The Delusion of the 'Special Relationship'

[GedKelly1999]

There are no secret Courts in England and Wales (which I assume is what you mean by "the UK", Scotland being a separate jurisdiction). I don't need to Google conspiracy-theorist nutjob websites, thanks. I'm not really sure why you're complaining that YOU have cost the taxpayers at least £100K, it seems like it should be us complaining about that.

And if you don't know or understand the difference between secret and private, then that's your problem.

[realzoomy]

He is so sneaky. Ask him about the Secret Family Courts. I would if ever I met him. He would not want me asking him questions about his relationship with Ian Josephs!

[GedKelly1999]

@realzoomy Secret Family Courts? What are you talking about?

[realzoomy]

@GedKelly1999 Don't you realise there are secret courts in the UK? I was dragged through the secret family courts for 7 years, it cost the taxpayers at least £100,000. This is why Ken Clarke has made it harder for people to get legal aid, he's trying to stop thye gravy train of professional loser secret family court solicitors. Google secret family court for more info. John Hemming MP is a double crossing bleep, he pretends to help people who are being persecuted in those courts.

[thedukeofpotato]

There's no such thing as special relationship, only national interests.

[3sjh3]

UP DA RA!!! brits go home or die..I'd prefer sending home in pine boxes because if I thought for a second they'd leave on their own I'd be crazy.

[shedendboy1]

@3sjh3. Why dont you Irish fuck off out of Britain, I Tell you why you wont Go, United Kingdom Benefits,

[TheLiberalKnight]

@3sjh3 Ireland is about as relivant to world affairs as dog shit is to food. Nobody gives half of a shit about Ireland or anything Ireland does. So be quite, stop moaning about the Scottish & the English, and try to pay back your debts.

[dezboss]

@TheLiberalKnight That is so true, I'm not particularly anti-Irish but I do think that regardless of their EU membership they are rather insignificant in the modern world.

I'm not saying that the UK is a world leader (world power yes but not leader), but we are a member of NATO, the G7, G8 and G20, we have a seat on the UN security council, we are a nuclear power and our EU membership is clearly prominent. We obviously count for something in the world.

Nobody can say the same for Ireland.

[TheLiberalKnight]

@dezboss Exactly.

[dezboss]

@TheLiberalKnight It occured to me that if the Irish were attacked by Al Quaeda, they would go out of their way to blame us for it.

Honestly, like the Americans, the Irish have got the most extraordinary ability to blame us for several things in their history that was nothing to do with it.

[ghostfaced1]

God I can't believe I've actually found something heseltine has said making sense lol

[larrydelamb]

I'll tell you noobs the nature of the special relationship. the United States Federal Reserve , a criminal private bank which loans paper credit monopoly vouchers to the US Treasury department at interest . And is owned by the same family that own the bank of Englad- The Rothschild Family

[uknutjob]

Yea! Its time to put an end to the "special relationship" The British people are crazy if thay think America gives one iota about them.

[dezboss]

@uknutjob Amen to that. I also think Americans need to get it into their heads that not everyone in Europe really gives that much of a damn about them.

[scottishchap2008]

hesseltine is a traitor to this country, him and his elitist friends sold britian down the river to this monster EU so he would bash america because unlike the europeans they believe that the government should fear the people and not the other way round like we have in the UK were the thought police terrorise the people

[wank0r]

The Americans are CUNTS.. we need to align ourselfs more with europe

[kathy950]

@wank0r don't you think that's a little mean? americans are not the monsters others make us out to be

[Onera1970]

@wank0r Mate ,Europeans especially French and Germans hate your guts!

[dezboss]

@Onera1970 With all due respect, the French hate the Americans more than they've ever hated us since the Battle of Waterloo. As for the Germans, our relations have been much better with them in my opinion than they've ever been with the US.

In terms of being unpopular, I'd say the Americans come up trumps.

[barracuda7018]

@dezboss Tell me 3 reasons why the French should hate America more than Britain .I agree the US is far more unpopular in the world compared to the UK.

If you are the worlds only superpower ,there will always be other countries that will be green with envy and I say envy only because hate is different.

[dezboss]

@barracuda7018 I agree they shouldn't hate the Americans more than the British, but it's not up to me to dictate who they hate or not. I'd say though that they, like most of the world, dislike Americans for being irresponsible with their power. Knee jerk anti-americanism has existed in Europe since the 19th century, so it's not really anything to do with the US being the only superpower.

