United Kingdom, why do you hate America?

2muchcoffeeman · Apr 16, 2007

How dare those heathen British not follow our brilliant president in perfect lockstep? Outraged, I am.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1260741,00.html

Sky News said:

Updated: 11:37, Monday April 16, 2007

Britain has decided to ban the term 'War on Terror' - sparking fears of a major row with the US.

The International Development Secretary will say the phrase has strengthened militant groups by giving them a shared identity.

Hilary Benn's speech is expected to anger the White House when he criticises President Bush's phrase.

He will stress the term makes terrorist groups feel that they are part of something "bigger".

Mr Benn will also urge world leaders to open dialogue with potential enemies rather than use military force.

President Bush championed the phrase 'War on Terror' shortly after the al Qaeda attacks on New York on September 11, 2001.

The Foreign Office called for it to be dropped in December last year but Washington stuck to its guns.

Mr Benn will say in his speech: "In the UK, we do not use the phrase 'War on Terror' because we can't win by military means alone, and because this isn't us against one organised enemy with a clear identity and a coherent set of objectives.

"It is the vast majority of the people in the world - of all nationalities and faiths - against a small number of loose, shifting and disparate groups.

"What these groups want is to force their individual and narrow values on others without dialogue, without debate, through violence. And by letting them feel part of something bigger, we give them strength."

It is thought his comments could help Mr Benn's standing among Labour backbenchers at a crucial time.

They are due to vote shortly on who should be the party's next deputy leader and President Bush has become a hate figure for many on the left.
Click to expand...

Lyman_Bostock · Apr 16, 2007

Banning a phrase? That's stupid.

Hammer Pants · Apr 16, 2007

They're just mad that we call soccer soccer.

dooley_womack1 · Apr 16, 2007

OMG, not a major row!

Football_Bat · Apr 17, 2007

Bush would never take a boy named Hilary seriously.

Write-brained · Apr 17, 2007

Maybe Britain just likes not having stupid, inaccurate phrases.

I mean, are we really in a war against terror? If so, where were the troops last night when I was walking through my dark living room and my cat jumped off a high shelf and onto my back?

That was terrifying. Yet no one has waged battle against the cat, or more accurately the feeling of terror I felt.

Talk about a lost cause.

RokSki · Apr 17, 2007

Is Britain also rooting for the terrorists to win?

LiveStrong · Apr 17, 2007

Freedom Fries!

MertWindu · Apr 17, 2007

SCREW YOU, OSMAMA!

Oh, and God bless the Brits for coming around to this conclusion. Terror will never be defeated, because it's an emotion, not a person or country. Every time a politician or radio crank or, well, anyone uses it, I cringe.

CollegeJournalist · Apr 17, 2007

We're also fighting a War on Drugs!

How soon people forget that. I never understood that one, considering the fact that at no time did I see the 101st Airborne dropping into my local Walgreens to take my Tylenol PM from me.

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United Kingdom, why do you hate America?

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