A "most important bilateral relationship"

I do hope this is a sign that we will continue on in our friendship with Great Britain.

AP: New British prime minister at Camp David---

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Gordon Brown traveled to the United States on Sunday, saying he planned to use the official visit to strengthen what Britain already considers its "most important bilateral relationship."

"It is a relationship that is founded on our common values of liberty, opportunity and the dignity of the individual," Brown said in a statement. "And because of the values we share, the relationship with the United States is not only strong, but can become stronger in the years ahead."

Read the rest of the article here. It goes into the Bush-Blair relationship, what the Bush-Brown relationship might be like, and issues such as Iraq.

Searching for Madeleine McCann

I am a huge Harry Potter fan (can you believe Book 7, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes out at midnight on 20 July 2007????) and so I am glad to see this from author J.K. Rowling. It is fabulous of her to use her publicity for others. I hope the authorities are able to find this little girl.

AP: Rowling backs search for missing girl---

LONDON - J.K. Rowling is asking booksellers around the world to publicize the plight of missing British girl Madeleine McCann when they sell the new Harry Potter book this week.

Rowling's 65 publishers in more than 200 territories will distribute a poster of Madeleine, who has been missing for more than two months, to stores selling "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," public relations firm Colman Getty said Monday.

In a statement, Rowling said she was asking stores to display the poster, which will include the Web address of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

"I fervently hope that posters displayed prominently in shops all over the world when the new book comes out will help find Madeleine McCann and will raise the profile of the many other missing children in different countries," Rowling said.

McCann disappeared from "Praia da Luz, a resort town in Portugal's Algarve region," on May 3. Rowling has "pledged several hundred thousand dollars to a reward for Madeleine's safe return."

You will find a picture of the missing 4-year-old here. Can you imagine being kidnapped at 4-years-old? It would be so frightening. Say some prayers for the McCann family and for all families who are missing loved ones.

How Dare They Remove Him!

As an Anglophile, this breaks my heart.

What's next? Removing Britannia?

Just A Bumper Sticker

By Michael Ramirez:

Fred! Gives a Speech in the UK

Fred Thompson was just in the UK and gave a speech for the Policy Exchange. You can read the text of his excellent speech here.

It focused mainly on the alliance between America and Britain (which, as an Anglophile, I am most interested in):

We are profoundly grateful for the friendship of the British people, and in America we’ll always remember Mr. Blair as a gallant friend, even when it did him no good politically.

When we in the States take the measure of your leaders, their party affiliation doesn’t really count for a whole lot. It’s been this way for a while now, at every moment when it mattered. It was true in the days of Churchill and Roosevelt … of Thatcher and Reagan … and Blair and Bush.

Differences of party and domestic policy are incidental, compared to the bigger considerations that define Britain and America as allies. On both sides of the Atlantic, what matters most are the commitments we share, and the work we are called to do in common. This work is based upon the principles we hold – primarily, the right of free people to govern themselves. We also believe that the rule of law, market economies, property rights, and trade with other nations are the underpinnings of a free society.

When historians of the modern era speak of the great democracies, of civilization and its defenders, that’s us they’re talking about – we and our democratic friends across Europe and beyond.

In the long progress of the world toward liberty, it was not by chance that this lowly province of the Roman Empire became a great teacher of democracy and the model of self-government. And it wasn’t just luck that turned a troublesome British colony into the inspiration for all those who seek freedom. There is a reason why Britain and America were thrown together as partners in this world. The things that unite the American and British peoples? They don’t change with the names of leaders or with the passing of years.

Good words, don't you think?

From there, Fred! talked about the threat the world faces, how many in Europe don't see the threat the same way we in America do or think it is only a threat to the US, and how even when this threat goes on the backburner, there will be others. But, he reminded the Policy Exchange, Britain and America will still stand together.

I think it is an excellent speech and, dare I say, rather presidential?

This part at the beginning was a sly bit of humor:

Of course we believe in long presidential campaigns in the U.S. Most American politicians are afraid they won’t be considered serious candidates until they’ve made a promise a hundred times and spent a hundred million dollars. Though every now and then you still get some slow-poke who takes his time before announcing.

I recommend reading the entire speech.

And, of course, there is excellent coverage (including video) over at BritainAndAmerica.com.

Fred's Website: I'mWithFred

My previous post: Fred! to see The Iron Lady

Fred! to see The Iron Lady

Lady Thatcher!

Via Drudge:

From Fred Thompson seeks Thatcher's blessing---

Fred Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator who is expected to announce next month he is running for president, flew to London on Monday to meet Margaret Thatcher and deliver a foreign policy speech, his advisers tell The Politico.

Thompson's advisers aim to use the London events to bolster his foreign policy credentials and elevate him above the increasingly contentious fray of the GOP race.

On Wednesday, he will pose for photos with Thatcher, which his advisers hope will enhance his support among devotees of former President Ronald Reagan.

Thompson will deliver the foreign policy speech, "Strengthening the Transatlantic Alliance," on Tuesday at the Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank based in London.

If Fred! had the Iron Lady's blessing, he would be my candidate of choice.

Our 400-Year Anglo-Alliance

I am an Anglophile, so I have to post this.

From Iain Murray at the Corner:

400 years ago today...

On May 14, 1607, a group of English settlers landed on Jamestown Island and established the colony of Virginia. In one respect, this means that today is the 400th Anniversary of the Anglo-American alliance, an alliance that has endured revolution, war and distrust and survived. Considering that puts the current problems into perspective.

1776 or is it 1976?

As you may know, Queen Elizabeth II (I share a birthday with her) is on an official visit to the US. This is very adorable.

From Al-Reuters:

Bush noted the queen's long history of dealing with successive American governments, just barely stopping himself before dating her to 1776, the year the 13 British colonies declared their independence from Britain.

Elizabeth has occupied the British throne for 55 years and is 81.

"The American people are proud to welcome your majesty back to the United States, a nation you've come to know very well. After all you've dined with 10 U.S. presidents. You've helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 -- in 1976," Bush said.

Bush looked at the queen sheepishly. She peered back at him from beneath her black and white hat.

"She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child," Bush said as the crowd burst into laughter.

For details of the White Tie State Dinner, visit here. Of course, there were touches of Britain:

The centuries-old vermeil flatware and candelabras came from a London silversmith. A made-of-sugar replica of the queen's 1953 coronation rose graced the cake. English farmhouse cheeses accompanied the salad course.

Watch video from the dinner here.

Guest List here. Some very interesting names.

Dinner Menu here.