[u-89]

Actually, if I were the Russians, I'd ally with USA

I suppose it is human nature to want to be top dog and not a satrap.

If I was French? hmmm, I'd take more showers

Well they may not shower as much as Americans but bidets are common there and not here.

The Chinese are not in a hurry like westerners are. They see the long view of history and know that frequently time will take care of problems for you. They see us as corrupt and getting over extended and probably figure while we decline they will be gathering strength and might figure they may never need to confront us as time may do the job for them. For now war and confrontation is not an advantage to them, our trade is.

[WOSG]

It would be the wrong thinking of countries used to tyranny that choices in foregin relations are *only* top dog or 'satrap'. That is wrong.

We dont need vassals, we need allies.

Allies have shared values and interests.

We may be first of equals with allies like UK and Australia but they are fully sovereign. Same with Russia, if they so choose to see how our interests and theirs are in convergence. Iraq is our problem, Chechnya theirs. Terrorism is both our problems.
And cleaning up the mideast helps Russia enormously. etc.