Who gives a twopenny damn about Bush? Why is the Scotsman not commenting on the complete derision of Scottish interests in Europe by Westminster and the purile responses from the Scoittish Executive not a banner headline? Is it too embarrassing to discuss? And we are expected to believe that the Union benefits Scotland? The truth will-out but not apparently in the Scotsman!

#1. I think you were maybe expecting too much!

Well, it is a newspaper after all. It is expected to report on different things around the world. I don't think the Union/Independence issue gets much ink on the sports pages-though I stand to be corrected.

The responsible for the decline in US image is the anti american and anti Bush media.
In the US CNN and other liberal media does blast US policies ( Broken Government - How the right went wrong was a CNN 2 hour story that blasted Bush policies just before elections).
In europe guardian and company blasts america.
Instead of advancing freedom all over the world the media in the west has been undermining america and its role in the global arena.
Bush is attacked while Putin thrives

Aww c'mon, post #4!!

US foreign policy in the middle east is a god-damned mess! Iraq is becoming Bush's Vietnam! And with Isreal stomping about like a short-arsed playground bully, watch out for them lobbing a few at Iran in the not-too-distant future, knowing that big brother USA will let 'em get away with it!

As for Bliar (sic) - he's finished! Maybe 'The trial of Tony Blair' might happen yet!

Scullion...it is a Scottish newspaper after all...so you would expect a major story that effects Scotland to be at least a minor story in a newspaper....but no the story reflects badly on the union so why would we expect it to be in the newspapers..

further to #6.....also I notice that the story was on reporting Scotland...but why wasnt it a story on the main (english) news...oh of course why would anyone outside of Scotland be interested in a story effecting the Scots..

I'm not and never have been anti-American. I am however anti-Republican and Anti-Bush. Other than that I'm no-one's a(u)ntie!

#5 is absolutely correct. Though why they needed a poll to tell them all this, I don't know.

No.1. Spot on. Why is The Scotsman censoring the revelations on Scotland's interests being frozen out of Europe by the UK?

http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.1139...

See also:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/otherpolitics/display...

Who is this GEORGE Bush?

Is he a plane, is he an automobile, no he's the idiot USA president who has made the world more unstable than ever - idiot.

He will be remembered as the fool that the silly Americans voted for.

The United States is like the guy at the party who gives cocaine to everybody and still nobody likes him.
-- Jim Samuels

... I like the way "patriots" blab about anti-americanism and anti-USA and blasting the US government, but they never consider wondering WHY people criticize what USA does...

#4--Peter---thanks!

#13--dragomir---jim samuels=cocaine
the American people should demand the Gov't. rescind all taxpayer foreign aid (billions) to all country's. now, there is a poll the BBC should do!

#14. sandy, USA - Unfortunately (for yawl), criticism of Bush and US policy in not confined to the Guardian (you may have noticed this reading the Scotsman). Criticism also comes from the Telegraph, Express, Mail and Times - hardly the "liberal press" (at least not in European terms). Is the message getting through yet?

#16--James Donald--"hardly the "liberal press"(at least not in European terms)"...not surprised, as i see many Europeans left of "Mao Tse-Tung".........

#17. sandy - "as i see many Europeans left of "Mao Tse-Tung"........." to you, Hitler was probably a bit too liberal and Mussolini just a pinko.

the world turns to the US with their (often not so) empty cups...

bitter is the word that comes to mind....

I think I stand with most of my compatriot Americans in constant amazement as the rest of the world runs us down no matter WHAT we do.

We do nothing -- it's OUR fault the world's going to hell.

We do something -- it's OUR fault the world's going to hell.

So why, when you poll people around the world as to where they would most like to live...it's the USA by far in the lead.

Washington DC is a part of the US largely only because of geography. Americans, please remember, are citizens from every corner of the world. Every culture of the world. Every faith of the world.

We make mistakes. But at least we try to help, even in our gauche ways. Perhaps if some of you worldly types would volunteer to pitch in, you could help direct our naive efforts into some worthwhile end! After all, the government we (supposedly) elect is only as good as our (non-elected) lobbyists will let it be...

This negative perception of the US will have a significant knock-on effect on goodwill and trade. Far easier to lose a good reputation that acquire one. To get the business a US supplier will need to be even more competitive. Devolution (for the US) seems somewhat far-fetched at present, but I’ll warrant a lot of US backpackers are sewing on a Canadian flag. Be interesting to see how far the world perception of UK has also declined. Heading into third-world Asia next week, so will see just how far reality has caught up with image and whether my English gentleman routine still cuts it. This is so serious: Pariah nation status beckons. Need to grow a moustache, wear a black hat, and get into character. So thanks a bunch George and Tony; another fine mess ...

What y'aal may be forgetting is, we don't give the south end of a rats anatomy what y'aal think of us. It's not as if you people are of any consequence.

#22-- Buck, you the man!!!!!

Sandy, #15, Lloyd, #20,

I couldn't agree with you more...
I think we should cut off aid to any country that vilifies us, pure and simple. We should still aid our allies, and them only. Let us stay away from non-allied countries that hate us and then beg for our help...

