wife, Penne, the Australian golfer Geoff Ogilvy and the Liberal Party notables Brian Loughnane and Shane Stone.

Framed by a giant portrait of Abraham Lincoln, Mr Bush ladled it on during the toasts, saying the US had "no better friend than Australia and John Howard".

Mr Howard gushed back praise for his "staunch friend", saying anyone who wanted the US to reduce its role in world affairs was "foolish".

But the US media were not much interested in Mr Howard. "He's a strong ally, he's been here before," said one veteran reporter, who then set about his day's work of bashing Mr Bush over immigration and a phone-tapping scandal.

From here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bal...545393209.html

[August]

I agree. I've always thought the Aussies reminded me a little bit more of my own countrymen than the Brits did.

[Oberon]

Aussies rule, that's my personal opinion

[Skybird]

That real question is if the special relationship really payed off so much positive for the British like Blair assumed before accepting the role of a "poodle" (to cut it short...). Nations do not know friends, only power and interests. And their own interests goes first. Diplomacy is a nice euphemism for "law of the jungle".

[TteFAboB]

Nations have NO friends, only interests. As Skybird mentioned before me.

You and me can be friends, but not nations, not governments.

If you mix this stuff, you end up with Hugo Chavez's foreign policy, and that's the law of the Raining-Oil-forest coke-leaf jungle.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by Skybird

like Blair assumed before accepting the role of a "poodle" (to cut it short...).

Please, spare me the "poodle" line used so often by the anti-war movement.

Originally Posted by Skybird

Nations do not know friends, only power and interests.

Your absolute statement is exactly that, absolute but wrong. Nations do know friends because friendships be it in private business or at the top levels of politics/government help serve that persons or nations interests. However friendships are not indispensable if in conflict with the national interest of ones nation.

Originally Posted by Skybird

And their own interests goes first. Diplomacy is a nice euphemism for "law of the jungle".

Yep.

[Onkel Neal]

Yeah, Aussies remind me of Texans. All that land, the pioneer spirit, real do-what-it-takes attitude, and a real aversion to phoniness. That's a compliment, to both sides.

[bradclark1]

We eat at an Outback restaurant once or twice a year.

Paul Hogan once said in an interview "We Aussies and you Yanks are actually the same people; you blokes just got out *ahead* of the boat.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Yeah, Aussies remind me of Texans. All that land, the pioneer spirit, real do-what-it-takes attitude, and a real aversion to phoniness. That's a compliment, to both sides.

Whilst I have not been to Texas yet my mother has on buiness trips to head office in Waco and she is of similar opinion to what you stated.

P.S. Thanks for my nice new avatar. Looks very classy. I'm getting all homesick now. Where is a beach with proper sand and a decent swell when I need one.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Yeah, Aussies remind me of Texans. All that land, the pioneer spirit, real do-what-it-takes attitude, and a real aversion to phoniness. That's a compliment, to both sides.

Not to forget the "red necks".

[Sharkstooth]

rednecks in texas???

I thought they were 'good ol boys'

[Sixpack]

Here's to Texas and Oztralia

Sounds like my kind of places.

[stuck in Holland]

[Konovalov]

Take note. Wise words from one of our nations most successful PM's ever. I've now voted for him in three successive elections. He has done wonders for our country, in particular the economy .

We all need Uncle Sam: PM

By Phillip Coorey Political Correspondent in Chicago
May 19, 2006

THE Prime Minister has launched a tirade against anti-Americanism, saying the world needs US influence as much as it ever did, if not more.

In an address to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations John Howard aimed his comments at those inside and outside the US unhappy with the Bush Administration's foreign policy direction.

"To the voices of anti-Americanism around the world, to those who shout 'Yankee, go home', let me offer some quiet advice: be careful what you wish for'," he said.

"None of our global challenges, from defeating terror, to widening economic opportunity, to building a world order based on mutual respect, can be secured without American power and American purpose.

"It is vital, for America's interests as much as those of the rest of the world, that America not retreat.

"No dominant power in history has brought to bear the righteous force or generous countenance of the United States of America."

His speech followed a theme he had been warming to during his five-day visit to the US. He was to leave yesterday for Canada, and was then to travel to Ireland.

His talks with the Bush Administration reaffirmed Australia's solid support for the US in Iraq and Afghanistan and its desire for a United Nations-brokered solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. He also backed the US push for Europeans to drop their farm subsidies and embrace global free trade.

Mr Howard said that if the US retreated into its shell, darker and more sinister forces would start influencing the world.

"Without American leadership, the trials and tragedies of recent years could be but a prelude of darker days to come," he said.

Reasserting the value of free and open societies was the most effective response to terrorism and tyranny, and this was why Australia had joined the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan without hesitation, he said.

"I share your President's resolve to prevail in Iraq. Australia is with you. We will stay the course. We will finish the job."

To critics of the Administration, he said its effort had led to Libya renouncing weapons of mass destruction and Syria backing down, including reducing its influence in Lebanon.

Other concerns - the Taiwan Strait, the Korean peninsula, Kashmir, South-East Asian terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - all needed US leadership and engagement to be resolved, or even managed.

The rapid emergence of a global middle class, as evidenced in China and India, was "history's vindication" of US leadership.

"A global middle class would not have been possible without American power and purpose in the last 60 years," he said.

Mr Howard said the US was leading the way again in helping those still impoverished by promising to cut its own trade barriers, and he urged the Europeans to follow suite or the forthcoming world trade talks would collapse.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/we-...545460833.html

[Bertgang]

[quote="Neal Stevens"]Yeah, Aussies remind me of Texans. All that land, the pioneer spirit, real do-what-it-takes attitude, and a real aversion to phoniness. That's a compliment, to both s/quote]

I can't say how Texans are different from other US cityzens (maybe is something like to be from Rome or Milan) but, in a general way, I agree that Aussies and Americans (from US) look very similar, more than other english speakers; little to do, apparently, with British or Canadian people.