American Snub To Britain

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  1. kephrira profile image60
    kephriraposted 14 years ago

    Since oil was found in the waters around the British Falkland Islands Argentina have renewed their claims over the Islands and have gained support from many of their South American neighbours.

    Despite the fact that the Falklands have been British for 300 years, that all of the people who live there consider themselves to be British, and that the Islands were uninhabited prior their discovery by Spain and then subsequent colonisation by Britain (Argentina's claim is entirely based on the fact that they are the closest mainland country to the islands - the Falklands never have been part of Argentina) America has refused to back Britain up and recognize British sovereignty.

    Personally I think this is despicable. Britain has always backed up our American friends on the world stage and considered ourselves to be allies, but it seems there is no willingness to reciprocate. I for one hope that the British government rethinks our relationship with America because of this.

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    1. calpol25 profile image60
      calpol25posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      im inclined to agree with you on that, i have friends who live on the falkland islands and im worried for them, I can remember the last time this happened its just pethetic and america will have to help us otherwise we wont be helping them any more.

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      1. kephrira profile image60
        kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Lets just hope it doesn't play out like last time. If Argentina feel like they have support from many other countries and that we have none they may be emboldened enough to escalate things.

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        1. calpol25 profile image60
          calpol25posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          You know what they are like if they cant get their own way, i think the term is trigger happy lol
          But its typical though I mean we fought the second world war alone for three years before america got involved in 1941, i suppose they will relent eventually but I hope this does not happen.

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          1. Sab Oh profile image57
            Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            "But its typical though I mean we fought the second world war alone for three years before america got involved in 1941"


            Gee, sorry we didn't come rescue your continent sooner. What were we thinking? I would also like to apologize for the cheapo Marshall Plan and the meager billions spent defending Western Europe during the Cold War.

            Can you ever forgive us?

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            1. kephrira profile image60
              kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              The marshall plan nearly bankrupted Britain - 20 years on from the war countries like France, which was overrun, had already recovered  from the war whereas Britain hadn't been able to because of crippling debt repayments. The Marshall plan money was leant on a commercial basis, not just given away.
              And the comment about rescuing our continent: Britain didn't have to go to war with the Nazi's, but we did so because it was the right thing to do despite the fact that it had such a high cost.

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              1. profile image0
                LegendaryHeroposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                The Impact of the Marshall Plan on the United Kingdom
                http://www.zum.de/whkmla/sp/0708/yongho/yongho1.html

                The Wasting of Britain's Marshall Aid
                http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/mo … l_01.shtml

                Britain didn't go to war because it was supposedly the "right" thing to do, people don't go to war for silly reasons like that. They went to war because of the Anglo-Polish Military alliance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Poli … y_alliance

                Britain was also worried about Germany becoming a threat to itself and its empire. They wanted to stop it before it became too strong.

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                1. kephrira profile image60
                  kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  When you say Britain didn't go to war because it was the right thing to do but because of the anglo polish military alliance - don't you think that defending a friend from unprovoked aggression is the right thing to do? Is that not, in actual fact, the actual template of what I was suggesting America should be doing when I posted this thread - standing by their friends.

                  This 'anglo polish  military alliance', considering that Poland was a small country with a very weak military compared to Britain, was nothing more than a British promise not to stand by and ignore it if Poland was attacked.

                  Anyway, all this talk about WW2 is really nothing to do with the actual topic of the thread, and I've yet to hear anyone defending America's current position re the Falklands, you just seem to want to deflect attention from it.

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                  1. profile image0
                    LegendaryHeroposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                    They were obligated by the alliance to do so. If they had turned their backs on the treaty then they would have had severe diplomatic consequences, which would have badly affected their efforts to curb German power.



                    "The treaty contained promises of mutual military assistance between the nations in the event either was attacked by another European country. The United Kingdom, sensing a dangerous trend of German expansionism, sought to prevent German aggression by this show of solidarity. In a secret protocol of the pact, the United Kingdom only actually offered assistance in the case of an attack on Poland specifically by Germany, though both the United Kingdom and Poland were bound not to enter agreements with any other third countries which were a threat to the other. Because of the pact's signing, Hitler postponed his planned invasion of Poland from August 26 until September 1."