#20, Lloyd, does the term "FOREIGN POLICY" strike any sparks in you brain?

"super-power" is not something you achive by watching TV, it's the euphemism for empire. Sadly the rest of the Planet has much more knowledge of US foreign -superpower- policy than you do.

15. sandy, USA

"the American people should demand the Gov't. rescind all taxpayer foreign aid (billions) to all country's. now"

What foreign aid is this, Sandy?

The USA will only lend or give money when it benefits the USA. You're not alone, all countries do the same.

You will know that the UK has just paid the last instalment (including interest) on the money lent by the USA to fight WW2. We fought alone (with help from some US sympathisers and others) until Pearl Harbour. If Pearl Harbour hadn't happened forcing the USA to fight, Hitler would have won, because we were broke.

bill, I think I agree with sandy on that one.

Imagine Israel not getting any aid, no more free loans, no billions of dollars, no more bombs and jets, no more funds for building illegal colonies. They would actually have to use bilateral diplomacy for the first time to achieve anything. Fantastic!

And no more bribe money for elites in very corrupt countries, whooohoo, people could actually try to achieve independence and sovereignty.

27. Dragomir

Like I said, the aid to Israel benefits the USA.

They get a proxy army to carry out services for Bush and his neocons.

US nation is a great nation with good reputation . Bush and his assistants are introducing a dark face of us to the world .nowadays US is the symbol of invasion and occupation. We hope with a democrat president in the next presidential election, this role to be changed into positive .

sandy, sandy, sandy! I see you have come off the medication again! And I wouldn't be so ready to agree with Buck - he probably hasn't got a clue where Europe actually IS!!!!!

#22. Buck, Texas - Why you readin' a Scaaaatissh noozpaper then Redneck? Don't you got a banjo lesson to go to?

#26. bill, england - Hitler declared war on the USA not the other way about so even after Pearl Harbour there is a chance they would only have fought the Japs in the Pacific.....

32. James Donald, Edinburgh

Thanks for that - you're right.

Self defense!

#26--Bill--"what foreign aid is this?" aid to all countries that don't think we're pretty anymore, but pick up their annual check. our true-blue allies can continue relying on us.
"if Pearl Harbour hadn't happened forcing the USA to fight, hitler would have won, because we were broke"......the USA wouldn't have allowed that for FDR was looking to get in the war (American people wanted none of it, at the time) & knew full well the japs were going to strike. he also knew, after Pearl Harbour, hitler was obligated to go to war w/us.

#32--James--"so even after Pearl Harbour there is a chance they would only have fought the japs in the Pacific".........i don't agree. FDR wanted in the war before PH, but many in Congress & most of the public didn't think the war in Europe was our fight.
i believe FDR would have found a way, however.

35, 36 Sandy

You're right FDR was a good friend. The Kennedys were lined up with Hitler.

Off to bed now - g'night.

36. sandy, USA - maybe FDR would have contrived a way to lead his nation into the European war but not in Dec 1941.

Dragomir, #25:

"Foreign Policy", you recall, largely comes from the insulated politicians in Washington, DC. It's not necessarily what the average American citizen would be insisting on.

Your ancestors (and mine, too) could probably say the same thing about the British Empire and its leaders.

So I didn't remember that we were "occupying" Scotland. I hadn't seen reports of any recent tribute shipments -- so get me some shortbread and a couple of dozen yards of McLain tartan or we'll twist a few lowlander arms... In fact, it seems the money's all flowing in the wrong direction -- the head of the empire's supposed to be getting RICHER, not poorer!

They are getting richer, just look at the stock market. Look at the wealth gap - top 1% own 80% in USA. And on a global scale it's almost the same. The average salary in the home land of the Empire has not risen for over 30 years, while the upkeep keeps getting higher and while the CEOs get tens of millions of dollars. You're not getting rich because you're not part of the elite Club that run the empire.

The same Club who keeps the masses waving tiny flags and worshiping the school book history and watching mind numbing entertainment-news, the same Club which keeps those masses from learning the real information about USA's foreign policy over the past century. I don't live in USA, I'm a "foreigner" so I'm more familiar with USA the imperial policy. My country is a NATO colony. The same Club which has gained power by turning the American people into a pit of blind "decorators", or as they say in economics "powerful consumer market", while exploiting another bunch of people on the other side of the planet who are starving, not suffering from obesity.

Remember, you're not part of the Club.

correction: blind "devorators", though "decorators" is still correct in the context, but irrelevant ..

Dragomir, you're right -- I'm not a member of "The Club", and I'm sure they'll never invite me!

"The Club" however, is supranational. The membership resides in the US, the UK, Russia, China -- there may even be a member in France. ;^)

So in that respect, it's NOT the American Empire, it it? It's the Insider's Empire. Just headquartered in the territory of the US at the moment. The Chinese will be buying it all and moving it to the countryside outside Beijing any day now.

My "censored" Webster's doesn't have an entry for "devorator" -- could you define it for me, an ignorant American lackey?