Having said that, I'd die for France before I spilt one drop of blood for America.

[UddinNo1]

well said sir

[chanctonbury63]

Right on Hes! (excuse the pun!!). It IS THE MOST pathetic, self demeaning and thoroughly delusional piece of crap imaginable. It makes us look like a Nation of ass licking, brown nosing toadies with absolutely no self respect whatsoever. Period.

[Hexachloraphine]

the interesting

[TheWitchdoctr]

I'm tired of America haters. Not everyone over here is as pathetically moronic and ignorant and fat as you believe. If you really think we're all bad and stupid and "niggers" and the "worst of the world" then you should continue living in your tiny box world and block out reality.

As for the Special Relationship... damn America for breaking something like that. Does everyone remember Thatcher and Reagan? I miss them...

[blueray1969]

The sycophantic drivel that has been coming out of the BBC for 2-days because Barack is in town turns my stomach. There is news going on in teh world, does anyone really care what Michele Obama says to some multicultural school in South London? For Christ's sake, as Heseltine said, it's pathetic

[Donald6899]

It makes me mad everytime I hear Britain talk about the "Special relationship" with the United States of America. It is only a special rewlationship when it suits them. Do you ever hear the Americans talking about the special relationship? No. If we do have a special relationship, where were they during the Irish troubles in the 70's? Britain was once a mighty nation - we still are. America is a declining power - Britain, don't be shackled to a corpse.

[airsolaja]

Biggest shit any nation can enbark on is to be so inhuman and bombard under false pretext of "protecting democracy) another country. Nato bombing of Serbia was unprecedented failure in behaviour and example of distorted values in todays society. Story continues with Libya now, and the bigest victims are innocent people who have no say in this matter.

[nicck]

If Britain needs to choose a side, there's always a nice group of friends across the channel. Time and time again they offer their friendship, and we seem to turn it down for getting cosy with business men. It's just totally wrong.

[meronmotors]

the british will always be our closest alley. they our our father and the commonwealths our brothers and sisters. very few americans realize this anymore. Obama really doesnt think like most americans. he is partial to france. Most americans know france is said to be our allei but i would put all my eggs in that basket. i would put all my trust in the british. they are the most trustworthy and respectable.

[DaMuttzNutz]

Next time the IRA kick off, hopefully we'll have the good sense to hunt down their fundraisers in the bars of Boston and Chicago and kill them

[vulcanusii]

I think our shared language, interests and history make our relationship unique, but by no means essential and most probably not "special". And a relationship of the people, not of the politicians.

[dezboss]

I appreciate the fact that America has helped us in the past, both world wars etc (HELPED that is, not SAVED) but it's not important in the long run. If required, I would be prepared to attack the US with nuclear weapons as much as anywhere else if it was best for England.

We should concentrate our foreign policy on Europe, because Europe IS our future. America just holds us back and overall, I think gives us a poor name in the world.

[dezboss]

I can't believe just how offended some of the Americans reading this are. Heseltine is NOT being anti-American here, he is simply stating the fact that we are not America's big priority and by God they shouldn't be ours.

If it were up to me, I would cut all serious ties with the US and remove the UK from NATO like De Gaulle did and keep relations purely diplomatic. I would never let the UK be taken into a war on America's behalf unless it was in British interests.We don't owe them a thing!

[IAspire2010]

@dezboss Don't owe them a thing? What about all the money and equipment the US gave to the British during World War II? The British were begging for the US to give Britain war materials and cash. Had it not been for US support from the Lend-Lease Act, the British might very well have been defeated by Germany. Go back and restudy history.

[dezboss]

@IAspire2010 You clearly didn't read what I wrote. I said that I appreciate that they have helped us in both world wars, but heaven help us they haven't been wonderful to us. We are our own great nation, the most influencial in the making of the modern world. That doesn't mean we are 'better' than eveyone else, but we should stand on our own two feet with confidence and not follow America like a joke.

America is I suppose a fine country in it's own right, but I'm not an american arse kisser.

[IAspire2010]

@dezboss Well, if you had your way your country would definitely not be the most influential in the making of the modern world. In fact, Britain's global influence presently is still less than that of other countries. Just look at China, it has the world's second largest economy and its importance in the world way outshines the British. Even Germany has more influence than Britain because Germany is Europe's economic engine, not Britain. The British are not even the dominant force of Europe.

