Osborne

[hawksley]

Osborne says,the no vote on Syria,has not damaged relationship between UK and US is only HYPERBOLE, what the hell is he on about.???

[Gromit]

It has certainly damaged it in the short term.

Cameron has been the cheerleader for intervention on the world stage. But he has stood the US up at the last minute. That is bound to make him a laughing stock in some quarters and mark him down as a leader who cannot deliver.

There is a suspicion that after years of doung nothing on Syria, that the PMs frenzied sabre rattling this week may have been orchestrated by Washington. That Cameron's pressing for an attack was more to get the US public to support an attack. Whether that is true or not, the result has left Cameron exposed and humiliated.

But thevspecial relationship will survive because it serves both our countries.

[jno]

The US said it would "continue to consult" with the UK, "one of our closest allies and friends" - according to the BBC.

[jno]

the only special relationship the US has is with Israel. (They might be said to have a kind of one with Taiwan as well.)

[weecalf]

Hyperbole is that what someone suffers when they can not get down to the alley

[Khandro]

'The special relationship' is something that only exists in the mind of (some) British folk - notably politicians, mention it in the USA and it is an unknown concept.

[Gromit]

Khandro

Not sure that is correct. I have American friends who constantly refer to the 'Special Relationship' between the US and UK. Of course both countries have other special relationships as well, it is not exclusive.

It can be traced back to the post war period when Churchill coined the phrase during a speech in the US.

[mikey4444]

For everybody's information ::::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole

[LazyGun]

The US political classes might feel a bit aggrieved at parliaments decision over action in Syria, but it will not substantively effect US-UK relations, as some commentators - and some UK politicians who were quite hawk-like in their desire for military intervention have been suggesting.

The appetite for military action by the US in Syria is not great amongst the US public, as best as I can tell, and Congress are already muttering that they wish they had the same ability to debate the issue and hold the executive to account as we do here following the vote in Parliament last night.

[youngmafbog]

Wilson didnt go into Vietnam, never hurt the relationship.

Thatcher was extremely angry at Granada, didnt hurt the relationship.

In fact at the 'people' level we may actually have improved the relationship. Many Americans (not just the anti war brigade) do not want a conflict in Syria and will see this as support for them.

[Gromit]

Ymb

Is that Granada in Spain or the place in Manchester :-)

[jake-the-peg]

Well it weakens the military alliance but that's no bad thing.

Whether that's the same as damaging the relationship is another matter

[ToraToraTora]

It has had no effect, in fact it's probably helped. Obama knows that Cameron was always struggling with a load of liberal jellies and Tory wets. Then there is a Labour party happy to use the suffering of Syrians to score politically. Any damage is in the mind of wishful thinkers I'm afraid. Evene the frogs are wanting act, Cameron has just shown he tried but was overridden.

[janbee]

I think the special relationship ONLY existed with Maggie and Ronnie.

[Gromit]

Tora Tora Tora

You forgot to mention the Conservative backbenchers (and the two ministers who missed the vote because they didn't hear the bell). Without their rebellion, Cameron would have won the vote.

The fact is, Cameron lead, and many of his party did not follow.

[LazyGun]

@3T Again with this tiresome tirade of yours against "The Left".

"Then there is a Labour party happy to use the suffering of Syrians to score politically."

What, you mean reflecting public opinion? Requiring that we have evidence rather than supposition before engaging in yet another military (mis)adventure? That we live up to our international treaty obligations and the rule of law and seek UN security council sanction first? Indeed, reflecting the disquiet amongst many within the right wing of UK politics.

Is questioning exactly what kind of military action by an outside force will actually aid the "suffering of the syrians" now just some kind of political stunt?

You persist in trying to turn every single issue into some kind of left-right ideological battle. Its simple-minded, offensive and tiresome.

The issue - a public call to sanction a military strike without the approval of the UN against a sovereign nation not actively threatening the life and liberty of the populations with the borders of either the US or the UK, called in some sort of hasty knee jerk response after years of inaction - transcends such a two dimensional ideological analysis.

[Gromit]

HYPERBOLE

You may have heard it pronounced

Hi-per-bole-ee

Not hyper-bowl.

[hawksley]

Sorry, I thought Osborne was talking about himself,and he had miss- spelt Hyber-bole- and missed the X of the ending.

[emmie]

we do have a relationship with the US, how close that is remains to be seen

[jno]

I think the special relationship ONLY existed with Maggie and Ronnie.

Not at all; it was very strong (thank goodness) during WW2.

The US however refused to back Britain's dishonourable Suez venture (thank goodness for that too).

And now Britain is refusing to back another US suicide mission. Thank goodness for that as well.

[DJHawkes]

I know how to use the word Hyperbole in a conversation and often do, which word is he saying qualified as hyperbole? Damaged? relationship? I always think when people say something is outstanding, stupendous, sensational, they are using hyperbole. Bigging stuff up unnecessarily basically.