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Browns kiss and make up with Obamas
Terry Kirby25.09.09
Cold shoulder? What cold shoulder? There was plenty of warmth on display last night at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh when the first couples of Britain and the United States greeted each other with elaborate hugs and kisses.
Gordon Brown, not a man known for his air-kissing skills, gave an excellent demonstration of the art of diplomatic puckering-up when he planted a smacker on the cheek of Michelle Obama.
These public displays of affection came at the end of a week in which both sides were forced to deny a cooling in the special relationship following President Barack Obama's apparent "lack of diary time" for a one-to-one meeting with the Prime Minister.
But just to show that they do not reserve all their warmth for the Browns, the Obamas also did the hugging thing with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife. While Carla Bruni-Sarkozy appears genuinely in ecstasy at being wrapped in Mrs Obama's embrace, her husband gazes rather more enigmatically into the camera.
And Italian President Silvio Berlusconi seems to be saying "Come to Papa baby" as Mrs Obama approaches for a hug. Didn't anyone warn her..?
Reader views (6)
Why should Obama single out one E.U. province over another? It's like saying that he prefers Ontario over Quebec, or New South Wales over Tasmania, or even Ohio over New York. All meaningless. With full ratification of the Lisbon Treaty imminent, the E.U.'s 'High Representative' (alternative name for Foreign Minister) will soon be the only one to whom Obama speaks in regards to anything regarding the new E.U. country; he won't be speaking to any Foreign Ministers from the provinces. In fact, a provincial Foreign Minister is an oxymoron. On the whole, the British don't seem to have much of a clue as to just how much their perception of 'the U.K. as a country' will change with full ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Self-government gone -- with just the faintest whimper from the British people!
- Phil Jones, London UK
I doubt if there ever was any "cold shoulder". More like media mischieve.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
Yep and over the dead bodies of 270 people and Yvonne Fletcher, the poor policewoman gunned down outside the Lybian embassy.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire
As usual that cretin Crash Gordon looks completely weird and out of place. No wonder he will always be UN-elected pm...
- Steveo, London NW1
We are perceived as the lap dog of the US of A. There is no special relationship.
Careful 'luv you might catch something!
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Heseltine was clear enough on Question Time last night about the special relationship that America enjoys with...Israel. There is no concept in America that there is a special relationship with Britain. Its just British media hype.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
