Washington refused to endorse British claims to over the Falkland Islands yesterday... Despite Britain's close alliance with the US, the Obama Administration is determined not to be drawn into the issue. It has also declined to back Britain's claim that oil exploration near the islands is sanctioned by international law, saying that the dispute is strictly a bilateral issue... aState Department spokesman told The Times. "The US recognises de facto UK administration of the islands but takes no position on the sovereignty claims of either party."
... and contrast...
The Obama administration criticized Israel Wednesday for designating two shrines on Palestinian territory as national heritage sites... Underscoring those difficulties, theState Department on Wednesday sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for adding two shrines in the West Bank to Israel's list of national heritage sites... State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the administration viewed the move as "provocative" and unhelpful to the goal of getting the two sides back tothe table.
The Palestinians have sovereignty over Jewish holy sites in the West Bank - which they've historically desecrated and destroyed - but the UK has no sovereignty over the Falklands. Nice to see the White House responding to increasingly public UK concerns that "Obama has it in for Britain." Overflowing with nuance and agility, is this government.
Add this to Obama's early snub of Brazil, which included misspelling Silva's name and was later repaid in the form of Brazilian backing for Ahmadinejad. But presumably Argentina now owes us a favor, so we've got that in our pocket in case they ever magically become the largest country in South America or a nuclear-armed European NATO ally.
Just out of curiosity, if Obama was trying to detonate all of the US's traditional alliances - what would he be doing differently?
References:* US refuses to endorse British sovereignty in Falklands oil dispute [Times Online]
* US slams Israel over designating heritage sites [WaPo]
* Palestinians Destroy West Bank Holy Site [BeliefNet]
* Does Obama have it in for Britain? [Daily Mail]
* Is Obama snubbing another foreign leader? [FP Passport]
* CNSNews.com White House Misspells Brazilian Leader's Name, Bumps Visit With Obama to Saturday [CNS News]
* Clenched With The Help Of Brazil's Warm Pro-Ahmadinejad Stance [IIFSC]
