Britain was ‘paranoid’ over UK-US relationship after Obama became president: Wikileaks

LONDON - Recent secret cables released by the whistleblower website Wikileaks have revealed Britain’s “paranoia” about its so-called special relationship with the US.

In one cable, a senior US diplomat describes “excessive UK speculation” after Barack Obama became President.

The BBC quoted the secret documents as saying that a 2008 cable written by US Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron describes a meeting with William Hague, then a UK Conservative frontbencher and now the country’s Foreign Secretary.

On being asked at the meeting whether the relationship was “still special”, Hague is said to have replied: “We want a pro-American regime. We need it. The world needs it.”

LeBaron further wrote: “More than one [UK] senior official asked embassy officers whether President Obama meant to send a signal in his inaugural address about US-UK relations by quoting Washington during the revolutionary war, while the removal of the Churchill bust from the Oval office consumed much UK newsprint.”

“This period of excessive UK speculation about the relationship is more paranoid than usual,” he added.

LeBaron further advised resisting the temptation to keep the Britain “off balance about its current standing with us” in order to foster greater assistance. (ANI)