The Scottish independence referendum is now a hot topic
in the District of Columbia, from the corridors of power in the Senate and the
Congress to the bars and coffee shops where talking politics is something close
to an obsession.
And, just like it is at home in Scotland,
opinion on the pros and cons of breaking up Britain appears to be sharply
divided.
Many of the 11 million or so Americans with Scottish ancestry would love the “mother country” to throw off the shackles of Westminster, although their view can be inspired largely by Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and misty-eyed images of home.
Many of the 11 million or so Americans with Scottish ancestry would love the “mother country” to throw off the shackles of Westminster, although their view can be inspired largely by Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and misty-eyed images of home.
A surprising number of Scottish Americans,
however, are dead against independence – and for a wide variety of
reasons.
Some say they simply do not understand why
Scots would risk the end of the “special relationship” with Washington and give
up the history and prestige that comes with being a member of the United
Kingdom.
Others fear it would weaken the military power of America’s staunchest ally, especially if the SNP forces the removal of Trident nuclear missiles from the Clyde.
Many more – especially in the South, where a high percentage of Scottish Americans live – are not impressed by the SNP’s liberal politics, which in US terms go way beyond even the extreme left-wing of the Democrats.
Others fear it would weaken the military power of America’s staunchest ally, especially if the SNP forces the removal of Trident nuclear missiles from the Clyde.
Many more – especially in the South, where a high percentage of Scottish Americans live – are not impressed by the SNP’s liberal politics, which in US terms go way beyond even the extreme left-wing of the Democrats.
They cite the release of the Lockerbie
bomber as Exhibit A of what would happen should the “socialists” at Holyrood be
put in charge of foreign policy.
Privately, some Republican Members of Congress admit they would support Scottish independence because of a firm belief that “small government is always better than big government”. (...)
Privately, some Republican Members of Congress admit they would support Scottish independence because of a firm belief that “small government is always better than big government”. (...)
However, he [Congressman John Duncan,
Republican, Tennessee] does not believe the biggest dispute so far between Holyrood and Washington – over the compassionate
release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi – has done any lasting damage.
He said: “It maybe hurt a bit at the time but so many other things have happened since then. Looking back now with 20/20 hindsight, people obviously thought the man was in much worse shape than he has turned out to be.” (...)
He said: “It maybe hurt a bit at the time but so many other things have happened since then. Looking back now with 20/20 hindsight, people obviously thought the man was in much worse shape than he has turned out to be.” (...)
Veteran attorney John Bellassai, vice
president of the National Capital Tartan Day Committee, said: “The big issue
for Americans is that we don’t understand why the Scots would want to leave the
Union when they have been our closest allies for so long.
“David Cameron was here recently and he spoke very eloquently about the special relationship. The feeling among Scottish Americans, at least here in Washington, is why would you want to jeopardise that?”
Outside the Beltway, in the heartlands of America, he said the decision to free Megrahi had seriously damaged the SNP’s credibility.
“Ninety-nine per cent of Americans just don’t understand why a man who murdered 270 people, including 189 US citizens, was simply allowed to go free,” he said.
“David Cameron was here recently and he spoke very eloquently about the special relationship. The feeling among Scottish Americans, at least here in Washington, is why would you want to jeopardise that?”
Outside the Beltway, in the heartlands of America, he said the decision to free Megrahi had seriously damaged the SNP’s credibility.
“Ninety-nine per cent of Americans just don’t understand why a man who murdered 270 people, including 189 US citizens, was simply allowed to go free,” he said.
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