[LSJohn]

Under any meaningful foreign policy we would recognize that Israel and West Europe are better allies than, say, Iraq and China;

Is it possible that we don't need allies with whom to have mutual defense pacts, but merely friends with whom we cooperate when it serves mutual purpose to do so? How many of our "allies" do we really confidently expect will act on our behalf when it is not in their own current interest to do so?

Maybe alliances should be made at the moment when needed and only for the purpose and duration of the current need for cooperation.

[annalex]

Maybe alliances should be made at the moment when needed and only for the purpose and duration of the current need for cooperation.

We never need Israel to defend us, say, form Canada, so the relationship is not symmetrical. It is not in our interest to have a new Mongol Horde roll over Israel and Europe, so it becomes in our interest to have alliances with these nations that are of significant duration. Unless there is durability to the alliance, the small countries that we don't want to succumb one by one will seek separate deals with the Horde and won't provide a united front, which we do need.

[the808bass]

Maybe alliances should be made at the moment when needed and only for the purpose and duration of the current need for cooperation.

Uh...because that's not an alliance?