[dezboss]

@IAspire2010 I'm not talking about the present for heaven's sake. Are you deliberately trying to mis-understand me? I'm talking about our world contribution in history, the spread of the English language, our contribution to the victories in both world wars (and others, Napoleonic wars etc), the Anglican communion, the sciences, arts, parliamentary democracy. All this in the world is partially due to our country's contribution. That doesn't mean we are the most influencial right now you moron.

[IAspire2010]

@dezboss And really, I doubt the British could extend their relationship with the rest of Europe. Your people still don't like the French, distrust the Germans, and the Spanish is still angry that the British won't let go of Gibraltar.

[dezboss]

@IAspire2010 Of course the British aren't the dominant force of Europe, that's France and Germany. Did I say otherwise? What I'm trying (and clearly failing) to explain, is that despite being a fine enough nation on our own we do not stand as an influencial force in the world unless we are a part of the EU. The EU has the potential of being immensely succesfull and we should be a part of that, not keep looking to America because America cannot do any good for us. I couldn't say it clearer.

[dezboss]

@IAspire2010 There will always be foolish Eurosceptics in the UK, but even ones who are most passionately against the EU cannot overlook it's importance.

[593OLYMPUS]

@IAspire2010 You may well be right regarding GB being potentially defeated by Nazi Germany if you had not supplied additional materials ( we will never know ) - but the USA was keeping way out of WW2 then as opposed to your new idea of starting most wars so you can be the first there. You should be ashamed of yourselves looking back on history and doing sod all for 2 years until the Japs blew your fat arses out of the water at Pearl Harbour.

[Redcarpet01]

@593OLYMPUS Yeah all they did was send money & arms to China in Asia & Britain. Wanted US shed the blood until forced to intervene at the last moment. ROFL!

[Onera1970]

@dezboss I agree ,some British politicians in the past like Labor left wing commies Tony Benn or Michael Foot who would side with the USSR in cold war rather than with US.

[dezboss]

@Onera1970 If I'd had my way, my country wouldn't have sided with either the USA or the USSR. At least we wouldn't have co-operated as closely on intelligence with America.

P.S. It's the 'Labour' party in the UK.

[Onera1970]

@dezboss O.K .Labour party mate. Sorry, I am from Turkey ,we learned US English but I stand corrected. Yes, you are right, the animosity between France and US is mutual,the French are frog eaters and cheese eating monkeys in the eyes of Americans and hated like pests. But I don't think Germans like the Brits more than yanks  especially after Cameron's EU veto .

[MrArnold1972]

it is absolutely true what mr heseltine says here.

It could not have been expressed any clearer.

I am totally against any form of relationship with america.

[edwardelriclover9121]

HE should watch an episode of Hetalia. THEN tell me America and England don't have a "Special Relationship"! ;)

[MrArnold1972]

@edwardelriclover9121 the uk and america has never had any kind of "relationship" and hopefully we never will.

allies in conflict maybe.?

but never true friends and this man has explained very clearly why.

[edwardelriclover9121]

@MrArnold1972 Actually, America and England are lovers~!

[MrArnold1972]

@edwardelriclover9121 well maybe the actual general public of both nations.but i dont believe so politically.

[IsupportWikileaks]

I've never heard so much truth from a conservative in my life.

[sironisix]

America have commitment issues

[MrArnold1972]

@sironisix no.america has issues full stop.!

[dezboss]

Has anyone noticed that all the Americans who have left comments here ever so casually ignore Heseltine's (accurate) observation about their giving money to the IRA? Either they are too embarrased to admit their country has done shamefull things or they are just thick. Or both of course.

[risteardsean]

@dezboss: Granted the IRA fund raised in America, but that was cloak and dagger business.. The idea (which was encouraged to stop donations to the IRA) that the US happily allowed Fundraising without a second thought is shown to be ridiculous by anybody who has researched it.. By the early 80s George Harrison, top Ira man in the US, was arrested after getting caught in a FBI sting operation, The IRA support network was smashed soon after

[risteardsean]

Not too sure on the "flow of money to the IRA" that kept flowing.. what has since came out is that The IRAs main man in America collected $1 million throughout the 70s, which from a population of roughly 30 million Irish-Americans at the time and over a period of 10 years isnt much.. in the 80s gaddafi kept the IRA afloat and by the 90s they were out of money and weapons..also The US government took Britains side in the troubles, always refering to the troubles as a "british internal matter"

[MrArnold1972]

@risteardsean the americans themselves have felt the true power of terrorism and its with sadness that they will be struck again unless the root problem is addressed.i absolutely agree with lord heseltine here.

the true enemies of the democratic world is the americans themselves.

