Brown and Obama - A special relationship?

Saturday, 7 March 2009 | posted by scott.forbes
Politics

Gordon Brown's speech to a joint session of Congress was billed in Britain as a landmark address with the potential to save his premiership. However in the US, it might have helped Brown move towards a more modest objective: helping Americans work out who on earth he is. On the morning Brown was due to arrive in Washington, a leading US Media Station released a poll, asking normal American Citizens what they thought of Brown. Well the answer is quite simple, 40% responded with 'who' and a further 29% stated they didn't know enough about him to comment, which raises a number of serious questions. Does Obama want to be seen with Brown?

Although to be fair on Brown it didn't help the fact, that the American media didn't exactly make him hit it 'big', with a number of leading media channels such as CNN only donating a few seconds airtime. With leading American tabloids not even donating the front page to Brown just a mere few paragraphs, in comparison of course to the UK which had constant coverage of his visit, as well as taking the front page on all the leading newspapers.

This, in turn, brings forth a more important point. The idea of a "special relationship" between the US and Britain, above and beyond any other American alliance, is not just overfamiliar. It is also, at this point, hollow and delusional. This does not mean that Britain is irrelevant: it is and will still remain an important American ally, especially at moments of crisis were currently facing.

We have made a number attempts in Britain, to prove that our country has a close friendship, with the World's most powerful nation. However these always seem to tend to backfire, the UK is far to happy to jump to America's pleas such as the agreement of the controversial Iraq War and Afghanistan, another perfect example happened to come during Obama's and Brown's public appearance. Where poor old Gordon seemed rather awkward when discussing sports, not being an avid basketball fan of course like Obama, which left him open to briefly try and change the topic which didn't work to his favour. With the press branding Brown as 'the school nerd seeking to ingratiate himself with the coolest kid around'.

Although his visit with Obama may have raised many questions and put the 'Special Relationship' firmly under the spotlight, you have to give Brown some credit. Being the 5^th British Prime Minster to address the congress, is a remarkable experience and his speech was somewhat, personally heartfelt and powerful. Addressing many key factors such as the fight on Global Warming, which was warmly received by a standing ovation, to announcing an Honorary Knighthood for Edward Kennedy.

But the underlying statement clearly remains – does Brown need Obama, more than Obama needs him, plus is the relationship between America and Britain unequal. With the classic saying 'the former always craving the latter's favours'.