True U.S. allies

[ijohn57s]

Who are the United States' true allies?

I think some of them would be the U.K, Italy, Poland, and Australia.

What do you all think?

[Kodratos]

Japan and Israel are our only true friends. We have other good friends though in Eastern Europe.

[ijohn57s]

Japan and Israel are our only true friends. We have other good friends though in Eastern Europe.

They certainly qualify in my mind. I'm surprised at myself for not having thought to put them on my list.

[Lunar]

Australia would have to be added by Israel and Japan.  Australia sent troops to Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, along with the two world wars.  Can any other country claim the same?

I don't recall if the UK sent anything into Vietnam, I know Canada did, but they miss on the Iraq.

[ijohn57s]

Australia would have to be added by Israel and Japan.  Australia sent troops to Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, along with the two world wars.  Can any other country claim the same?

I don't recall if the UK sent anything into Vietnam, I know Canada did, but they miss on the Iraq.

I would consider all three countries to be our allies.

[Lunar]

Oh they are, but I'm saying that Australia has always been there beyond the other two.

[ijohn57s]

Oh they are, but I'm saying that Australia has always been there beyond the other two.

I think you have to cut Japan some slack due to the tight military regulations that they have been bound by since WWII. And as for Israel in the Iraq conflict, I don't really blame them for not wanting to get caught up in that one. I think they were just putting their own national interests first.

[Lunar]

Israel has never been able to contribute troops, this is because they need all their troops at home.   Without a doubt, Israel has the most pro-US populace out of almost any country in the world, which causes their government to act likewise.

I'm simply talking about activity in the wars to show how much Australia has done.

[cwelsch]

UK, Israel, Canada, Australia, Japan, a number of others to varying degrees.  We're in security treaties with a number of countries through NATO, ANZUS (though suspended with NZ for now) and other arrangements.

[MarkDel]

CWelsh,

That looks like a pretty good list, except I would remove Canada at this point.

[12th Doctor]

Britain, Japan, Australia, Israel, Italy, most of Eastern Europe.  That's about it.

[MarkDel]

Britain, Japan, Australia, Israel, most of Eastern Europe.  That's about it.

Italy as long as the current government stays in power...after that, who knows.

[English]

I think you mistake anti-Bush sentiment for anti-Americanism. Most British people hate Bush but quite like the US.
...and as for allies, the UK has been a long standing ally of the US and Bush repaid us by imposing visas on British tourists and fingerprinting all UK visitors.

[12th Doctor]

Britain, Japan, Australia, Israel, most of Eastern Europe.  That's about it.

Italy as long as the current government stays in power...after that, who knows.

I included Italy after the fact, ashamed I forgot them.  Unlike most Liberals, I don't insult our allies by claiming that the US is acting unilaterally.  I still count Spain in there sorta.  I think they ditched their gov. because they lied to them, not because they were against us.

[12th Doctor]

I think you mistake anti-Bush sentiment for anti-Americanism.

I think you mistake anti-Americanism for anti-Bush sentiment.

[MarkDel]

I think you mistake anti-Bush sentiment for anti-Americanism.

I think you mistake anti-Americanism for anti-Bush sentiment.

Indeed. I was in Europe pre-9/11 and it was every bit as bad then.

[English]

Not true. I know several Americans living in the UK and they encounter little if any trouble. Brits are not Anti-American whatsoever, they just don't like Bush. They don't like the whole gun-slinging, Texan cowboy business. It unsettles us a bit.
It's amazing actually the amount of air-time given to the US election in Britain. It's on the news practically every day.

[MarkDel]

Not true. I know several Americans living in the UK and they encounter little if any trouble. Brits are not Anti-American whatsoever, they just don't like Bush. They don't like the whole gun-slinging, Texan cowboy business. It unsettles us a bit.
It's amazing actually the amount of air-time given to the US election in Britain. It's on the news practically every day.

It's on the news everyday because European media and governments are beginning to use the United States as a "boogeyman" in the same way Arab states have for decades. By focusing on the US, your leaders and media distract you from the fact that your own countries are falling apart around you.

[English]

I think you mistake anti-Bush sentiment for anti-Americanism.

I think you mistake anti-Americanism for anti-Bush sentiment.

Indeed. I was in Europe pre-9/11 and it was every bit as bad then.