[gscurling]

It was the 4 lawyers:  Bill and Hillary, Tony and Cherie, who had the relationship

Cherie and Laura became good friends later on, not so much Tony and George

[nerudw]

I thought he was talking about a special relationship with a god. I was happy till i heard otherwise...

[Rachiejane1]

Makes me cringe. There is no such thing as a special relationship - all Americans think about is their own country and we should do the same. Unfortunately that is the way the world works...!

[dezboss]

@Rachiejane1 I could not agree more.

[olddonno1]

lord Heseltine my man! u said it we aint nothing to the us, so why do our goverments pusue this b*****t! We the UK are better than the us fundamentalist

god fearing society! The UK can stand alone!

[NJRocks281]

idiot

[dezboss]

@olddonno1 Totally!!!

[Jnyman81]

I love England! Our greatest Friend! Don't let this joke of President fuck up a relationship that's been strong for so long! Obama is Americas worst nightmare! He is slowly taking away are freedom, one step at a time!

[Jnyman81]

I live in northern California and I think the UK is our best friend! Obama is a disgrace!

[dezboss]

I'm not anti-american, but I have never believed in the special relationship. If it ever did exist, it would have been the last few years of the war. We never could be equal partners and I think it's silly to suggest anything of the sort. I think it's important to keep good relations with the US and remain allies but let's cut this stupid idea that they see us as equal partners. We should concentrate more on Europe because Europe (despite the financial problems) IS our future.

[inishboy2]

As an American, I love the United Kingdom and what Tony Blair did and how he supported us when no one else would--not Israel, not Germany, not France, nor our other so-called allies--will always be remembered. I know it must seem that my nation uses yours and for the most part that has been true, but a new generation of Americans are coming of age and soon we will be the leaders of this nation. We will remember those days when we had one ally and it was you, England. Special Relationship always.

[NJRocks281]

Sounds like Brits want it to end not America.

[tigerfedor]

@NJRocks281 your comment doesnt make much sense, how can we (the british people) WANT it to end, if we wanted it to end, that would mean we didnt like you, but if we didnt like you there would be no special relationship in the first place, see what i mean?, in terms of a 'political' special relationship the question is completely different, but the status of our political relationship should not be allowed to determine how the brit/US people feel toward each other (ie the real relationship)

[NJRocks281]

Brits are just obsessed with American attention. The UK is one of the only things in the world the US government doesn't have to worry about, be thankful. We have thousands of troops on the border of N/ South Korea, We have troops in Iraq/ Afghanistan, Iran is developing nukes, the Muslim world is always begging America to salve the Israel/ Palestine problem, China is taking our jobs, Hugo Chavez and Castro are conspiring, terrorists are at our gates...fuckin relax America is busy.

[tigerfedor]

@NJRocks281 the only times we ever hear about you is when you are on the news going into war with someone or being attacked by terrorists or causing global financial crises or asking us to go into war with you...... your always doing some crazy shit lol, its not our fault you are always in the news.

[NJRocks281]

Well if you get your info from the BBC then that is the only kind of stuff they will report on about America.

[Rachiejane1]

@NJRocks281 Are we really going to go there with the biased media thing? You definitely wouldn't 'win' that argument. America is known for it's biased media!

[olddonno1]

@NJRocks281 America is busy? yea busy intefering with

everyone elses buisness! well of course they no best, thats

why there kids are on the streets blowing each other away! how civilised?

[adamswampy]

@NJRocks281 - It's not Brits that are obsessed - it's some of our politicians. I don't know anyone at all who could give a hoot about our relationship with the U.S. The U.S. will always put it's interests first above ours, we should do the same regarding our national interest. It's not being pro- or anti-American, it's just common sense.

[TheIceman567]

@tigerfedor That's right on Brother!

[Mackem1989]

I'd never thought I would ever agree with a Tory, but Heseltine is spot on with what he says here.

[Kildruf79]

I am a U.S. citizen and I have never heard about this nonsense of a "special" relationship with England. It baffles me why the State Department or the White House would put precedence on the UK-US relationship to begin with. What about our other important allies? Can't our relationship with Canada, Japan, Australia, and Germany be "special" too?

