photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

In a report quoted in The Daily Telegraph on Dec. 19th, the headline was "You must stay in the EU, America warns Britain". On reading it, I wondered what right the American government has to tell us here in the UK that we MUST stay in the EU. Today's Daily Telegraph has a letter in reply. It reads: "I am amused that the American government feels that Britain must remain a member of the European Union. By the same reasoning, the United States should have remained part of the British Empire. If this country does decide to remove itself from the thrall of europe, it will be for much the same reasons that prompted the Americans to achieve their independence - something which they have generally considered to be rather a good thing". A rather good reply, I thought. Please don't let's get het up about this: I just thought it was an interesting viewpoint.

Carolina Wings Loc: Flew from North Carolina to Pennsylvania

I'm form America and I stand with you! What right does the American government have to tell you or Israel what to do...you all have to decide what is best for you and your country!!!

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

So WHAT in the hell else would you expect out of this administration ? ?

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

It seems that Prime Minister David Cameron and Tony Blair also feel that the UK should remain in the Union. True it would be beneficial to the US if the UK did remain and the US so stated.

I'm also sure there was some communication between the two governments before a statement was released by the US.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

On behalf of the morons leading the United States I applogize for their transgressions. Our idiots can not come to the simple conclusion one can not spend more than it takes in, and seems to to think they have some say over the doings of soverign nations.

Please accept my appologies for the American Government, Who, as it turns out can not accomplish the simpest of tasks such as producing a budget with which to fund the needs of the nation they profess to lead.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Interestingly the title reads: Britain will be weaker without EU, says USA http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9754042/Britain-will-be-weaker-without-EU-says-USA.html

Robert-Y Loc: Cambridge UK

The problem with the EU is the UK is an island, a proud Island, we have more in common with the US than the french or Germans. Most of the country would rather be outside the EU. We are only where we are because the politicians cheated us and lied. We are also the only country in the EU not to have a referendum. Ooh that makes is a dictatorship. Are you listening Mr C

workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

They refuse to pass a balanced budget but want to tell UK what they need to do. That's like my 4 year old grandson telling what foods to eat to be healthy. (Candy, ice cream, chips, coke and sugar, bacon is good too.)

ted45 Loc: Delaware

I am in total agreement with photosarah. Our government does not have the right to be telling any other people how to run their affairs. The current administration hasn't been able to pass a budget for four years so why would anyone take financial advice from them?

farmerjim Loc: Rugby, England

Well I don't get involved in politics, purely because I hate politicians and the way they manipulate, spin and lie. However I do like Mr. Farage, the leader of UKIP, he seems to be an unusual type of politician, I actually beleive he has the best interests of our country at heart and not his best interests.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

One should read what was said before commenting. To do otherwise is to speak out of ignorance.

Here is what was said. The US did not say England must stay in the EU!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9754042/Britain-will-be-weaker-without-EU-says-USA.html

The Obama administration has expressed concern at what US officials see as Britain's slide towards the European exit door.
Washington firmly believes that the departure of its strongest partner in Europe would also reduce American influence on the continent, as Britain so often shares American views.
An EU without Britain would be seen as weaker on free trade and less reliable on defence and foreign policy issues.
With David Cameron now saying a Britain out of Europe was now "imaginable", US agitation has reached a new high.
After observing the rise in popularity of Ukip and the rise of anti-European sentiment generally, the issue was raised by President Barack Obama in a video-conference call with the Prime Minister on Tuesday. It was raised during bilateral discussions between officials this week.

"It is important to state very clearly that a strong UK in a strong Europe is in America's national interest," said a senior US administration official. "We recognise national states but see the EU as a force multiplier."
The White House is perplexed by the view held by some Euro-sceptics that the so-called Special Relationship would be enhanced by a British exit, because it believes Britain would have more clout as a full partner of the European club.
It acknowledges that some countries, like Britain, matter more than others in the EU, dismissing the notion that Washington only wants one phone number to dial for Europe to make life easier.
Britain's free trade philosophy is regarded as vital in preventing the union from drifting towards protectionism, while since World War Two, successive British governments have been more assertive on a variety of foreign policy issues, and more in line with American thinking, than other major European nations.
"We understand that a Europe without the UK would be a weaker Europe," said a Whitehall source.
"We are getting more and more questions about this, particularly from the US and China. People want to know what it would mean.
"But at the moment we are focused on making Europe work better for us. We are on focusing on free trade, the single market and commerce. We are committed to making the EU more competitive."
With the eurozone still in danger of collapse, and momentum building on the continent for greater fiscal and political union, the Government has edged towards holding a referendum on EU membership.
Conservatives are increasingly envisaging a future where Britain's involvement withdraws from European institution and limits its connections to the single market and free trade.
Ukip, which supports withdrawal from the union Britain joined under a Conservative government in 1973, has enjoyed strong showings in recent by-elections and has overtaken the Lib Dems to poll at between seven and 14 per cent.
The coalition is already considering opting out of numerous common judicial and policing measures contained in the Lisbon Treaty, which enshrined closer European integration, most notably the European arrest warrant.
Adding to American apprehension about Europe is the eurozone's slide back into recession, which Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, has attributed to "austerity policies taking effect".
"I want to urge European leaders to keep working to address the challenge of economic growth and jobs," she said.
Senior US officials believe that even if an immediate threat of collapse has passed, eurozone leaders have not resolved problems in manner that gives long-term comfort.
William Dartmouth MEP, Ukip's foreign affairs spokesman said: "There have been times in history when the US has been very pleased that Britain has remained independent of the continent, and we expect that to continue.
"It is not the job of the UK to make the work of US diplomats easier. It is our job to secure our own interests."

workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

Sorry but there is nothing there to change my previous post or to make it any less correct.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Try to focus. The US did not say the UK must stay in the EU and that is the topic of discussion. Ukip's beliefs may or may not be correct but that is not the point of the discussion.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

The article quoted above(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9754042/Britain-will-be-weaker-withou...) is dated today, Sunday 23rd December. The headline I quoted: "You must stay in the EU, America warns Britain" was in The Daily Telegraph of Wednesday 19th December and under the headline the article goes on to say: 'The US has voiced its concern about what it sees as Britain's slide toward an exit from the European Union. The White House believes America would lose influence in Europe if Britain were to leave the EU. "A strong UK in a strong EU is in the US interest. We recognise national states, but see the EU as a force multiplier" said a senior official. The issue was raised in a call between President Barack Obama and David Cameron yesterday.'
It seems to me that between Wednesday and today (Sunday), the emphasis has changed from "America would lose influence in Europe if Britain were to leave the EU" to "Britain would be weaker......" i.e. the goalposts have been moved. The first article emphasises America's interests and loss of influence if we were to leave the EU; today's article has significantly backtracked to say that the Obama administration has only "expressed concern at what US officials see as Britain's slide towards the European exit door." The point being that there seems to have been a retreat by the US administration and a change of emphasis from the USA's concerns to what will happen to Britain should Britain decide to leave.
Many people in this country believe that we should try to renegotiate terms with the EU to a trade partnership, as it was originally when it was called the Common Market. David Cameron promised this country a referendum whether we wished to stay in the EU or not when he came to power. Because he feared the answer, he has broken that promise. Now, as anti-EU feeling continues to grow in this country, he appears to be at the beginning of a U-turn as he acknowledges that an exit from the EU is "imaginable".
If we ever get a vote as to whether we stay or go, I doubt very much whether the ordinary "Man in the Street" i.e. the ordinary voter, will worry or take into account what effect his vote will have on the US.

esqrich

America should clean up its own s**t before it hands the toilet paper to someone else.

Rh--23-year Navy veteran.