Which country? I don't see much evidence of anti-americanism in Britain and I live here. The only thing I see is a dislike of Bush, but probably no more than you see in Massachussetts of Rhode Island.

[12th Doctor]

Not true. I know several Americans living in the UK and they encounter little if any trouble. Brits are not Anti-American whatsoever, they just don't like Bush. They don't like the whole gun-slinging, Texan cowboy business.

And, has Bush acctually done this, or is it just assumed because people around the world think that most Americans fit this image?

[MarkDel]

I think you mistake anti-Bush sentiment for anti-Americanism.

I think you mistake anti-Americanism for anti-Bush sentiment.

Indeed. I was in Europe pre-9/11 and it was every bit as bad then.

Which country? I don't see much evidence of anti-americanism in Britain and I live here. The only thing I see is a dislike of Bush, but probably no more than you see in Massachussetts of Rhode Island.

England and Ireland, as well as much of mainland Europe. Anti-Americanism was lowest in England, but still present. France was ludicrous, as was Germany, and this was in 1999 long before George W. Bush.

[English]

Not true. I know several Americans living in the UK and they encounter little if any trouble. Brits are not Anti-American whatsoever, they just don't like Bush. They don't like the whole gun-slinging, Texan cowboy business. It unsettles us a bit.
It's amazing actually the amount of air-time given to the US election in Britain. It's on the news practically every day.

It's on the news everyday because European media and governments are beginning to use the United States as a "boogeyman" in the same way Arab states have for decades. By focusing on the US, your leaders and media distract you from the fact that your own countries are falling apart around you.

Actually the UK media is highly critical of the British government and it's foreign policy. Our media does nothing BUT run down the UK! I'd really like to know how showing the Democratic convention on TV is trying to turn the US into a boogeyman???!!! Paranoia or what!

[12th Doctor]

I think you mistake anti-Bush sentiment for anti-Americanism.

I think you mistake anti-Americanism for anti-Bush sentiment.

Indeed. I was in Europe pre-9/11 and it was every bit as bad then.

Which country? I don't see much evidence of anti-americanism in Britain and I live here. The only thing I see is a dislike of Bush, but probably no more than you see in Massachussetts of Rhode Island.

England and Ireland, as well as much of mainland Europe. Anti-Americanism was lowest in England, but still present. France was ludicrous, as was Germany, and this was in 1999 long before George W. Bush.

Mark, same here.  I was in Europe just two months before 9/11 and they treated us like crap.  We had to say that we were Canadian if we expected any help from the locals.

[12th Doctor]

Not true. I know several Americans living in the UK and they encounter little if any trouble. Brits are not Anti-American whatsoever, they just don't like Bush. They don't like the whole gun-slinging, Texan cowboy business. It unsettles us a bit.
It's amazing actually the amount of air-time given to the US election in Britain. It's on the news practically every day.

It's on the news everyday because European media and governments are beginning to use the United States as a "boogeyman" in the same way Arab states have for decades. By focusing on the US, your leaders and media distract you from the fact that your own countries are falling apart around you.

Actually the UK media is highly critical of the British government and it's foreign policy. Our media does nothing BUT run down the UK! I'd really like to know how showing the Democratic convention on TV is trying to turn the US into a boogeyman???!!! Paranoia or what!

who mentioned anything about the DNC?

[MarkDel]

Not true. I know several Americans living in the UK and they encounter little if any trouble. Brits are not Anti-American whatsoever, they just don't like Bush. They don't like the whole gun-slinging, Texan cowboy business. It unsettles us a bit.
It's amazing actually the amount of air-time given to the US election in Britain. It's on the news practically every day.

It's on the news everyday because European media and governments are beginning to use the United States as a "boogeyman" in the same way Arab states have for decades. By focusing on the US, your leaders and media distract you from the fact that your own countries are falling apart around you.

Actually the UK media is highly critical of the British government and it's foreign policy. Our media does nothing BUT run down the UK! I'd really like to know how showing the Democratic convention on TV is trying to turn the US into a boogeyman???!!! Paranoia or what!

It's not the fact that it's covered, it's the amount of coverage and the way it is covered. The editorial is decidedly anti-Bush, and to a lesser extent, subtly anti-American. If European nations spent more time worrying about themselves instead of what WE ARE DOING IN THE US then you might actually have single digit unemployment rates.