Suez 50 Years On Tom McDougall

Tom McDougall is an ex director of education and a former history teacher. His talk was about how Britain really lost its status as a world power during the Suez Crisis which also highlighted just how tenuous the 'Special Relationship' with America is. The American navy had orderes to shoot at the British Fleet is they got out of line and threatened American interests.

He started his talk asking us about our knowledge of America and its leader. Most of us had a good knowledge on the subject. He then went on to ask about our European knowledge which for most of us was sadly lacking. This highlighted how we are Europeans but still look towards America. The Americans however have very little interest about us except when they want something fronm us. The 'Special Relationship' as most of us suspected is really a one way relationship.