When London was hit by terrorists, America's first reaction was to run away, said Brian Reade in the London Daily Mirror. While Londoners were bravely returning to work, defiantly plunking themselves down in bus and subway seats, U.S. soldiers stationed in Britain were under orders to save their own skins and stay out of the city. And it's not just the U.S. military that abandoned us—American commentators actually blamed us for inviting the attack. The U.S. press, generally a 'œgutless shower of sycophants,' churned out alarmist articles claiming that British coddling of Islamism had produced a 'œLondonistan' teeming with potential terrorists. Britons are now deemed the biggest threat to U.S. security. 'œThanks, buddies. It's good to know you're right behind the people who foolishly stuck their heads above the parapet with you in Iraq.'
The Americans really have some cheek, said Seumas Milne in the London Guardian. Since 9/11, they have adamantly refused to consider the possibility that their foreign policy could have provoked the Muslim world's hostility. It was deemed treasonous to suggest that the Muslims had legitimate grievances against the U.S. Instead, Americans retreated into the comforts of banalities such as, 'œThey hate our freedom.' We must not do the same. It is an insult to our dead to pretend that there was no motive for the London suicide bombings. The attacks were quite obviously 'œdriven by a worldwide anger at U.S.–led domination and occupation of Muslim countries.' And it is only since Britain began supporting that agenda—first in Afghanistan and then in Iraq—that Britain became a target.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Time-honored political tactic: Throw your wife under the bus'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
Best non-alcoholic spirits for summer cocktailsThe Week Recommends As hard liquor takes a backseat for many, the ingredients for the perfect mocktail are dryly delicious
-
Will Biden's tariffs hinder China's EV dominance?Today's Big Question Climate change goals and American jobs in tension
-
No equipment for Afghanistanfeature The U.S. has reportedly decided to hand over to Pakistan some $7 billion worth of American military hardware currently in Afghanistan.
-
How they see us: Crudely insulting our allies
feature Well, at least we know now what the Americans really think of us.
-
Spied-upon Germans are not mollified
feature In the wake of revelations last year about the NSA's spying activities, relations between Germany and the U.S. have been at an all-time low.
-
Is a deal with the U.S. in Iran’s interest?
feature The “unprecedented enthusiasm” of Western diplomats after the talks in Geneva suggests they received unexpected concessions from the Iranians.
-
How they see us: Sowing chaos in Libya
feature The kidnapping of Abu Anas al-Libi is an outrage committed against Libyan sovereignty—and it will have repercussions.
-
Europe is complicit in spying
feature It’s not just the Americans who have developed a gigantic spying apparatus.
-
Protecting Snowden
feature American whistle-blower Edward Snowden has proved a master spy with his “meticulously timed operation.”
-
Listening in on Europeans
feature Europeans are apoplectic over the U.S. National Security Agency's massive PRISM surveillance program.