America's Greatest Ally

[N35t0r]

Absolutely. It one thing to snub the UK, but to do it in favor of FRANCE!?

This way, it's twice the snub!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Israel? Please. They get far more from the US than they give in return (which is basically nothing).

[Asher]

Israel? LOL.

[Al B. Sure!]

I thought it was well-known that Obama is anti-British, especially on account of his father?

[Kitschum]

They get far more oil & gas from Canada than Saudi Arabia

Saudi buys tons of American planes and other miltary equipment at mark-up prices and they are a vital staging point for the coming war on Iran, a war that the Saudis even lobby for. But on balance I'll be willing to make it a tie: Canada and Saudi Arabia are America's greatest allies and nobody else comes close.

[Asher]

Canada buys American military products too (as well as far more other products). Without Canada, they'd have a hard time defending against Russia also.

[Hauldren Collider]

I would dispute Imran's assertion that we don't get anything from Israel, but it's irrelevant--we quite clearly have very strong diplomatic ties. While Obama is less pro-Israeli than most past presidents and the State Department has never been too fond of Israel, Congress is overwhelmingly--greater than two-thirds--supportive of Israel. Congress, when united, is more powerful than the President, and as Congress is almost unanimously pro-Israel we have a very stable alliance.

[Asher]

What does Israel provide the US?

Your views of Israel are almost hilarious.

[Al B. Sure!]

Again, in all seriousness, isn't Obama's dislike for the British well-known?

[Kitschum]

Canada buys American military products too (as well as far more other products). Without Canada, they'd have a hard time defending against Russia also.

Russia is passe. The war on terror is the new cold war.

[Kitschum]

Israel is a liability to America.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Your views of Israel are almost hilarious.

What do you mean "almost" hilarious? They seem to be of someone who really hasn't looked into the US-Israel relationship all that deeply. We have been pro-Israel since the 1980s, but to call them a great ally is ridiculous. Saudi Arabia provides us with more.

[Al B. Sure!]

I saw this blog:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100027838/barack-obama%E2%80%99s-top-10-insults-against-britain/

It gives a list of the top 10 insults Obama made against Britain. It includes such things as getting rid of a Churchill bust in the Oval Office as soon as Obama became president and refusing to meet the Prime Minister on five occasions.

It seems to be something that has gotten around that Obama is anti-British.

[Hauldren Collider]

I have explained my position on Israel ad nauseum in other threads and they have not changed since. If you want to see my explanation go reread them. I'm not going to debate them again here.

Regardless of your opinion on Israel, you cannot deny the strength of the US-Israeli alliance. The US overwhelmingly supports Israel almost unconditionally. Israelis hold a very positive view of America (despite a negative view of Obama) and also understand that we are their only reliable ally. It's just a fact that they are a close ally, whether you think they ought to be or not.

[Elok]

What does Israel provide the US?

Your views of Israel are almost hilarious.

True, but what does the UK get out of its "special relationship" with us? It's not as bad as our "Hey, if you stop breaking international law for six months we'll give you a crap-ton of cash!" "Hmmm...nope," but it's still a special relationship indeed.