Falklands

[The Wizard]

It's true though. Have a look at Wizard's riposte to Lemur's question of what Israel gives to the US in return for the billions in aid, then have a look at his weighing of Britain and Argentina in a matter that doesn't cost the US a cent. The political reality is that Israel and other vocal lobbies get massive amounts of money and cannot be questioned, but Britain fits into whatever policy the US government currently favours, without complaint, and we spend billions for this privilege.

That would be a valid point if Israel actually got the money because of a lobby. Which it didn't.

What you need to understand is that the U.S. is primarily self-interested when it comes to foreign policy. Obama has made regaining the initiative in Latin America a major policy goal, and he's decided the only way to do so is to abandon Dubya's policy of confrontation/firing the ignore cannon. And considering he's had to start with the initiative in Latin American hands, he'll have to accommodate them. Or at least, that's his vision (I lean towards agreeing). Face it: you're tiny, the U.S. is big. Not as tiny as, say, the Netherlands, but the comparison is akin to putting a terrier next to a parakeet, respectively.

P.S. I might also add that giving a country major non-NATO ally status does cost the U.S. money, considering it means the ally in question gets access to the U.S. defense market and the country's technology development, gets loans and U.S. financing for its acquisitions, and more goodies.

EDIT: Excellent link, “What do you expect? You can’t win a struggle against the insular syndrome of an unbridled Englishwoman.”