It seems that the second ranked power in the world is always aligned against the first. First ranked Britain always faced France in the 1700's and 1800's. Although briefly allied during the Crimean War, Britain and France were for the most part rivals. In the 1900's, Britain faced Germany.
During 1914, Britain and Germany were the two most powerful countries in the world and on opposite sides.
In 1941, Russia and Germany were the two most powerful - and went to war. By 1945 after the US had increased the military, it was the US and Russia. And once it became the US and Russia, the cold war began.
Until now, has there ever been a time in history when the worlds two most powerful nations were as close allies as the US and UK are currently?
It would seem that there is nothing those two countries could not accomplish together - not that they don't need others. But in the face of wide UN opposition and in the face of opposition from other powers - namely Russia and China, the US and UK went ahead in Iraq. And noone tried to stop them...more than likely because they couldn't. |