[acheron]

Ok, but Scotland is not withdrawing "unilaterally" anyway: the government in Westminster specifically authorized this referendum. If there was some serious secession movement in the US along the lines of Scotland's, I don't think the federal government is going to send General Sherman in this time.

[arethuza]

I'm voting "Yes", but I must emphasise how much credit the UK as a whole deserves for handling this in a completely peaceful and fairly civilised way.

[nickbauman]

Totally disagree. Considering what flimsy pretext the US routinely invades countries since WWII, a local invasion would just make it that much more expedient. Look at how many well-enfranchised groups have made hay on the US war machine.