This article discusses the issue on Scotland trying to gain independence from Britain. As the support for their independence is growing, the United States remain silent. The Obama administration has stated "the future of Scotland is an internal matter" which could actually be taken as either a good or a bad approach to the situation. By Scotland gaining independence, it would cause years of negotiations over the future of the British nuclear weapons program, North Sea oil reserves and the pound, as stated in the article. Losing Scotland from the United Kingdom would be a disadvantage because Scotland is a third of the U.K.’s landmass and a tenth of its gross national product. That includes a decent amount of the revenue from rich North Sea oil reserves. Also, they would gain Britain’s nuclear weapons without "a port to call home". According to the article, President Obama is greatly respected by the people of Scotland, if the United States choose to put in their word it may be likely for Scotland to think twice about leaving the UK. However, "analysts say a strong American statement could tilt the balance in a tight vote. But no one knows which way." This is where the real problem lies, it seems to be a big decision for the US to make, either to maintain their relationship with Scotland or to think of the UK as a whole and try to stop the changes that will most likely have a great impact nationally.
-Monica Gryszowka
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/us-remains-a-wild-card-in-scottish-independence-vote/2014/04/12/6afb39f3-96d2-487a-ab4f-cde8de596424_story.html
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