Don't expect big policy shifts at first Bush-Brown heads of government meeting

Although George W Bush and Gordon Brown have met before, this weekend sees the new British Prime Minister hold their first full meeting as heads of government.  The two men will spend the weekend at Camp David before a formal press conference on Monday.  Mr Brown then flies on to the United Nations in a deliberate underlining of his commitment to a multilateralist foreign policy.  Journalists will be keen to look for a change in the US-UK relationship that was so close during the Blair years.  Although, as reported, the meeting will likely be more businesslike - because of Mr Brown's style - the new Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have gone out of his way to make it clear that their "commitment to work with the American government in general, and the Bush administration in particular, is resolute."  Don't expect any 'Colgate moments' or any big policy shifts.

Comments

[Paul D]

Spot the deliberate mistake in the title...

[Mary Fernandez]

Yes, I miss Blair too.

Brown should just skip Camp David and go straight to the U.N. I'm sure all the 'good thoughts' there will solve the world's problems. He can take his 'favorite multi-nationalist Brit' with him.

[USA all the way]

Who the hell is this Montgomerie?
He seems like a typical tight assed Brit.
Doesn't even know his Prime Minister's name!
I'm sure Bush does not give a shit about this new guy.

[Steevo]

Cool it USA. Tim owns this site and is the reason we can come here. If you don't agree with a perspective than state your reason why without being an ahole about it.

[Mary Fernandez]

Steevo -

Ditto for me. USA get some manners and don't embarrass your countrymen.

I like Tim. Nice guy (but not always a Right as me!) :-)

[bundyfan]

Yea, you're embarrasing us. Quit being rude. For the record I love this site. It is so good to be able to talk to rightthinking British. All we hear on the news is that everybody hates us. God bless America and God Save the Queen!

[William W]

"Doesn't even know his Prime Minister's name!"

Doesn't even know who owns this site!

I like the deliberate error, nice one Tim, at least it is for those who got it.

Brown will want to distance himself from Bush, but only to distance himself from Blair and his policies. This tactic is, alas, paying-off for him in the UK Polls and so he will do the same abroad to continue the impression.

[TomTom]

This is theatre - deeds are more important than words or inferences. One thing we do know - Brown will not transfer nuclear technology to Libya or say Arabs have an entitlement to nuclear kit...that is President Sarkozy's line albeit little reported in the UK but causing seething anger across the German political spectrum.

Brown and Bush have important matters to discuss - the presidential elections in Russia and USA next year and whether France will ram protectionist policies through the EU and how far that will affect the US elections.

I hope these discuss how China has ratcheted up input prices like steel, copper, food, oil, gas, aluminium and screwed down finished goods prices so Western companies either produce in China or go bust leaving lots of Western consumers with no jobs.

There are bigger things than simply whether Brown wants a chilli-dog or Bush wants a fried Mars bar

[Ken Stevens]

bundyfan | July 28, 2007 at 11:40 PM

What has always baffled me is how "everybody hates the USA" while avidly watching American films and TV shows, drinking Coke, visiting Disneyland and wearing baseball caps back to front. Maybe they've haven't yet sussed how much the USA is an integral part of them and vice versa!

I particularly love it when images of Middle Eastern gunmen come on screen ranting about the Great Satan and burning the Stars & Stripes -- wearing T shirts with American logos or with a Coca-Cola sign visible in the background.

As to Gordon Brown in particular, his pro-American empathies seem to be well-established at a personal level. I suppose he will publicly have to go a bit cautiously for his backbenchers' consumption, though.

[Frogg, USA]

I'll hold off on my opinion of Brown until I have a chance to see him act where it really matters (global scene; not the UN). He has shown two faces. I'm not sure which one will emerge.

[Will]

Well, i've just seen the news, and Gordon Brown said he will go one further and strengthen the special relationship to levels not seen since Winston Churchill. This is the right thing to do, as much as it pains me to say this, being an Englishman. And as for these rants about drinking coke and wearing american cloathes, hm, well, i bet that these companys aren't only owned by American's, quite the opposite infact. But any way, we look forward to working with you naughty little colonials in the future ;)

[atheling]

"This is the right thing to do, as much as it pains me to say this, being an Englishman"

What does that mean?

Do you really think that's going to happen? Get real. You guys are stuck with the EU and encroaching Islamification, and conservative Americans are NOT going to allow the same to happen here.

It's in the incubation stage, but there's a plan among American conservatives (the hoi polloi) for a Million Man March on DC in 2008.

We're fed up with appeasement, Multi culti crap, PCness, partisan politics and ISLAM. We're going to DC to present our grievances to our government and to demand they affirm our Constitutional Rights. Anyone interested go to Foehammer's Anvil:

http://foehammer.net/2007/07/wanted-a-million-marchers-to-stop-islamisation-of-the-usa.html

We need input, ideas and volunteers!

Islam Delenda Est!

[Steevo]

It probably won't happen but at least Will agrees and wants a stronger relationship (with a wink)... thats good. Raw anti-Americanism is not difficult to find, save the anger for those who are indeed bigots.

[An Englishman]

Ken Stevens thats exactly why people hate "America" i.e. its dominance over indigenous culture.

I keep having to tell myself that I love Americans (which I do, I LOVE American women and find Americans friendly, fun and generous), but hate Hollywood, Disney, neoconservatism etc.

I have read that Americans also find these faults undesirable, the difference is there seems to be too many idiots globally who can't or won't separate the two.

[An Englishman]

Ken Stevens thats exactly why people hate "America" i.e. its dominance over indigenous culture.

I keep having to tell myself that I love Americans (which I do, I LOVE American women and find Americans friendly, fun and generous), but hate Hollywood, Disney, neoconservatism etc.

I have read that Americans also find these faults undesirable, the difference is there seems to be too many idiots globally who can't or won't separate the two.