                    They did it hoping to slow Hitler down, by making him reluctant to expand Germany more. It worked, but only for a short while.



                    Don't bring up something you don't want to talk about. The only reason I posted was because of your opinionated statement on the Marshall Plan and World War 2, my purpose was not to deflect attention at all, I'm sorry if it did though.

                    Here's my opinion on the whole Falklands thing:
                    It's none of America's business, this an an argument between Argentina and the UK and has nothing to do with us. Whatever we say will have a positive diplomatic effect on one country while having a negative diplomatic effect on the other, so it is best just to remain silent.

                    Also:
                    I do believe the island belongs to the UK. Argentina has no real right to it and the islanders want to stay British anyways. Argentina's government is just trying to make a show of power to distract its people from the country's many problems.

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              2. Sab Oh profile image57
                Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                "Britain didn't have to go to war with the Nazi's"


                No, you could have become them like the French did.

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            2. Mrvoodoo profile image58
              Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              Gee, sorry we didn't come rescue your continent sooner.

              LOL, now that's funny.  America saw themselves under threat in the future so jumped on the bandwagon for their own benefit, turned the tide perhaps, but rescued?  My arse.

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              1. profile image0
                A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                I agree, the US didn't help at all, Britain had it totally under control! lol lol

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                1. Mrvoodoo profile image58
                  Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, seeing as it's well known that Americans can't do sarcasm, glad that we're in agreement. lol

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              2. Sab Oh profile image57
                Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Yes, rescued your ass.

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                1. Mrvoodoo profile image58
                  Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  More like suddenly woke up to the fact that this was a threat that affected them too. And came in late. wink

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                  1. Sab Oh profile image57
                    Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                    And saved your ass.

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    2. Sab Oh profile image57
      Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Las Malvinas are obviously more rightly part of Argentina than GB.

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      1. kephrira profile image60
        kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        On what basis do you say that they are 'obviously more rightly part of Argentina than GB'? Just because they are closer?

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    3. profile image0
      A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Why don't you tough guys pick on somebody your own size like...Houston

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      1. kephrira profile image60
        kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Who was that statement supposed to be directed at?

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        1. profile image0
          A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Britain, the whole damn island!

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          1. Hokey profile image60
            Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Well you asked for it!!! Your messing with a Texan!!!!  lol

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          2. kephrira profile image60
            kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            You really don't have a clue what you are talking about do you? Britain is not picking on anyone. It is Argentina that is picking on Britain if you want to phrase it like that at all.

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            1. profile image0
              A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              Better run and hide then, those Argentinians are scrappy!  lol

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    4. AdsenseStrategies profile image63
      AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not in Vietnam

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  2. CMHypno profile image83
    CMHypnoposted 14 years ago

    Again it is all about oil and the fact that a British company has started drilling in the waters off the Falklands.

    The US probably believes that it will be easier to muscle in on that oil supply if it is controlled by the Argentinians rather than Britain.

    The Falkland Islanders are British citizens and their right to remain so needs to be protected and upheld.

    Maybe we should pull our troops out of Afhganistan and let our American friends carry on on their own.  Friendship between countries needs to be reciprocal.

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    1. profile image54
      Entilzarposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Its a shame how much is made about oil instead of renewable energy sources. I am willing to bet if governments spent half of the money they spend for military maneuvering on making "green resources" more readily available...

      Anyway, I have to agree with the intent of this thread - the American government should step it up and be more worried about what we are doing in the world instead of being subservient to whichever business has contributed the biggest "donation".

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      1. profile image0
        china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        You don't say a lot Entilzar !!   but you are about right with this one.  You should come out and play more often big_smile

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  3. profile image0
    china manposted 14 years ago

    Looks like sabre rattling to me - and British forces are more than enough for a little job like this and the Argentinians know it, so I doubt if they will get out of hand again.  America is not going to get involved because it might damage their trade and there are no billions to be made from arms sales, or is there ?

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    1. Sab Oh profile image57
      Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      "British forces are more than enough for a little job like this "


      And that's why they needed logistical help the last time they undertook such a brave struggle against all odds? roll

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  4. Rafini profile image82
    Rafiniposted 14 years ago

    My thoughts?

    Perhaps America recognizes Britains ability to fight their own fight, but will come to the rescue if needed.

