# Who is the USA's Best Ally? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 11, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492 "2012-02-11T02:39:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/101 "2012-02-14T17:57:51Z")
I also have to go with Canada. Allies can change depending on the circumstances. Who is your best ally now can be very different 100 years from now. So, the OP’s question can be restated to…what country in the world does the U.S. have the most in common with Geopolitically and is unlikely to change? Canada. without question. Whether she is a USEFUL ally is another question. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/102 "2012-02-14T18:02:14Z")
[QUOTE=Bozuit] Sarcastic comments on my post without any actual substance or counter points aren’t really a great contribution are they? You may disagree with my statement but at least it’s relevant to the discussion. [/QUOTE] Why? There was nothing there worth debating…mocking it seemed to be the best course. Israel and Israelis relish the thought of killing Muslims? That’s like making the statement that black guys relish the thought of raping white women…it’s offensive and stupid at the same time. That a mod didn’t intervene means either that such blatant horseshit can slip in under the radar, or that no one notified them of what you said. That Israel deliberately ducked out of helping us in Afghanistan is just incredibly ignorant, but not offensive in and of itself. Taken as a whole, however, mockery looked to be spot on. -XT ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/103 "2012-02-14T18:05:51Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > The point is, if it’s “absurd blather” then at least include some mention of why it is so. Nope. An absurd claim made with no proof can be denied with no proof. > [@Bozuit](#): > > I’m also not claiming that nobody wants me to criticize Israel, but I am claiming that there is hypocrisy in the lack of condemnation for many of Israel’s actions when other countries are so easily criticized. Yeah, that’s fictional also. You’re imagining “hypocrisy” because people disagree with you. It’s a cheap, tawdry tactic that’s roughly at the level of claiming that another country will engage in war because they just love killing Muslims. It shows that your argument isn’t about debate, but slinging slime. Faced with the fact that other people don’t agree with your criticisms of Israel (and you’re wrong about international law, by the way), why, they must be hypocrites! ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/104 "2012-02-14T18:11:30Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > They control the media, the government … and used to control the blowjob supply. ☹ > > That’s some heavy duty control, right there. Hating on the Jews is soooooooo… Last millenium. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/105 "2012-02-14T18:28:00Z")
America’s “best” ally is probably the U.K., most underrated and loyal ally fighting proxy battles for us would probably be The Philippines. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/106 "2012-02-14T18:32:37Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > That’s like making the statement that black guys relish the thought of raping white women No it’s not. Israel is a country, not a race, and although I wasn’t clear, based on the context of the thread I don’t think it’s unfair for me to assume that people would take “Israel” to not mean “every Israeli” but effectively the Israeli government. Again, when people talk about “America going to war for oil” they’re not referring to every American but the American government. > [@FinnAgain](#): > > You’re imagining “hypocrisy” because people disagree with you. It’s a cheap, tawdry tactic that’s roughly at the level of claiming that another country will engage in war because they just love killing Muslims. It shows that your argument isn’t about debate, but slinging slime. Faced with the fact that other people don’t agree with your criticisms of Israel (and you’re wrong about international law, by the way), why, they must be hypocrites! I held the opinion that criticism against Israel is often restrained (especially by western governments) long before today. You’re making assumptions about my opinions and my reasons for having them. I’ve already admitted it was wrong to say Israel likes killing Muslims, but that doesn’t make everything else I say or every opinion I have automatically invalid. As for international law… I’m not sure what you think I’m wrong about exactly, but Israel has violated and continues to violate international law by settlement-building and war crimes are well-documented. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/107 "2012-02-14T19:04:21Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > You’re making assumptions about my opinions and my reasons for having them. No, you said straight up that people who criticize certain things but don’t agree with your criticisms of Israel are “hypocrites”. You’re also wrong about “war crimes” but that’s fodder for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/108 "2012-02-14T19:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=Bozuit] No it’s not. Israel is a country, not a race, and although I wasn’t clear, based on the context of the thread I don’t think it’s unfair for me to assume that people would take “Israel” to not mean “every Israeli” but effectively the Israeli government. Again, when people talk about “America going to war for oil” they’re not referring to every American but the American government. [/QUOTE] Saying that the Israeli government longs to kill Muslims is equally stupid, however…and equally inaccurate as well. Trying to hand wave away the fact that people still run the government by trying to dehumanize the discussion by boiling things down to ‘a government’ is equally silly. Human beings run Israel…it’s not an impersonal entity. As for the latter, talking about ‘America going to war for oil’ is not as offensive as saying ‘American goes to war to happily slaughter Muslims/Brown People/Whoever Else You Think America Wants to Slaughter this Year’. It’s an attempt to boil down a complex situation into a sound bite for the faithful. It’s also ridiculous in the same way as trying to disconnect Israel from the folks who live there…PEOPLE run the US government, and it’s people WE elect. So the policies that the US takes are a reflection of the people who live here…same as with Israel. