#89 That's What Friends Are For

Although some would argue, the United States is and has always been since its inception, the symbol of democracy.  Ninety-nine percent of all Western Hemisphere nations modeled their governments in one way or another after the American experiment.  The new presidential type of government had never really been tried before.  This is why Jefferson is quoted as saying:  I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.  But once this experiment proved to be working, others followed suit.  Even today new nations who are going through revolution and finding freedoms for the first time are modeling their new governments after the American ideal (no longer an experiment).  Yes, it is true that we are heavily influencing some places into a more democratic way of life, which ironically is the opposite of what democracy is, but isn't better to help influence than to allow some places to fall back into dictatorships and chaos?  The problem is it seems like we are the only ones who really stick up for some places.  We are the policemen of the world.  Unfair, dangerous, costly (and can't leave out Obama's--arrogant) at times, it's still better in the long run that people experience what freedom is.  But we need help from allies.  Here are the results from last month's poll:  Who is our closest ally?

• United Kingdom  (91%)
• Canada (39%)
• Israel (26%)
• Japan  (17%)
• Australia (13%)
• Some other European country (4%)
• Russia, India, China (0%)
• Other North American country, Other South American country, Some African country, Some other Asian/Middle Eastern country  (0%)

Definitely the United Kingdom should be at the top of this list.  Ever since 1870 ties between these two nations have been the closest any two nations could ever be and still remain separate.  Even though we remained neutral in both world wars at first, we were supplying the British with weapons, money, and manpower throughout their struggles.  And in return when we needed them in the Cold War, the Gulf Wars (including the Libyan fiasco in 1984-85), and the War on Terrorism, they were there to lend support.  Long live the Queen.

Canada, our closest ally in location, is not so supportive as the UK.   They are more of a silent partner.  They have supported us in many of our encounters but really do not get involved physically.  What's the problem, eh?

Japan, a country that vowed not to have military action after WWII, has been one of best friends internationally.  Yet, they have a huge reason not to.  When we dropped the second atomic weapon on them three days after we killed over 200,000 people, it wasn't to end the war.  It was to prove a point to the Stalin that communism is the next enemy of democracy.  The second bomb was not necessary to drop.  Yet, Japan remains a close ally.  And when the War on Terrorism was officially started Japan jumped right in.  Arigoto.

Australia, the farthest from the world and all the wars that the human race has endured, the ones with the least amount of worries when the world shows it still hates each other, still got involved and has been supportive of the US ever since it became a Parliamentary Democracy free from the bounds of a monarch.  No worries, Mate.

Russia, India, and China apparently are still on the low end of the totem poll.  China is easy to see why.  They threw off democracy in 1949, even though we saved them from the Japanese in WWII.  They got involved with Korea and Vietnam when the UN said these places should be dealt with to save freedom.  And now they are taking all the world's money (due to our own stupidity).  Russia, when it turned democratic, after years of being controlled by "Socialists", should have been reached out to and helped but we didn't, thereby creating a hostile ally.  If the US and Russia teamed up to stand up against dictatorial rule, not many dictators would be able to retain their control.  When Russia was hurting for food and needed extra help, we turned our backs on them and allowed China to be our most favored nation.  But Nyet. India should now be moving up on the list.  Since the lying Pakistani government reared its true intention, India should be revered as a very important ally in securing the area and should be helped as much as possible, minus all the computer technicians from Microsoft that is.

Mexico and other American nations should be sought after as close allies, after all we can walk there.  But I guess too many Americans are still upset with immigration and their own biases.

France, Germany and the rest of Europe?  From 1945-2001, we took care of their lands.  We placed preventive weapons on their soil.  We gave them financial aid to get their feet back on the ground.  We sent men and women to Vietnam to save French butt.  But when we needed them in the last 20 years they turned away.  .  There should be a stronger tie between the US and Europe.  But unlike President Obama, there should be no apologies for the US being "arrogant".  Without US aid and help, how would the two world wars Europe started have changed the way the world is?  Europeans are good people but the friendship is not as strong as it should be.  All except Spain and Italy.  Viva Italia y Espagne

But perhaps the best ally we have and need is poor little Isra'el.  All alone in a world that hates them.  The only democracy in a region filled with Absolute Monarchs, Theocratic maniacs, and extreme radical religious murderers, dating back to the 600's AD.  They are in a very vital region, one that could explode at any given moment.  A region that could throw havoc into the world at any given time by raising the price of oil.  And they are the doorstep into the region.  Shalom eretz Isra'el. Sh'ma.