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    1. kephrira profile image60
      kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's not the point. Britain is not asking for American military assistance. We didn't need it in the 80s and wouldn't now, even if it did come to that which it almost certainly won't. I'm not saying America should actually do anything to help, but in the last day or two the US government came out and said that they didn't recognise British soveriegnty over the Falklands, which in purely diplomnatic terms causes extra hassles and makes it easier for Argentina to get their case heard at the UN, despite the fact that there is no reason why it should be. That's not just not helping, that's actually actively siding against us for no good reason. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

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  5. Hokey profile image60
    Hokeyposted 14 years ago

    Come on you guys. Remember this is The United States you are talking about and our alliance with Britain is rock solid. Don't believe what you see in the media. Just because our gov't says one thing in the media does not mean they are not doing anything behind the scenes. This is gov't we are talking about.

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  6. theirishobserver. profile image60
    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    A Texan - prepare for the trenches - how are you good buddy smile

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    1. profile image0
      A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Just fine, and you?

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  7. Flightkeeper profile image66
    Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

    Obama is not going to help Britain and will not give any kind of support, not even the logistical kind which is the support that America gave to Britain the last time.  I don't think Obama likes the British, he ignored Brown when he was here. Hellooo! DVDs that don't work on British DVD players. He resents the Brits for what they did to his grandfather in Kenya.

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    1. kephrira profile image60
      kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Its sad to think that its something like that, but you're probably right. As much as I didn't like Bush, I doubt whether he would have done this.

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      1. Flightkeeper profile image66
        Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Bush stood by his friend Blair even though all you Brits hated Blair for doing what he thought was right.  It'll be tough going for you guys if anything happens. The Organization of American States which the US is part of, rallied around Argentina the last time and they will do the same again. The US abstained from support, I'm not sure they're not going to do that this time.

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        1. kephrira profile image60
          kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          If you're right then things could get nasty. Britain is unlikely to back down, and Argentina might not either if they think they have some kind of American backing. Obama better hope that we finnish the job in Afghanistan soon, cos if we have to deploy in South America in any significant strength then we won't have any choice but to withdraw from there.

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          1. profile image0
            A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Bye!

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          2. Flightkeeper profile image66
            Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            The British forces will have to withdraw from Afghanistan, that is something that the Brits wanted anyway.  NATO forces are still there although they are not as effective as we would like, you can only conduct a war with what you have. The Americans will move from Iraq to Afghanistan and probably finish it like they did in Iraq.

            The British will have a problem in Argentina because its leaders are left of center and will probably have Chavez's and Emo's active support.  I hope they keep out of it but I think Chavez is an idiot and will do something stupid.  The Falklands is far away for the Brits. Let's hope it is just sabre rattling.

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    2. Hokey profile image60
      Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      How do you know he resents the British?

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  8. 1974 profile image69
    1974posted 14 years ago
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    1. kephrira profile image60
      kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      How can a British paper write that? They even state in their own article that Argentina's only claim on the Island is that they expected to inherit it from the Spanish but then didn't, and then they go on to describe that as a valid claim?

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  9. 1974 profile image69
    1974posted 14 years ago

    This was my favorite part:

    "In 1829, Argentina appointed a governor. The British then sent two warships to the Falklands and struck the Argentine flag. Argentina, impoverished and divided, did not have the means to resist."

    and I posted that article for you because it was a British paper.

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    1. CMHypno profile image83
      CMHypnoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Fairly typical for the Guardian though. It should be up to the people who live in the Falklands - if they want to stay British, they should be allowed to stay British.

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    2. kephrira profile image60
      kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      But what that quote misses out is the fact that when Argentia appointed a governor the islands were already inhabited by the British, but not by Argentinians, who only went there because the spanish said they could have the islands even though they had already passed to British control.

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      1. 1974 profile image69
        1974posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        I guess I should have posted the whole paragraph:

        "A year after the French landed, the British established a settlement at Port Egmont on West Falkland, but abandoned the territory in 1774. Spain maintained a presence on the Falklands until 1811. The newly independent United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (which included Argentina) believed that Spanish possessions should revert to them and in 1820 sent a ship to the abandoned Falklands. In 1829, Argentina appointed a governor. The British then sent two warships to the Falklands and struck the Argentine flag. Argentina, impoverished and divided, did not have the means to resist."

        says there the Brits abandoned the territory in 1774.

