Speaking the truth ... for a change

 

British Ambassador Christian Turner speaking at the Ambassador's Residence in Washington DC, as part of the St Patrick's Day Celebrations in the US capital. Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Images

It's about time someone from the west speaks the truth about the entangled alliance of
Israel and the US, a relationship, proving yet again, that the national interest of one rarely coincides
with the national interest of the other.

Britain’s ambassador to Washington has said that the only country that has a “special relationship” with the United States is “probably Israel,” not Britain, in leaked comments which could overshadow King Charles III’s state visit underway in the US this week.

Christian Turner, who took office in February to replace Peter Mandelson – who was sacked over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – made the remarks privately to a group of British students visiting the US in the same month he was appointed.

“‘Special relationship’ is a phrase I try not to utter because it’s quite nostalgic, it’s quite backwards-looking, and it has a lot of sort of baggage about it,” Turner said in a leaked audio recording. “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States – and that is probably Israel.”

For the recently-appointed ambassador to have cast doubt on the “special relationship” – which the British government and monarchy has been at pains to revive – is a cause for embarrassment for Downing Street and could make Charles’ state visit uncomfortable. The remarks were first reported by the Financial Times on Tuesday, shortly before Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House.

In unusually outspoken comments, Turner also told the students he thought it was “extraordinary” that the Epstein scandal “hasn’t touched anybody” in the US. By contrast, he said, senior British figures – including Mandelson, his predecessor, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – had been “brought down” by the affair.

Question, how long will Turner last in his post as diplomacy is the art of lying most eloquently.

John Tenniel's illustration of the King and Queen of Hearts
at the trial of the Knave of Hearts

"Off with his head!" may apply