From NahnCee in reply to AKM on August 11, 2008 at 8:17 am. IP Logged, 38.105.190.x Report Abuse Very true. However anti-American Americans still pay taxes on everything we do, while anti-American Yurps (including Brits) don't. That's why it's fun watching Russia roll ever-closer to Europe and wondering what France, Germany and England will do about it THIS time, since all of those countries have made it quite clear how much they hate us. 
From WillS in reply to NahnCee on August 19, 2008 at 8:15 am. IP Logged, 62.3.217.x Report Abuse Does anyone in North America know the difference between England and the UK? Yes NahnCee, we've made it quite clear how much we 'hate' you by constantly voting in pro-US governments, by contributing large numbers of troops to Iraq (both times) and Afghanistan.
From Walter Cronkite in reply to AKM on August 11, 2008 at 7:08 am. IP Logged, 64.81.44.x Report Abuse Quite true: anyone gambolling about the continent knows what its like to receive an anti-american onslaught from french, spanish, you name it people. I was spit at in greece in 1984 (but only by one guy). Pretending to be german was some help. If I can't be here in the US, I'd pick Britain. And I notice that as remarkably boorish tourists from other countries rise in number in the UK, americans are--maybe my imagination--being re assessed as not so bad after all.
From Marilyn on August 11, 2008 at 6:55 am. IP Logged, 199.90.157.x Report Abuse Britain won't even be able to defend itself in a pinch. From tim maguire on August 11, 2008 at 6:51 am. IP Logged, 96.232.215.x Report Abuse I'm inclined to pick the Anglosphere as a single unit. More and more in the modern world I think of the US as part of the Anglosphere first and Western Liberal Democracies second. That's part of why I support Bush's efforts to draw us closer to India--they're a natural and should be on a par with Britain, Canada and Australia. GW hits the breakdown on these choices right, I think, but that only raises the question of what is meant by "best". I would not pick Israel because, as important as I think the Israeli cause is from a moral standpoint, the relationship is pretty one directional. From john brown on August 11, 2008 at 6:48 am. IP Logged, 64.115.101.x Report Abuse When push comes to shove, the U.S. works well with all of these countries. The Canadians, unfortunately, like to get in our way in the U.N. and other international forums; the British have too many anti-Americans to run a consistent policy, and the Israelis have an (admittedly justifiable) tendency to act without letting us know. The Australian people seem to have the most in common with the U.S. socially, and they even sent troops to Vietnam. So they get the prize, such as it is.
(Actually, the Poles are the most reliable of all.) From Dennis on August 11, 2008 at 6:43 am. IP Logged, 71.139.143.x Report Abuse Actually I would have preferred "none of the above" since in global politics there is no such thing as a "best ally." All countries ultimately put their own best interests ahead of their relationships with other countries. From will on August 11, 2008 at 6:39 am. IP Logged, 142.83.138.x Report Abuse As a Canadian, I'm biased, but if being a country larger than Israel and Australia combined, sharing the world's largest peaceful border with the USA, being its largest trading partner, conducting joint defense operations in NORAD, being a NATO ally, having a government arguable more right-wing and fiscally conservative than the US, conducting one of the largest and most dangerous non-US operations in Afghanistan, and having a long history of co-involvement in WW I and II and in Korea, if all that doesn't get you on the short list of America's best allies, I don't know what would. I'm all for winning the Iraq war now, but participating in all US adventures should not be a pre-condition for US ally-ship, IMO. With Vietnam and Iraq as the only major US operations that Canada has not participated in, maybe the US should listen to its best friends instead of discounting the friendship. Regards, a pro-US Canuck From John Meixner in reply to will on August 11, 2008 at 6:52 am. IP Logged, 98.200.242.x Report Abuse I completely agree with you, as an American I will always remember that in our nation's darkest hour the only country that stood by America was Canada. In 1979 when the Iranians overran our embassy, those who were fortunate to be outside it desperately reached out to other legations, they were turned away wherever they went, some such as the British even threatened to turn them over to the Iranian mob. But finally they called the Swedish minister, who instantly said, that while he couldn't help them, had they talked to the Canadians. Our people being typical Americans, had completely overlooked Canada but when they called on the Canadians, Ambassador Ken Taylor instantly offered help. abandoned by all our so called friends only Canada stood with us and helped. No matter what our disagreements, from no taxation without representation and revolution to how to play football, I know as an American that of all the foreign nations only Canada will stand with us when we are up against the wall
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