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Mark Mardell
North America editor
A slice of American life as David Cameron visits
David Cameron will arrive in Washington to meet President Obama later on Tuesday and then they will go to Ohio together to watch a baseball game, before discussions focusing on Afghanistan, Syria and Iran.
In a joint article in the Washington Post, the two men say the USA and the UK have an "essential" relationship.
President Obama is really rolling out the red carpet for David Cameron, who's travelling with his wife, Samantha, as well as the foreign secretary and the chancellor.
They'll be greeted by a crowd on the White House lawn, then Mr Cameron will be the first foreign leader to travel with this president on Air Force One.
Business and glamourThey are going to see a basketball game in Ohio. The president is passionate about the sport and British diplomats say the prime minister sees the invitation as a compliment, stressing the value the president places on their friendship.
The serious business comes later, but in their joint article the two men call the relationship between the two countries special because "we count on each other and the world counts on our alliance".
It goes on to say they will discuss Afghanistan, which they describe as "a difficult mission"; Iran, where they agree there is time for a diplomatic solution; and Syria, where they say they will tighten the noose around President Assad.
There is a lot of serious business, but there will also be a lot of glamour, ending with a state dinner in the White House.
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Comment number 1.
AllenT213th March 2012 - 2:51
"They are going to see a basketball game in Ohio..."The serious business comes later"
Amazing how a president that supposedly cares about the economy and the less well off will grotesquely waste taxpayer's money to see a baseball game! Lets see, Air Force One, a support C-17 or C-5, his back up planes, helicopters and local police forces. I wonder how much this primadona is gonna waste this time?
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Comment number 2.
Fishermans_Enemy13th March 2012 - 2:54
I wonder when the US decided to allow pets on air force one. At least cameron is well behaved. Lets hope he doesnt chew through any important wires when obama starts talking to him about war on Iran.
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Comment number 3.
wilma35013th March 2012 - 2:57
We are a small Atlantic island nation Mr Cameron, please stop pretending to punch above our weight. Sort out our own country before playing games with the big boys. From a realistic nineteen year old politics student.
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Comment number 4.
JClarkson13th March 2012 - 3:13
#3 "From a realistic nineteen year old politics student"
You can be any two of those things but not all three. Considering the UK's small size and corresponding population, the UK does "punch above its weight" in military matters. The only two countries who do better, for their population size, is Australia and Canada (as far as the US is concerned).
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Comment number 5.
Curt Carpenter13th March 2012 - 3:18
I'm pleased that Cameron and Obama are meeting. They have many difficult issues to discuss, and face-to-face in a relaxed atmosphere has the best chance of being productive for both our countries. (I hope their agenda will permit them time to discuss the economy. The US has a good deal to learn, I think, from the UK about austerity -- and we need the instruction.)
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Comments 5 of 246