Prime Minister David Cameron found himself today speaking to the US Marines at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan.
The Daily Telegraph took up the story:
July 4 is a bit of a tricky moment for British leaders, marking as it does a historic military and political defeat for Britain…In the event, the PM found a way through the minefield, raising American smiles by lamenting the failure of Lord North’s ministry to hang on to the colonies for King George.
“Maybe if one of my predecessors hadn’t screwed up so badly, we’d all be one army.”
Nicely done, Prime Minister, and quite a thought.
Like Mark, I have long been struck by the sense of an opportunity wasted (by the Brits) that runs through those words of Thomas Jefferson.
“We might have been a free and great people together.”
England’s loss.
Meanwhile, back in the old country, July 4 is a good day for this:
Former US president Ronald Reagan will be honoured today with the unveiling of a statue to mark 100 years since his birth.
The ten-foot bronze statue will stand in London’s Grosvenor Square.
Lady Thatcher’s comments:
Ronald Reagan was a great President and a great man – a true leader for our times…He held clear principles and acted upon them with purpose. Through his strength and his conviction he brought millions of people to freedom as the Iron Curtain finally came down. It was a pleasure to be his colleague and his friend and I hope that this statue will be a reminder to future generations of the debt we owe him.
Well said, as usual.