Thread: America's Closest Ally.

Originally Posted by actenneson

We can't be a neutral force in Arab-Israeli conflict

Good, we shouldn't be...

Originally Posted by actenneson

A true ally will stand by you when you are just and not stand by you when you are unjust, a true friend will be by your side even if its not in their own best interest. That is why the UK is a good ally.

You're attempting to apply the personal relationship model to international relations. It's a weak analogy at best. It's used often to allow the masses (who haven't a clue about such things) to "get a handle" on what's happening in the world. It breaks down quite badly as soon as you try to extropolate from the model to the actual relationship, rather than the other way 'round. No nation has "Friends" only mutual interests. Cultural ties count for something, but it is most certainly not a primary factor (IMHO). Also "Just" xs "Unjust" varies with culture and POV. Thus, in the absence of a universal definition, it is of less value in Geopolitics than some of us might wish.

Oh, and when a leader of any nation puts the interests of another nation ahead of his own it is called "TREASON"


WOOF!

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

The Australians sent a naval task group through that area.

Not sure if you ever took a geography course but Australia is a lot closer to China than Canada is. What do you expect Canada to send out a fleet and get there how much longer? Take a hell of a lot less time for any other allies. Seriously thats like getting mad at your brother who lives 8 hours away for not feeding your dog when you could have just asked your neighbor.

Originally Posted by actenneson

Israel is the greatest negative influence for the US in terms of the Middle East. We can't be a neutral force in Arab-Israeli conflict due to the fact we give them so much money. This is also the only reason they stand behind us, it’s because without us they feel that they would not be able to survive.

A true ally will stand by you when you are just and not stand by you when you are unjust, a true friend will be by your side even if its not in their own best interest. That is why the UK is a good ally.

Last time I checked, Egypt received more US aid than Israel.

Originally Posted by Major Dad

Last time I checked, Egypt received more US aid than Israel.

Hmm. I thought Egypt was pegged at 75% of whatever we give Israel.

Doesn't really matter, it's a crappy deal either way...

The fact that Israel scored equal to Canada on our little poll is pretty surprising though...they aren't even in the same league.

I don't think this one was listed but think about it.

SAUDI ARABIA

7%


Its a matter of perspective.

Think about how the Bush family and Bin Laden FAmily think about this. The Carlyle Group and oh did I mention 7%.

Originally Posted by tw-acs

Think about how the Bush family and Bin Laden FAmily think about this.

I'm sure neither one consider the other "closest ally". I know a member of OBL's family, did some work for him at his home north of here. Nice fella, does internet access in a few ME countries. Nothing wrong with being his ally...

Originally Posted by Veni Vidi Vici

The US has many enemies but she also has many allies. I am curious to know who you all think the US's closest ally is. I don't necessarily means her strongest ally but her most loyal one. All of the choices I have put up as choices are close allies with the US. As for my vote I am not sure. I am torn between England, Canada, and Australia.

Hello, this is my first post.

Quite frankly, with the state of things, I think they'd all stab us in the back, given the opportunity.

I voted Canada, because they have the most to lose by our downfall.

I say Kuwait. They owe us one, and they know it. Unless we screw up royally, we've got at least most of them on our side for maybe half a century. Of course, other than oil and airbases, they're not that much help, but it's nice to know we've got a friend. Of course, they are crazy Arabs, so who knows?

I keep waiting for them to ask for statehood to save themselves from the Insanity of the EU...

Why would Britain have to become an American state if it left the EU?

Couldn't we just be an independent nation? We don't want to be a part of the EU or the US.

But, having said that, if we were an American state we'd be by far its largest.

Originally Posted by Boltonian

But, having said that, if we were an American state we'd be by far its largest.

No you wouldn't. Alaska would still remain the largest.

Canada seems to be going more and more to the multi-culturalism model of western europe.

Neither Canada nor Western Europe are anywhere near as multicultural as the US.

Originally Posted by Nemesis

No you wouldn't. Alaska would still remain the largest.

Nope. Britain's population is 60 million - Alaska's population is probably around the size of Gloucestershire.

Next largest would be California - with only 30 million people.

If Britain became an American state, it would dominate.