When Prime Minister Julia Gillard met President Barack Obama for the first time last week, Gillard reminded the world that the US and Australia were “great mates” and Obama in turn affirmed: “The United States does not have a closer or better ally than Australia.”
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went one step further during her recent visit, whispering in our ear “… that the United States has no better friend than Australia.”
But it seems that best friends forever isn’t a promise the Americans reserve for just one country …
America has “no better friend” than Israel — Vice-President Joe Biden, 2010
“As the Indian people celebrate Republic Day all across India, they should know that they have no better friend and partner than the people of the United States” — President Obama, 2009.
“I decided to come first to Britain because we have no better friend. We have no better ally.” — Condoleezza Rice, 2005
“The United States has no better friend in the world than Japan. The United States has no more important alliance in the world than the US-Japan alliance.” — US Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, 2008
“I love this country. We could not have a better friend and ally” — President Obama speaking in Canada, 2009.
The Australia-US alliance is very important to Australia, and Australian prime ministers love being stroked and duchessed by US presidents. But as our fledgling PM will learn, when it comes to best friends, America is a bit of a tart.
Am I wrong, or was this ripped from an IPA article on The Drum? And what is so new about the idea that statements by politicians are often misleading, especially in international politics?
Remember how it used to be so voyeuristic? When it was such a big deal to “lose your virginity”? When “Limited News” “liked to watch”?
How it made Murdoch’s front pages when it was Bush charming the foreign policy franchise pants off such a “willing” Howard – to get into his “an-Iraq” – but doesn’t seem so important when Gillard gets soft-soaped.
Reminds me of Meatloaf’s beginning “You Took the words right out of my mouth” :- big bad (“Sam”?) wolf, dash board lights, sweet nothings …. “So what about your throat?” – “Little Red Riding Hood/Howard” (does it matter?) on the swoon, “Yes” …. then “I bet you say that to all the boys!”
Whenever the USA bestows these hollow words on Australia I feel like we’re consorting.
Death to America the Great Satan. Inshallah.
No better friend and best friend, two completely different meanings. I take it from no better friend, as referred to different countries, puts all on the same footing. Equal friends.
What a stupid nit picking nothing leader, I beginning to realise I can put the Crikey sub to far better use, if this is the standard.