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        1. Flightkeeper profile image66
          Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          But the people who live in The Falkland have been British and consider themselves British.  It's like if Cuba took Puerto Rico.  The Puerto Ricans expect us to help them.

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          1. 1974 profile image69
            1974posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Sure, the ones that live there now consider themselves British, but the whole point of Argentina's complaint is that these islands have been wrongfully controlled by GB for over 200 years.

            I am not agreeing with either side here as I am by no means a historian, was just posting an article I found interesting to the discussion.

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            1. Flightkeeper profile image66
              Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              Argentina can argue any way it wants, the fact is that British people live there and have lived there for the past 200 years.  Possession is 9/10 of the law.

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              1. profile image0
                Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Yeah - this is just another stupid move by Obama to insult our allies. Does this guy know anything?

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          2. CMHypno profile image83
            CMHypnoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Hand back parts of Arizona and New Mexico back to Mexico and wait to hear the howls of protest!  Why should people who have lived their lives as British citizens just be handed over to another country. Especially as that country speaks a different language and has an entirely different culture

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            1. Flightkeeper profile image66
              Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              Agreed Hypno, that's why the Brits will have a problem

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  10. IzzyM profile image87
    IzzyMposted 14 years ago

    This thread about the Falklands has been very interesting, but woe is me if we end up going to war again over them.
    Here am I...a Brit...living in Spain with a Spaniard who like the rest of them believe the Malvinas are Spanish and therefore Argentinian, and then there is the Gibralter problem...

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  11. alexandriaruthk profile image68
    alexandriaruthkposted 14 years ago

    Argentina is a source of beef to Americans

    Britain can take care of themselves without the help of the US

    it is just wrong to take side at this point in time

    Afghanistan and IRAQ are  another point in case-- terrorism is a world problem and not just the problem of the US isnt it??

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    1. profile image0
      Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The US is the world's largest beef producer - we don't need Argentina for that. And yes, the UK can take care of themselves but I think the point here is that allies watch each other's backs. A point Obama continually seems to miss.

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      1. profile image0
        A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        X, the Brits posting here don't seem to think we are allies, why act like allies?

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        1. Mrvoodoo profile image58
          Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Most Brits love America, what it stands for, and the majority of its good people, we just don't like Americans like you.

          The 'Go-Team-Go!' type, a little humility goes a long way.

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          1. profile image0
            A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Most Americans don't care what Brits like you think or feel, there is no need to be humble when you're the best, but you wouldn't know anything about that would you?

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            1. Mrvoodoo profile image58
              Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              I rest my case.

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              1. profile image0
                A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                As I do!

                No reason to be an ally of yours.

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      2. alexandriaruthk profile image68
        alexandriaruthkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        we still need more beef, we love beef

        this is a personal country fight of UK like in 1982 -- they dont need allies

        ganging up on ARGENTINA wow, the British can do it

        and besides the US cant take side, they are the only superpower now, they are like a mother which shouldnt take side

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        1. profile image0
          Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          This is about diplomacy and beyond taking or not taking sides smile

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          1. alexandriaruthk profile image68
            alexandriaruthkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            The US cant take side because they have also diplomatic relationship with Argentina

            The UN should decide about this matter once and for all, if not then WAR is in the offing again like in 1982

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            1. profile image0
              A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              The UN shouldn't decide anything other than how to disband itself!

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              1. alexandriaruthk profile image68
                alexandriaruthkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Did the UN removed the N and replaced it by the S??

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                1. profile image0
                  A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Is that supposed to make sense.

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            2. profile image0
              Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              The UN does not decide things for America smile

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              1. alexandriaruthk profile image68
                alexandriaruthkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                America decides things for the UN???

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                1. profile image0
                  Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  We decide things for ourselves as a sovereign nation. What the UN does or does not do is irrelevant.

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        2. profile image54
          Entilzarposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          The US a mother that should not take sides....

          The US is more like a spoiled child that hasn't grown up yet.

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  12. profile image0
    A Texanposted 14 years ago

    I guess the Brits don't mind terrorism or other countries running ruffshod all over Europe, from all that I have read the US is the true source of their problems.

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