[jozza5589]

@Kildruf79 i think the "special" goes back to the wars. so no the relationships with the others probably wouldn't.

[molineux199]

@Kildruf79 i am from uk, and they say that because we come form the same people,and no uk...no us,so uno :D

[jimmy08LTFC]

@Kildruf79 it all started with intelligence gathering during the cold war so

so none of the countries you listed would have much or no value especially germany and japan

[jimmy08LTFC]

its the people between the u.k and america

who have the Special Relationship not the governments

[lostinseganet]

I can agree with that Americans like British more than people from Israel

[dezboss]

@jimmy08LTFC That is true in some ways, I do admit that.

[Churchx77]

No its not. The americans look down at the UK or Europe in general. And the brits do at the americans. Its an all out lie that everybody and nobody believes.

[tonylee1973]

@Churchx77 its part of nationalism. and nationalism is not going depiste what the kids in the centers of power think

[Churchx77]

Not really no. Its something to be patriotic or even to the point of being nationalistic. But when I talk to some brits and they think Im an american(Im french but have an american accent when I speak) they immediatly try to dismiss me, theyre quite agressive about it. Not all of them of course but quite a lot to be an isolated thing. They talk about how americans have 'a nigger president', they laugh at 9/11. If you mention the London bombings they barely acknowledge it, they dont care.

[kathy950]

@Churchx77 that's not true. americans do not look down on the UK or Europe.

[Churchx77]

@kathy950 Of course they do.

[kathy950]

@Churchx77 where did you get that idea? did one person say that and then you assume all americans are the same? i'm american and all the people i know are not like that.

[Mysteryskatin]

@Churchx77 I didn't know Americans looked down upon Europe and the UK. Maybe backwoods motherfuckers, who look down upon everyone who doesn't own 17 guns or doesn't wake up every morning and say, "Mhhm, smells like freedom."

I have a really good British friend. We always playfully bust the balls of the other's nation. But we know we can do it, because we're so similar and can joke around without fear of offending.

Let him hear a Frenchman say what I say, and he would lose his shit. Lol.

[Churchx77]

@Mysteryskatin They do, theres a reason they call europeans eurotrash when they get angry.

[Mysteryskatin]

@Churchx77 That's an internet term. I've literally never heard it in real life. I just said "backwoods motherfuckers," but I don't have animosity for rural folks. I am one.

When it comes down to it, there's a reason we're referred to as the west. We have the same values, culture, and politics for the most part.

[Churchx77]

@Mysteryskatin Well then you live a very sheltered life. Good for you then, I suppose ignorance is bliss.

[Mysteryskatin]

@Churchx77 Oh, no sir. I'm extremely liberal and I'm atheist, which puts me at odds with probably 95% of the people I know. But also, even though I'm liberal, I oppose affirmative action and I'm against abortion. I'm naturally skeptical so I tend to form my own opinions. While people like you feel the need to over analyze everything, pretending to be skeptical, because it makes you seem more intelligent. When in actuality you just conform to whatever you're "supposed to."

[Mysteryskatin]

@Churchx77 It's obvious that America and Britain have a special relationship. We share massive amounts of intelligence, and have been since WWI. British troops train in America and vice versa. We're bound by a common language. British film and music is popular in America, and vice versa. If you're American and you meet someone from Britain you don't really look at them as a foreigner as you would if they were German or French, because our culture is so intertwined.

[Churchx77]

@Mysteryskatin You think the US only shares intel with the UK? Its in NATO, shit it even shares with countries who arent in it. Theres a lot of troops training in the US, training with the US or troops training with foreign forces outside of just having bases on foreign soil.

[Mysteryskatin]

@Churchx77 True, but it's to a greater extent with Britain. I think I've read that the US and Britain share more intelligence than any other two nations in the world.

British troops train in America far more often than say, French troops.

For example, Britain gave America the intelligence that stated Saddam was trying to obtain Uranium, and the US took it in such confidence that we invaded Iraq. (obviously the claims turned out to be false, but you get the point.)

[Hperman09]

@Churchx77 We only get angry when they bash us , it's called defending ourselves. Europe does it 90% all the time to us for no damn reason in the internet so yes we get angry. It's the same when we bash the French for no reason, the french defend by bashing us back.

