Snowmail: America's special friend?
Updated on 13 January 2009
When it comes to a new president of the United States, the bit that impinges upon us as much as any is that bit that is in the hands of the secretary of state.
She, Hillary Clinton, has started her senate hearings today, which will lead to her inevitable endorsement. I noticed that when she listed America's key allies, Britain came third in the list of European priorities: France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Now, you may say that that is alphabetical. But I might say: what happened to the special relationship? And whilst I recognise that opinion is no part of Snowmail, it is nevertheless my experience that the special relationship, if it ever existed, is a delusion.
My researches into it centre on intelligence. Every spook I've ever spoken to tells me that if I knew what he knew (courtesy of what they know), then I would not question the special relationship. It is intelligence shared with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. One is tempted to ask whether, in such circumstances, such a relationship can be so special.
Given what it got us into in Iraq, there must be a hope that whatever it is, it won't do that with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
For the rest, Mrs Clinton sounds remarkably like her husband. And given her advisers, particularly on the Middle East, they appear to be remarkably like his, too.
So the question tonight is: how much change is change?
STILL AMERICA'S SPECIAL FRIEND
This was never truer than over the question of Israel-Palestine. More horrific evidence today of the civilian toll being wreaked by Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. Lindsey Hilsum is in Israel, as is the head of the International Red Cross, who has been visiting Gaza today. We'll be hearing from her at seven.
A neat titbit has surfaced concerning the American abstention in the UN motion that called for a ceasefire last week. Ehud Olmert is reportedly claiming that America was going to vote FOR the resolution in an historic break with the past.
With 10 minutes to go Olmert managed to get Bush pulled out of a speech he was making to get him to call Condoleezza and tell her to change the vote. Hence the abstention, which to much of the rest of the world looked like America turning a blind eye to continued shelling.
If it is true, and we believe it is, then it is an extraordinary insight into Israel's pull with the Bush White House in particular, and the United States in general.
END TO GUANTANAMO?
We are working on a report on Guantanamo tonight, looking at Obama's huge difficulties in trying to shut it down quickly. As John Sparks reports, it looks very much as if it will have to stay in some sort of existence for at least another year.
GAS BREAKTHROUGH
Finally, Julian Rush is on the trail of a new methane gas breakthrough: a new plant to extract the noxious but useful gas from supermarket waste.
That's enough noxious gas from me. I'll see you with the oxygen of insight into unfolding events, at seven.
