Were they ever? I will stick with my quote that they are the best friend about $5 B a year will buy, except you can't buy friends.

We have some tough decisions to make and whether we keep paying a bunch of corruptocrat weasels who have never played straight with us is first and foremost. I don't have an answer yet, and I don't think there are any good ones.

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You can expect to be able to trust your friends.

I would argue that nations don't have friends. Nations have allies who have a high percentage chance of acting in concert in the areas in which they are allied and no two countries are allied in every facet of their being. Military allies may battle fiercely on tariffs. Nations allied in trade policies may be militarily confrontational.

 

The kicker and similarity to friends is that "high percentage chance." No guarantees, just an expectation that will probably be met in a well-tended relationship.

I would argue that nations don't have friends. Nations have allies who have a high percentage chance of acting in concert in the areas in which they are allied and no two countries are allied in every facet of their being. Military allies may battle fiercely on tariffs. Nations allied in trade policies may be militarily confrontational. The kicker and similarity to friends is that "high percentage chance." No guarantees, just an expectation that will probably be met in a well-tended relationship.

 

Semantics, imho. Nations with whom you are militarily allied, or otherwise have good relations, can typically be considered "friendly". They usually have the same general approach to matters of international importance (sometimes even domestic matters) as you.

 

There is a natural ebb and flow in that relationship, such as when you disagree on trade or even on defense matters or foreign affairs. But facing one another militarily also typically puts an end to that alliance or the "friendly" relations.

 

As long as you continue to be allied, friendly with one another, or like minded, there has to be some element of trust. It may be a matter of degree, and you may be more trusting of one ally over another.

 

However, if a "friendly" nation is discovered to be complicit with your sworn enemy, untruthful or deceitful about their own relations with that sworn enemy ... trust dies and imho, that nation is no longer a friend. Nations are of course comprised of leaders, governments and citizenry. Their views and their allies or friends also change over time.

 

The friend of my enemy is not necessarily my enemy, but he is probably not my friend.

From DefenseNews

 

[excerpt]

 

U.S. Explores Pakistan Supply Route Alternatives

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 18 May 2011 13:21

 

A shutdown of the supply routes that run through Pakistan would pose problems for the U.S. military but would not halt Afghan operations, according to the Army's chief logistics officer.