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/109 "2012-02-14T19:29:08Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Regarding Israel: many times, Israel has offered emergency aid to Muslim countries (when there has been a natural disaster-like tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.). Invariably, it is refused. You are wrong about this. I guess it may be true in many cases, but you used the word “invariably” and that is not the case: [1999 Earthquake in Turkey](http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1999/8/Israeli+Aid+for+Turkish+Earthquake+Victims.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/110 "2012-02-14T19:43:58Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > As for international law… I’m not sure what you think I’m wrong about exactly, but Israel has violated and continues to violate international law by settlement-building and war crimes are well-documented. Since the Israelis long ago learned that the UN was never going to actually shoot and kill Arabs who were trying to murder Israeli women and children, their lack of concern over “international law” is understandable. More to the thread topic, they also learned that America was their “ally” exactly as far as it suited America and not an inch further. Talk is cheap. ---
**Author:** ![robinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/848f3c/32.png) [@robinson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinson)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/111 "2012-02-17T16:22:57Z")
Could use some definition here. Do we mean “Not a military threat?” “Avoids interference in USA domestic policy?” “Occasionally provides military help?” “Cooperates on common problems?” “Significant trading partner?” Canada ranks high on all counts. Israel is more meddlesome than the pope, and is all too willing to hold our coat while we fight her enemies. We have (had) Israeli spies in Federal prison and they sank the Liberty. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/112 "2012-02-17T18:06:55Z")
Serious answer: Canada. Why? The U.S. and Canada share the world’s longest undefended border. Something like 5500 miles without a single military unit deployed there. ---
**Author:** ![aaaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@aaaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaa)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/113 "2012-02-17T19:02:26Z")
U.K., Japan, and Canada. How about Puerto Rico? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/114 "2012-02-17T19:20:50Z")
Puerto Rico is _part_ of the US. If they are eligible, so is California, and I know which one I’d rather be allied with. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/115 "2012-02-17T19:24:18Z")
> [@robinson](#): > > Canada ranks high on all counts. Israel is more meddlesome than the pope, and is all too willing to hold our coat while we fight her enemies. We have (had) Israeli spies in Federal prison and they sank the Liberty. Are you sure about that? If the Liberty counts against them, it seems we’re pretty shitty [allies](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_fire#War_in_Afghanistan) [to](http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2009/09/04/canada-united-states-military-probe-friendly-fire.html) [the](http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/WikiLeaks+report+cites+other+friendly+fire+incident/3325446/story.html) [Canadians](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident) and [even](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/25/friendly-fire-deaths-toll-afghanistan) [worse](http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/du_ii_tabh.htm) [to the](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_fire#Iraq_War)[UK](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War#Friendly_fire). We’re even bad allies to [ourselves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Black_Hawk_shootdown_incident). ---
**Author:** ![aaaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@aaaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaa)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/116 "2012-02-17T19:25:25Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Puerto Rico is _part_ of the US. If they are eligible, so is California, and I know which one I’d rather be allied with. That is what I meant. They are still technically an autonomous country though right? You can’t get much closer than that. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/117 "2012-02-17T19:48:25Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > Serious answer: Canada. > > Why? The U.S. and Canada share the world’s longest undefended border. Something like 5500 miles without a single military unit deployed there. Wouldn’t we have to have equally long borders with everyone else, in order to pick a “best?” ---
**Author:** ![tazmin98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@tazmin98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tazmin98)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/118 "2012-02-17T20:07:19Z")
Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/119 "2012-02-17T20:15:21Z")
> [@aaaa](#): > > That is what I meant. They are still technically an autonomous country though right? You can’t get much closer than that. No, they are neither autonomous nor a country in most senses of the word. They have [no sovereignty other than that devolved from Congress](http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/992/992.F2d.1143.90-5749.html) and their citizens are American citizens. It is a non-self-governing territory as defined under Article 73 of the UN Charter. ---
**Author:** ![aaaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@aaaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaa)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492/120 "2012-02-17T21:02:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > No, they are neither autonomous nor a country in most senses of the word. They have [no sovereignty other than that devolved from Congress](http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/992/992.F2d.1143.90-5749.html) and their citizens are American citizens. It is a non-self-governing territory as defined under Article 73 of the UN Charter. I see, thank you for clarifying this. I guess that leaves Canada, Japan, and the U.K.? I can’t think of any other countries that are nearly as close. Morocco was the first country to recognize the U.S. as a nation and they seem to agree with most of the U.S. policies so maybe that means something? Countries like South Korea and Israel are only supported by the U.S. because they are enemies with a greater threat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-usas-best-ally/612492.md?page=7)