The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Dangerous Liaisons

10.27.06 @ 12:01AM

WITH ALLIES LIKE THIS
Re: Christopher Orlet's Axis of Allies:

Christopher Orlet asked for a neologism for America's worthless allies. Why not call them chocolate allies, because they melt and run at room temperature and can't take any heat.
-- Christopher Holland

Christopher Orlet writes: "Genuine allies share goals, values, an interest in outcomes -- they are those nations you can trust to get your back. Britain is such an ally, Australia, Canada, Poland too."

I'm afraid Mr. Orlet is too optimistic. The correct name for the ally he calls "Britain" is "Tony Blair," and once he's gone, so will be that ally. And how much of an ally Canada is these days is open to debate.

In fact, I suspect that the only true ally we have in all this is the one nation we're loath to have come to our aid -- Israel.
-- Brad Bettin

Mr. Orlet asks an interesting question in his article. Should a different word be applied to those nations with which we work in a given circumstance? I would suggest, sir, that the word ally is quite sufficient for the purpose of describing our relations with nations like Pakistan, or Afghanistan, or Turkey, or Saudi Arabia, etc. One must only contemplate WWII to find a situation where one of our "allies" was cutting our throats behind our backs. Do you not know or remember the history of the relationship between Joseph Stalin and FDR, the U.S. and the Soviet Union? Winston Churchill was certainly under no illusions regarding brother Stalin.

My point is simply that an "ally" has always referred to nations that temporarily find a confluence of interests on the world stage at a given moment in history. When the national interests diverge, the allied relationship dissolves or is significantly altered. History shows that international relationships have never been permanent, and "ally" has never meant allied in regards to all things, at all times, forever. As Saint Ronald of Reagan might say, "Trust, but verify."...
-- Ken Shreve

Of course this sort of double-crossing on the part of Musharraf and the Pakistanis (and for that matter, virtually all Arab nations) has been and is occurring. Such behavior is not only consistent with their religion, culture, and ethics; it is laudable according to them! Just look it up in their literature or ask any one of them. From our standpoint, conducting business, executing contracts of any kind, relying on them as allies: All are futile. This is not meant as hyperbole, but stone cold truth....
-- Francis Dillon

Excellent article. "Who are our real allies?" I concur with you list at the end... with one glaring exception: Japan.

And who knows..with the recent nuclear activities in North Korea, we may see the Japanese develop into a military world power again.
-- Jim Cadden
Endicott, New York

"Allies" is a typo. The accepted spelling is "all lies."
-- David Govett
Davis, California

POUNDING OLBERMANN
Re: Jeffrey Lord 's Olbermann River:

Thank you Jeffery Lord. I was beginning to think I was the only person in America who witnessed Olbermann's tirade last week, as yours is the first comment I have seen. I caught it quite accidentally. I watched in stunned amazement as a cable "news" anchor spent what appeared to be an entire segment of his show denigrating President Bush and completely butchering American History. Honest dissent in a news commentary is one thing. It is quite acceptable and promotes debate. This was nothing of the sort. While watching this demonstration, I began to feel as though I was reading a crazed left-wing blog. What does this man have to say about the representatives and senators from both parties whom voted for this bill? Nothing! What of the weeks of negotiation to obtain the bill? Nothing! It appears Mr. Olbermann believes that President Bush is absolute Monarch of the United States of America. I never thought broadcast journalism could become so deceitful. It really is no wonder the ratings for MSNBC (which I have checked) are in the tank.
--Drew Evans
Greenville, South Carolina

What a wonderful, well-reasoned article about the history of the writ of habeas corpus. But do you really think Keith Olbermann could actually understand what you have written? He is the least intelligent "talent" at MSNBC, and I include the spittle-spewing Chris Matthews in that group. Keith is valuable if only for his nightly impressions of a supercilious troglodyte. We will miss him when NBC finally pulls the plug on MSNBC for its general ineptitude. Is anyone actually watching that network?
--Judy Beumler
Louisville, Kentucky

Please let Mr. Lord know that we live in a representative republic, not a democracy. Fear that day that we do.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Business, Religion, Islam, Environment, Hollywood, Movies, Military, Iraq, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, United Nations, NATO, Africa