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This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
I was the UK Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels at the time, and saw firsthand Europe's reaction - one of sympathy for, and unity with, the United States. The French newspaper Le Monde's headline captured the mood perfectly: "Nous sommes tous Americains"; "We are all Americans". In the UK, at the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace the military band played the Star Spangled Banner in a simple but powerful symbol of our transatlantic solidarity.
The display of solidarity came not just because of our long-standing alliance. Sixty-seven Britons died that day; more than in any single terrorist attack before or since. Like the American victims, they represented the whole spectrum of British society, old and young, from all walks of life. They are missed and will never be forgotten. Her Majesty The Queen visited the British Memorial Garden in New York last year - a haven for quiet reflection amid the bustle of the financial district.
While we shared in the pain of the attacks, we also watched with admiration the US's determined process of recovery. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, police and fire fighters from across the US travelled to New York and Washington to help the first responders there. Ordinary citizens got involved. The response showed national character and resolve, and also will not be forgotten. A similar sense of national resilience was shown in Britain after the attack on the London transport system in July 2005.
Ten years on, Britain and America have fought together in Iraq and Afghanistan, cooperated against terrorism around the world, and most recently acted together to help the people of Libya free themselves from repression.
It has been a hard decade, at home and overseas, and one of sacrifice of too many lives. But the 9/11 generation of soldiers, intelligence experts, civilian peace-makers and builders of better societies have learned from their experiences. Joe Klein recently had a cover story in Time Magazine branding this the "new greatest generation" of leaders, hardened in battle, but prepared for the global challenges of the post 9/11 world.
The international community has had its moments of division and incoherence over the past decade. But on Sunday the rest of the world will once again stand united with America, painfully aware of our shared losses that September day and in the conflicts which followed, but determined to build on the hard-won gains of the last decade to create a better and more prosperous world in the years to come.
Follow Nigel Sheinwald on Twitter: www.twitter.com/UKinUSA
Arianna Huffington: Honouring the Memory of 9/11 by Honouring the Memory of 9/12
With friends like the Americans we don't need enemies.
Their blanket support for Israel is a great example, more and more Americans are starting to question it and to question their foreign policy in supporting brutal dictators who will "do as they are told"
You are correct they have never apologized for their support for the IRA and I doubt they ever will
However, for some reason there is this notion that we should have a mindless solidarity with the US.
Even as an example I think the rest of the world just assumes we'll support the US, so it has marginal impact when we do.
I think the people of the UK and US still hold each other in high regard, but I doubt that your political establishment thinks about us from one month to the next.
You missed out unrequired sacrifice off too many lives.
Iraq was a huge mistake allowed only by the uncritical solidarity you gush on about.
"but determined to build on the hard-won gains of the last decade to create a better and more prosperous world in the years to come."
Incase you hadn't noticed in your ivory tower the prosperity (certainly in economic terms) will take years to return to where it was last decade.
There has been a high cost to both Britons and Americans for that "solidarity."
Thanks to George Bush and Tony Blair, the people of the United Kingdom got dragged into a dishonest, unjust, and disastrous war in Iraq. We used to think the UK got dragged along because Blair was being Bush's lap dog, but have since learned that both Bush and Blair were equally dishonest.
Both the UK and the US would have been better served if the British PM or the British people had told George Bush & Company to go get stuffed. And told the American people to snap the hell out of it, wake up and behave responsibly.
Also thanks to that excessive solidarity, officials in the UK apparently felt uncomfortable criticizing the Bush administration and the Pentagon for inept policies and making an absolute hash of the war in Afghanistan (coming up on its 10th anniversary also.)
We'll all be better off if elected officials and the people of the UK ease off on the solidarity with the US and begin to exercise great skepticism about our White House, our Congress, and our wars. Still be a friend... but be a critical friend.
Is that really how you reply to posts?