From Ron in reply to Stephen on August 11, 2008 at 12:21 pm. IP Logged, 207.54.97.x Report Abuse I didn't mean to be mean-spirited or belittling. If it came across like that I'm sorry. I don't quite understand where you got that though. I do recognize that it is not that humble of me. Who cares if some internet poll doesn't list Canada in the choices, it doesn't change the reality of the situation, right? I really wasn't trying to seem as if I was boasting about it or anything. Still it did seem like there were some posters who were perhaps unaware of Canada's role as America's ally,(something I'm proud of as it is) and while I doubt I can change their minds, I thought maybe I'd share some relevant info for others. You are right, another Canadian soldier was killed this morning. Thank you for pointing that out. I was wrong about another thing, two Australians stationed in Iraq were killed, one in a vehicle accident and one by an accidental weapons discharge. Anyways, like I said, I wasn't trying to disrespect anyone. Just wanted to say that your neighbours to the north aren't so bad, and while it may be prideful of me to say, it wouldn't kill ya to recognize that once in a while. Unfortunately this is expressed in the general internet message board form where obviously there is a variety of readers, most of whom probably are well aware of what I'm talking about. But it seemed as if that might not be the case for all. That's who I mostly meant it for. 
From Ron on August 11, 2008 at 11:17 am. IP Logged, 207.54.97.x Report Abuse There are 2,700 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan right now, more than there were Australian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. These soldiers are active in one of the most violent regions of the country. 89 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, 25 fewer than the British total of 114. The number of Australian military deaths there is 6. I believe no Australian soldiers have been killed in Iraq, if I'm wrong my apologies. By no means do I mean to downplay the Aussie contributions and losses compared to those of Canada, they are our allies and friends and each loss is felt with sadness. I just thought a quick numbers comparison would perhaps be edifying. And I thought I would speak for 89 of my countrymen who are not coming home because they went to fight in a country whose government was responsible for attacking a nation we call our friend. I guess some of you think there are more important measures of what makes for an ally. I guess our political views are not enough in line with yours. I guess that's one way to count who your friends are. Glenn, I think there oughta be one more option for the poll.
Sorry if this was a bit of a serious cat post, but I like the site and I like your country (I was in NYC last weekend) so I thought maybe I'd try to encourage a little continental solidarity. Truth be told, as one poster said, it's a bit unseemly to be picking amongst your friends. But I still think Canada shoulda been up there.
Cheers, Ron From renowebb on August 11, 2008 at 11:16 am. IP Logged, 71.109.13.x Report Abuse what else but Israel, we stand with them , they stand w/us. From Richard J. Sundberg on August 11, 2008 at 10:18 am. IP Logged, 76.17.189.x Report Abuse Why has no one mentioned Japan? We have more worldwide problems in common with Japan than any other nation. And since we installed democracy in Japan after WWII Japan has been a closer ally than any other nation From Jeremy on August 11, 2008 at 9:32 am. IP Logged, 75.205.250.x Report Abuse It's Australia by far. They've been with us in more wars, and unlike other countries, they don't spy on us or our technology and sell the info to the Chinese... From Mr. Infidel on August 11, 2008 at 8:33 am. IP Logged, 205.188.117.x Report Abuse Rather than ask which of these countries the USA considers the most loyal ally, glenn Reynolds should be asking the individual countries: Do YOU consider your country the most loyal ally of the USA, and if not, whom do you think is the most loyal ally? From RC in reply to Mr. Infidel on August 11, 2008 at 5:58 pm. IP Logged, 93.172.129.x Report Abuse Please don't do that, as Canadians will get highly insulted at nobody naming them. Their feelings will hardly be assuaged by the explanation that this isn't due to hostility to Canada or to doubts of its loyalty, but rather to the fact many people world-wide simply think that Canada is one of the 50 states.
From Wolla Dalbo on August 11, 2008 at 8:32 am. IP Logged, 69.255.148.x Report Abuse We dont have real allies, we have allies of convenience and none of them strong or unwavering; for all the good America has done, for all the chestnuts weve pulled out of the fire for our various allies since at least WWI, we havent even gotten steadfast loyalty in return, nor much in the way of gratitude or reciprocation either. Israel comes closest to a real ally, but they need to rely in so many ways on the U. S. for their survival that the relationship is mostly one way; with recent leaders like the squishy, gutless, midget Olmert in power, Israelsurrounded on all sides by Muslims who want to destroy Israel and the Jewish peopleseems to have lost the will, the guts to really defend itself, much less to be of much help to the U.S. Despite the occasional photo op, Britain hasnt been a steadfast ally since Thatcher (and back then maybe only her and some in the government, not her government in general and not the British people themselves, who since then have only grown more and more anti-American and virulently anti-semitic) and since Britain is so busily working to emasculate its military and destroy its traditional culture in its headlong rush become part of Eurabia it is, also, useless as an ally. Canada might as well be Massachusetts and its got such a bad case of penis envy that it , toocopying Britain in allowing its military to wither away and taking all possible steps to insure its place in the Caliphate--is useless, no matter how much blather is put out about it being our ally. Like the UK and Canada, Australia is also infested with the curse of Islam and while it has the right attitude it, too, has wavered and in terms of military and diplomatic might, it has to be ranked as a lightweight. So, as I see it, weve got allies of convenience who cannot be counted on in a crisis and keeping it real, we are pretty much on our own unless we can bribe or cajole our allies to support us on any particular issue.
From Robert Blair in reply to Wolla Dalbo on August 11, 2008 at 5:43 pm. IP Logged, 203.111.190.x Report Abuse Wolla Dalbo, I think Australia has a lower percentage of Muslims than the US, definitely lower than Canada, Britain and France. The bulk of them are totaly reasonable, fully integrated Turkish immigrants. The problem people are by and large the Lebanese Muslims, and their children, who were imported into the country by a far-left Australian government during the Lebanese Civil War without normal immigration checks. Less than 10,000 all told.
From RC in reply to Wolla Dalbo on August 11, 2008 at 5:42 pm. IP Logged, 93.172.129.x Report Abuse You make good points, but how fair is it to expect America's allies to be "strong and unwavering" when the US itself isn't (in the prosecution of the "Long War," whatever you choose to call it). John Howard famously said "This is no time to be an 80 percent ally." If only the US were "supporting itself" at an 80% level! If the US wants its allies to stand steadfastly by its side, it has to steadfastly lead.
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