Sugar-Coating Interest With Morality – From 9/11 to the Gates of Baghdad: The Anglo- American Special Relationship and the Continual British Support for US Foreign Policy

Abstract

The aftermath of the invasion of Iraq has been characterised by continued instability and insecurity. In the midst of all this certain questions have been recurrently asked. Why has Tony Blair, given such unwavering support to the US invasion of Iraq, against the wishes of the UN, Britain's key European partners, and a majority of public opinion? What, in short, is the overwhelming British interest that an invasion was supposed to protect? This essay argues that the key to understanding Britain's persistent support of the US lies mainly in the notion of the "special relationship".

Keywords

Anglo-American Relations, British Foreign Policy, The Special Relationship, Tony Blair, Trans-Atlantic Relations

Citation

Azubuike, Samuel, “Sugar-Coating Interest With Morality – From 9/11 to the Gates of Baghdad: The Anglo- American Special Relationship and the Continual British Support for US Foreign Policy”, International Relations, Volume 3, No 10 (Summer 2006), p. 89-112.

Affiliations

• Samuel Azubuike, Dr., London Metropolitan University