10 Mar 2009 Outrage of the Day: State Department Claims “There’s Nothing Special About Britain”
Two slaps with a rotten fish to the unnamed State Department official quoted in this paragraph in the London Telegraph:
“The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: ‘There’s nothing special about Britain. You’re just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn’t expect special treatment.'”
-Tim Shipman, “Barack Obama ‘too tired’ to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown, London Telegraph, March 7, 2009
I call upon the Telegraph to do the United States (and itself) a gigantic favor (yes, I know, after the recent insults we don’t really deserve one) and name the State Department official who made this ignorant, offensive and damaging remark. American friends of Britain want him or her fired.
Meantime, add my voice to those of the many other Americans who are profoundly embarassed that the United States treated Britain in this manner.
For additional commentary, see also: Ed Morrissey’s “Great News: Obama Fumbled Brown Visit Because He’s In Over His Head on Hot Air and John Hinderaker’s “Don’t Blame Us: We’re Incompetent! on Power Line.