America's allies.....not so much.

[carolina73]

Other countries are our competitors. Their governments are working for their own citizens not the citizens of other countries.
Sometimes governments and businesses have alliances and associations due to common interests. They become allied together.
They still are not friends and they are still trying to get everything for the groups that they represent.

So the UK, Poland, Australia are great friends of the USA but they also actively are competing on trade and for influence.

[jet57]

Eve and I are BFFs and are the best of friends.
Not on-line but real friends in the flesh.
She is pretty liberal and I say I am center right.
Well anyway we were catching up and after the usual updates on our personal lives, the conversation moved to politics.

She hates Trump and is a fervent believer in climate change. OK, darlin', you know I love yuz anyway.

Anyway, she said Trump is alienating us from our allies.

Now here is my view and what I told her.

The United States has no allies.

There are countries that respect us, fear us, or hate us, but NONE...not a one... is an ally.

If just the US and no other country were attacked in some way, by one or several other countries, not one country in the world would step up and help us.

We are alone on the world stage.

Those of whom say they are our friends are as genuine as FRIENDING us on some web site.
None will be beside us if the situation becomes desperate.
If any step in it will only be because their national interests are also at stake.
Not because they are our allies.

Sure, they may post resolutions condemning the attack, but at the same time, sit on the sidelines and eat popcorn.
No country is our true ally.

Please, no one point to NATO.
When the UK was attacked by Argentina, not one NATO country stepped in to help.
The NATO promise rings hollow.

In large part I agree with you; we really don't have any real friends. We have allies that support us because it's best to put your money on US as we spread it around. Two things happened to this country: the JFK assassination and the Vietnam war. We lost our innocence and then our credibility. And of course that we have Trump for a president we lost a lot of respect. I think hat we have two real problems in this country: a schizophrenic governing system and and out of control capitalist corporate system aimed at hegemony. Both of those are symptoms of a society that has no control over itself and no leadership and therefore all the dying we did in all the wars around the world have now come to naught: the age of Camelot, following WWII has been over since 1980 and we show no signs of trying to recapture our self respect. Our country leaks corruption and money like a sieve and our immigrant policy is completely out of control: it's been so politicized that to "come here to be an American" means nothing anymore and millions are coming here taking up space and stretching every resource we have. The foundation of New York, in the Hamiltonian style has just turned this country into a money machine: a much bigger Monte Carlo if you will. The Jeffersoninan style has been completely wiped out in favor of taking Jefferson's man and his castle and turning him into a CEO with no conscience and no sense. Meanwhile the "Leadership in this country only leads rhetoric that delivers votes.

Yeah, you're right Retired.

Sad isn't it?

[Retirednsmilin308]

Very sad, Jet57.

The fact we have laws protecting major corporations is the worst part.

Our laws say ONLY A DRUG can prevent, cure, or treat a disease. It is against US law to say vitamin C will treat and cure the disease of scury.

Our laws say corporations can be treated legally as individuals. So all right afforded individuals also can be and must be afforded to corporations too.
This opened up the Pandora's box.
***********************************
...BUT...I am like everyone else. Though i know this is a terrible situation, as long as I have money in my own pocket, a full belly, and a warm house on my own property, I don't really give a rat's ass.

I am not going to spend cold nights in a muddy trench fighting against it.

...and neither are the Social Justice Warriors out there either.
They would rather make posts on the internet and Twitter than spend one night in that same cold muddy trench, either.

They, like I, know this is all merely an annoyance rather that a serious calamity.
We can all still eat our Big Macs at will.

RNS

[Captdon]

Most of that "pay their way" stuff is made up nonsense by the current administration.

They pay the least amount of their commitment. They should pay all of it. We don't need NATO. They need us, the leeches.

[Captdon]

It's nonsense for multiple reasons:

1) None of the relevant agreements require those nations pay us anything, the closest it gets is the NATO treaty suggesting that each member country spend at least 2% of their GDP on their military/defense budget, and even then it's just a suggestion and not an actual requirement.

2) None of the countries in Europe have the economy that we do that allows us to spend way too much on our military/defense budget, and anticipating them getting anywhere close is ridiculous. We shouldn't even be spending as much as we do on military/defense.

3) The whole reason we created alliances like NATO and why Germany doesn't spend much on their military is because we basically banned them from building much of a military after WWI/WWII and even after those restrictions were lifted, they followed the spirit of them.

I also once again find it troubling that you prioritize military spending over social safety nets.

1. WWII ended 74 years ago.

2. No military and you become a slave

3. Most of like being free.

4. Europe can easily pay for their own defense.

5. Germany is a part of NATO.

6. Putin would love you.

7. Europe sits on its fat ass and let's us do the heavy work.

[Tahuyaman]

Most of that "pay their way" stuff is made up nonsense by the current administration.

Previous administrations allowed other nations to ride in the wagon while the US pulled the wagon.

[Green Arrow]

1. WWII ended 74 years ago.

2. No military and you become a slave

3. Most of like being free.

4. Europe can easily pay for their own defense.

5. Germany is a part of NATO.

6. Putin would love you.

7. Europe sits on its fat ass and let's us do the heavy work.

You guys always have to jump straight to the extremes. All I said is there are vast amounts of waste in our military/defense budget and we could cut a lot of it without hurting the military. You going straight to acting like I said we don’t need a military is a joke. I’m here for serious discussions, not to waste my time.

[Green Arrow]

Previous administrations allowed other nations to ride in the wagon while the US pulled the wagon.

Welcome to being the most powerful nation on the planet.

[Tahuyaman]

Welcome to being the most powerful nation on the planet.

Irrelevant.

[carolina73]

Irrelevant.

She means the biggest suckers.

Then we hear the Germans are fighting ISIS with us. The small print is they are providing truck drivers hundreds of miles from the front lines, while little Poland is on the front lines fighting with us. At least France sends planes.