What is a good ally of the United States?

[Marla_Singer]

We've heard a lot of things about whether a country was a good ally or not of the United States. However, we never hear anyone giving their own definition about what is a good ally. According to the fact it's an anonymous poll, can you all tell me what is, according to you, a good ally of the United States ?

 

[MrPresident]

If you're using the same poll I'm using the same post.

A good ally of the United States is a country that does exactly what it is told. However such a country does not exist, so realistically a good ally is one that generally believes in both of the values of the United States and the method of her foreign policy.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I'll post my previous comment from the other thread.

It depends on the ally and the realities of the ally's political climate and surroundings.

For example, I have been criticized for calling Pakistan a good ally of the United States. People have pointed out that the Pakistani populace is very anti-American and that Pakistan may have contributed to nuclear proliferation. That is true, but, despite of that, the Pakistani government has been surprisingly supportive of the United States, certainly to a far greater extent than would be expected.

You can't hold Pakistan to the same standards you hold, say, Australia or a European nation. The bar for those is obviously higher.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

I hate to repeat myself, so I won't.

I'll just say nobody can really fit into the idea of a "good" ally some members of the US administration have.

 

[Colonel Kraken]

As Aphex_Twin said in the other thread, a puppy-dog country, what else?

--CK

 

[Bozo Erectus]

The current administration doesnt believe in allies, only in subordinates.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
The current administration doesnt believe in allies, only in subordinates.

Well DP, the poll was about what you think, not about what Bush thinks.

(That doesn't change the fact I agree with you on your comment, however, I decided to stay neutral in this thread so I'll shut up now.)

 

[Pongui]

Allies don't let allies go ballistic.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Originally posted by Sean Lindstrom
Allies don't let allies go ballistic.

all on their own

 

[betazed]

"You are either with us or against us".

....and since you are with us here is a bone.

 

[Shadylookin]

there are no allies only oportunist nations that currently have mutual intrests or are in the intrest of not getting invaded/destroyed.
[/cynicism]

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Originally posted by Marla_Singer
Well DP, the poll was about what you think, not about what Bush thinks.

(That doesn't change the fact I agree with you on your comment, however, I decided to stay neutral in this thread so I'll shut up now.)

Oh of course! I forgot to take the HATE BUSH floppy out of my brain implant. Ok, I picked options 5 and 7. I'll try not to say the B word

 

[sysyphus]

A good ally, of any country, supports that country when it is threatened, either by outside human forces, forces of nature or forces of economics.

A good ally assists it's allies for any sort of common good.

A good ally is not obligated to support an ally if it does not share the same viewpoint on a certain issue (e.g. war on Iraq where Canada did not take part, but we are invovled in Afganistan).

No country will support its allies in everything. Canada has many allies and we have behaved contrary to all of them at one time or another, even to Britain.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Originally posted by sysyphus
A good ally, of any country, supports that country when it is threatened, either by outside human forces, forces of nature or forces of economics.

A good ally assists it's allies for any sort of common good.

A good ally is not obligated to support an ally if it does not share the same viewpoint on a certain issue (e.g. war on Iraq where Canada did not take part, but we are invovled in Afganistan).

No country will support its allies in everything. Canada has many allies and we have behaved contrary to all of them at one time or another, even to Britain.

Well to summarize, Canada is a good ally of the United States.

 

[h4ppy]

A US occupied country
An American poodle
A country which always makes war where the US ask him to
A country which defends US actions
A country which defends US beliefs or values
A country which stays neutral when it believes America acts against its own interests (even if it's along US interests)
A country which warns the US when it believes America acts against the US interests

 

[sebanaj]

A country who says the usa is acting against its own interests.

 

[Kinniken]

A country which shares the US's core values (democracy and human rights being the main one, or so I like to believe) and the US's long term interests (the spread of those values and of market economies).
It should help the US in need, but when it (well, its government) believes the US's government is making a mistake, it should say so.

And BTW, what I said above can be applied to most democracies today.

 

[EmpireofVirtue]

A country which believes in the superiority of the United States and defends it is a good ally.

A country which disputes the superiority of the United States is an ennemy.

As a consequence Canada, England and Australia are good allies. Germany, Russia and France are ennemies.

 

[Kinniken]

Originally posted by EmpireofVirtue
A country which believes in the superiority of the United States and defends it is a good ally.

Just curious... What do you mean by "superiority"? Something like economic and military supremacy, a moral superiority or even a God-given right to rule the world?

 

[EmpireofVirtue]

Originally posted by Kinniken
Just curious... What do you mean by "superiority"? Something like economic and military supremacy, a moral superiority or even a God-given right to rule the world?

All the things you've mentionned together.