"A new survey shows many British think relations with the U.S. have deteriorated since the president took office."

Obama needs to keep our friends close and our enemies far - not the other way around.

...A new survey of British public opinion reveals chastened hopes for close ties with the United States. The poll, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Legatum Institute and the Royal United Services Institute, carried out between May 10 and 12, finds that overall public support for the relationship remains strong. Some 66% of those surveyed hold a favorable view of the U.S. and 62% agree that America is Britain's most important ally.

Moreover, a full 82% of Britons want their nation's relationship with the U.S. to stay as close as it is or even be strengthened. New Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg might take note of this in light of his previous plea for the British to "release ourselves from the spell of default Atlanticism."

As much as the British people still feel a commitment to the special relationship, they also feel that their love is unrequited. An overwhelming 85% believe that Britain has little or no influence on U.S. policies, and 62% think that America does not consider British interests. The Obama administration has reinforced these perceptions over the past year.

In stark contrast to the stratospheric hopes that Mr. Obama would dramatically improve America's relations with the world in general and the U.K. in particular, a full 74% of the British people now think that their relationship with the U.S. has stayed the same or even worsened since Mr. Obama's election... Read: "Obama and the 'Special Relationship' " at WSJ.

The Empty Suit In The White House (Part 1)

"Barack Obama’s increasing disregard for Britain’s views is no way to treat an ally whose troops have fought side by side with America since September 11, says Con Coughlin."

It says much about Britain’s rapidly disappearing ‘special relationship’ with America that when I happened to mention to some of our senior military officers that I was visiting Washington, they begged me to find out what the Obama administration was thinking about Afghanistan. It is not just that the transatlantic lines of communication, so strong just a few years ago, have fallen into disuse. There is now a feeling that, even if we reached the Oval Office, there would be no one willing to take Britain’s call.

For weeks now, President Obama has been deliberating over what the Afghan strategy should be — and how many troops to send. If there is confusion in Washington, then Britain’s strategy is not much clearer. Gordon Brown has staged a recent flurry of activity on the subject, from writing misspelt letters to grieving mothers to demanding that an exit strategy be established for the withdrawal of British forces. Yet among our top brass, the general perception is that the Prime Minister has little interest in the war. Read at Spectator.

Britain's Got Talent-Shaun Smith Brings Relief From Politics

I'm tired of politics and thinking about the dismal future of this great country - The United States of America. Enjoy this 17 year old kid and his incredible voice and the particular song he chose to sing at the Britain's Got Talent competition.

Britain's Got Talent 2009 - Shaun Smith - Watch today’s top amazing videos here