JD Sherman's and most of the American comments here are about military might and the US as the great global peace-keeper. Yes, the US has unsurpassed military strength. But sorry lads: I just do not see sufficient evidence that the US has brought peace to other nations.
As for the unlikely scenario of invasions from the East (unlikely because modern terrorism has shown that it is one thing to invade a country but another to run it): all NATO members defend each other in case of invasion.
Uncle Sam's big gun is actually a clumsy and limited instrument, apart from in world wars, and how many of those have there been?

jimbo, Oslo, Norway

so the UK wishes to throw its lot in with the feckless grey men & women of Brussels vs. the UK/US alliance which has not only kept both countries strong, but more importantly has defended the world against tyrants for the past 100 years? fine. as the chinese say, "be careful what you wish for, you may just get it."

RonP, London, UK

I agree entirely here, Gordon is lurching to the left as everyone had expected. I worry about the state of the nation now he's in charge. There appears to be more and more spin from him and less substance to coin his phrase.

F.M. Rilwood, Herts,

What is Europe, anyway? A fairly strong economy, no real agreements among nations, an unelected bureacracy. And zilch of military force. What if Morocco decides they want Spain back? Conquer the land and give all those poor, unmarried men something to do? Who will stop them? The mighty Spanish Navy? The Spanish Army and Air Force? Please. The same goes for France and Italy. They are across the Med from very, very poor people who would like their stuff: land, property, and of course women. You either believe human nature somehow changed, and you don't need protection, or you think it's as it has always been and you make alliances with the US.

Jim Rockford, Irvine, USA, California

"Chris," above, is quite right. The UN, the EU and the Brits will no longer be able to command deployment of the U.S. armed forces, which are essentially the world's only peace force. Bill Clinton let them evade their backyard responsibilities in the Balkans, which was a mistake. In the future it seems likely not even the clueless Democrats will roll over like dogs again. Make no mistake, either--this is all about who deploys the U.S. armed forces, where, if and when.

Larry Hughes, Calhoun County, Michigan, U.S.A.

Yesterdays man, a failed cog in a failed administration. Of entertainment value only.

The same goes for the false - and long since falsified - paranoid fantasy view of Europe peddled in the comments section (you've got to stop believing everything Mark Steyn says, guys). On a par with the black-painted UN helicopters and tank divisions of yore.

David Gilchrist, Tokyo, Japan

The Brits no longer are friends of the U.S. Brown's government, like Democrats in the U.S., are reflecting the views of the British, which is ok, but short sighted.

At some point Europe will need another bail out, and the pacified, isolationist Americans will deny it.

Now that the Brits can't be depended on, they have no influence in Washington, which will decide what to do about Iran without serious consultations with Europe or the Brits.

The U.S. should look out for America's interest and not worry about what the feckless world thinks.

Another skeptic, Denver, CO

Mr Bolton is sometimes a bit over the top, but his basic position is the right one. The US-UK relationship has long had its problems - it started with one, after all.

It comes down to sovereignty. The US did not force the UK into Iraq, any more than the US forced Thatcher to stay out of the Falklands. The EU, though, can and has forced the UK to change numerous laws, for instance forcing the release of criminal and terrorist suspects into the public.

John Miller, Foster City, California, USA

We should all take a deep breath and relax. None of this is new. Relationships change with circumstances and people. Britain's own Lord Palmerston once said Britain had no permanent allies - only permanent interests. The U.S. and U.K. have been friends & allies for a long time. That's unlikely to change although the depth of the relationship may increase/decrease as current events change. The U.K. is reacting to a changing demographic of its populace and a corresponding change in political worldview. As long as a majority of Britons see the U.S. as a grumpy bully that's stirring up trouble with Iran, North Korea, Syria and the various strains of Islamofascism they'll desire a less close relationship. If they decide the U.S. is right to confront these threats or feel directly threatened by events, they may desire a closer relationship. U.K. soldiers are currently risking life & limb alongside U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. That's a pretty good sign of friendship to me.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

My guess is Malloch-Brown & Alexander are style not substance, since the shouty radical left is basically the same. They should keep the lefty losers happy while the real US-UK relationship continues as before.

William McIlhagga, Bradford,

<i>"Perhaps its time for Europe to see the USA as it truly is, a flash in the pan"</i>

Unbelievable. Can't Bush come and liberate Britain from these nincompoops? Perhaps it will come to that one day, with anti-Americanism increasing its stranglehold on the body politic. Roll on, Operation Limey Freedom...

Paul H., Cardiff,

<i>"Perhaps it's time for Britain to stop listening to old world mentality men like Bolton."</i>

And there I was thinking that Europe was the Old World...

<i>"since the USA has been in ascendancy the world has never been so embroiled in wars and border disputes"</i>

Probably because the USA is actually prepared to rouse itself to do something. Unlike the UN or EU.

<i>"His comments about Britain and its future ring hollow, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the USA's complete lack of allies on the world stage."</i>

<i>Complete</i> lack of allies? Sure about that? And I didn't realise that international politics is a popularity contest.

<i>"Maybe its time for men like Bolton to turn their attention to their own countries affairs.Spiralling immigration, crime, poverty and a lack of transparency of both government and military, the USA no longer would seem to be a beacon of democracy."</i>

Talk about pot and kettle... And at least they've <i>got</i> a military.