[MrArnold1972]

i agree the fabled relationship is a delusion.and it will put the uk in grave danger in the future.and its the usa relationship with israel that caused the attack on the world trade centre.

[suryavajra]

As an American I agree it's a delusion. There are no permanent allies. Only permanent interests. Nobody told you guys to go on an on about a ''special relationship'' like its King Tut's golden undies...lol!

The facts are relationship was special because on many issues, the interests of the Brits and the Americans dovetailed nicely....

[MrArnold1972]

well most people here dont recognise a relationship.but this countrys troops should not be in afghanistan.that i do know.

[suryavajra]

MrArnold, that is for your country to decide. Thanks for all of the help in the past. You may go with our thanks.

[MrArnold1972]

well new york now knows what it feels like to be terrorised.more people were killed or injured in two hours than 20 years of ira terrorism.thats the horrible truth.!!

[suryavajra]

yes, Mr. Arnold, the terrorism today can be a lot more frightening in its prospects than the terrorism of yesteryear.

[MrArnold1972]

isnt it a refreshing change to see an mp actually telling you how it is.all of todays mps would learn a lot from lord heseltine..

[MrArnold1972]

what words of wisdom...!!

[MrArnold1972]

yes indeed mr heseltine the cash did keep flowing.and in a tragic event of fate it has backfired on the americans as the 9/11 attacks have showed.let the americans feel what its like to be terrorised and then they can see what they have been funding.!!

[MrArnold1972]

that is the most sensible statement i have ever heard from any mp.why oh why did he ever not become our prime minister.he is honest and frank.truthful and to the point.god bless mr heseltine.

[Pocketwatchable]

Yes, the American government has pushed the UK to the side on a number of occasions, taking our knowledge on breaking the sound barrier, the TSR2 project, re-armament programmes in Iraq after the first gulf war, allowing funding to the IRA, and even the extradition treaty between the 2 is heavily favoured on the americans side. I think they have even illigally increased import levies against our goods when their industries were struggling. Its called protectionism and the US are masters of it.

[hop208]

I suppose our government sometimes gives the UK the short end of the stick on several issues, but as far as the American public is concerned. I as most of the people that I know regard the UK as our closest friend and ally. I take what this Lord says with a grain of salt. He probably doesn't travel to the US that often and his general tone gives the impression that he isn't that fond of the US anyway. If I was in the audience I would have protested the remark as I'm sure other American's would.

[324wilson]

Well, USA and UK has a good relationship but I think at the end, USA would rather prefer to have deal with Canada (our Commonwealth ally) than the UK! After all, Canada and USA has free trade with one another and so on and so forth!

[wilsonnortheast]

We arent in a relationships we are a vassal. We are nothing more then italy or hungary to americas germany. They say jump and we say thank you for this opportunity to waste our lives, resources and the trust of our people for your countries ends.

[MrArnold1972]

this "lord" has summed it up quite nicely.every word is true it cant be denied.

[hop208]

Yes it can. A survey was recently done in the US polling thousands of American's about there opinions of foreign countries. The UK rated 87% favorably compared to 56% of the UK viewed the US favorably, so as a matter of fact we like you more then you like us. The public feels more connected with you then our government does. Besides what were we supposed to do?! Ban remittances of all Irish Americans to relatives back home. There are more Irish Americans then there are Irish.

[suryavajra]

hop308, I suspect your logical explanations will fall on deaf ears....

[hop208]

It's what usually happens when dealing with blind Anti Americanism. Some make valid points, others just cover their ears and say "I hate America" over and over again.

[MrArnold1972]

for a start i personally like americans.i should do im married to one.and i think polls are utter nonsense.but it was also american senators of apparent irish ancestry who have never been to ireland that irritate me.what a mix.irish/scottish american that doesnt sound feasible.we english are descended from germans and scandinavians.what a diverse lot we are.

[hop208]

Which is why I am talking about American people, not our elected officials. Our politicians are IDIOTS!! I still can't believe how uninformed some of them are. Also, there is no "American" race besides Native Americans and they would rather be referred to by their specific tribes. An Irish/Scottish American = 1 parent of Irish ancestry and the other of Scottish Ancestry. Unless you are really into your European ethnicity you are just a white person.

[hop208]

36,278,332 in 2008 compared to Irelands 4,459,547 in 2008

[hop208]

That doesn't include the additional 3.5 million which identify themselves as Irish/Scotish American.