UK: Obama Administration "Unreachable"

Britain is trying to plan the G20 summit in London, but is having trouble getting in touch with the Obama administration, the Independent reports. Yesterday, Sir Gus O'Donnell, Britain's most senior civil servant said, "There is nobody in there. You cannot believe how difficult it is." Downing Street immediately began to back pedal, insisting that the comments had been taken out of context and calling the relationship between Britain and the US "very good and close." O’Donnell was stressing the importance of a permanent civil service, like Britain’s, rather than one like the U.S.’s, which turns over with every administration.