Paul H., Cardiff,

Perhaps it's time for Britain to stop listening to old world mentality men like Bolton. Inward looking and self serving, Bolton criticises countries as if chastising errant children despite the fact that since the USA has been in ascendancy the world has never been so embroiled in wars and border disputes. His comments about Britain and its future ring hollow, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the USA’s complete lack of allies on the world stage. Maybe its time for men like Bolton to turn their attention to their own countries affairs. Spiralling immigration, crime, poverty and a lack of transparency of both government and military, the USA no longer would seem to be a beacon of democracy. Perhaps its time for Europe to see the USA as it truly is, a flash in the pan

Henry Adams, Manchester, UK,

When the UK is attacked by Iran/Russia or destroyed from the Muslim population within, who will it look to for its defense/survival? The EU, The United Nations? Russia? I doubt it.
I can just hear the screams for America to come rescue the UK. However, keep in mind that the US is currently experiencing a high rate of "War fatigue" and therefore America may be in no mood to save the U.K.
Think about that.
Don't get me wrong. I prefer diplomacy over war anytime. However, the political leaders have to get real and deal with an existential threat when one exists.
I believe that we can all agree that today, Iran is that existential threat and diplomacy has not fared well.
I'd like to see a leader rise up in the U.K. that can deal with that threat and deal with it soon. Failure to do so, may ultimately become too late for anyone.

Ernesto Cornejo, Sr., Keizer, United States of America/Oregon

This is Fantastic news! The US will save billions in embassy costs and endless shuttle diplomacy in 25 languages. We can just say it once and let the EU figure it out! Also the EU's combined military can deal with the expanding threats of the Iranians, et al. Oh, I forgot, they have unilaterally dismantled their navies, air forces, etc. Well, Malick Brown can just talk them to death, and his patron saint, George Soros, can throw an EU-wide Open Borders party complete with Sharia parades. At least the new Caliphate will know how to handle a nuclear Iran and $200/barrel oil! Allah Akbar!

Chris, San Francisco, CA

Mark Malloch Brown is the British equivalent to Dominique DeVillipen. And no, the fact that he's not French doesn't make him any less contemptable.

Steven Katz, Forest Hills, USA New York

Sarah Baxter should have asked - Bolton - "a natural warrior " - about his service - or lack of it - in Vietnam.

Colin, Kingston on Thames,

More accurateyly there jimbo, the English can fight the evil in this world as an ally of the US or be subservient to unelected beurocrats in brussels.

Look east, jimbo, for that is where your real enemies lie. The former and nacent USSR, the muslim hoards presently invading. How does England and the EU defend itself once it's alienated the US? You have castrated yourselves.

Atleast in defeat you can look upon your conquering leaders from your high horse.

Have fun!

JD Sherman, East Windsor, NJ, USA

So the choice is: be subservient towards the US or be among equals in Europe. The problem with the British (and particularly the English, I think) is that they think they are better than their European counterparts. This desire to punch above its weight has led the UK to opt for what it calls a bilateral atlantic alliance with the US. But this so-called bilateralism has consisted in the UK doing what the US wants - even launching an unwinable war. When has the US done what the UK wants?
And clearly Harald Wilson was right in deciding it was not in the UK's interest to fight in Vietnam. Surely a more balanced relation with the US can be obtained if the UK acts as part of the European group of nations. Here the UK can negotiate with equals and not be subservient to anybody. Sarah Baxter's paean to Bolton ("a natural warrior" - strange quality for a diplomat) mirrors the UK's fawning relationship with America.

jimbo, Oslo, Norway

Dear Mr jacobs, Are you really suggesting that elixelx is a phalangist? Play the ball not the man why don't you? It is perfectly possible to hold liberal views that are utterly opposed to both socialism and the growing power os Islamism.

Bolton hits the nail on the head when it comes to the question of Britain's relationship with the EU though. Fair question?

Elaib, Brussels, Belgium

Mark Jacobs wrote here, "While there are still neo-cons and fundamentalists like (John Bolton) around, the world is a very dangerous place."

No word for Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong -il, Osama, Mugabe, Castro or Putin. Now that's provincialism, and ideological blindness.

Since Mr. Jacobs is offering forgiveness, maybe he can be forgiven because he's from New York, which is (mentally) dead center in the US leftists' echo chamber.

ERF, Winchester,

While there are still neo-cons and fundamentalists like JB around, the world is a very dangerous place. And I will forgive elixelx for the comments from Spain - this is a country that has only recently come out of fascism.

Mark Jacobs, New York, USA

I think he has expressed the ultimate European question well - "Do you want to be an independent country or part of a big Europe.?" It would be interresting to hear our political leaders answer to that question - what's the betting they want both, and in wanting both will achieve neither satisfactorily? Most people want the independent country, whereas it seems most politicians want the 'big europe' option.

Tim Brookshaw, Atlanta, GA, USA

While there are still men like John Bolton around the democratic West still has a chance of surviving the depradations of the circling vultures of imposed sharia and inhuman socialism.
A word to Mark Malloch-Brown: don't make any mistakes!

elixelx, elx, spain