Simplest explanation: We choose our allies because these are societies whose values we share.

[eppur_se_muova]

I now realize why 45 sees no point in alliances: He has no values, hence the notion of shared values is completely meaningless to him, and alliances are pointless.

The only "value" he knows -- to abuse the meaning of that term unpardonably -- is "me first, above all others". Putin, Kim, Erdogan, Bolsinaro and Duterte are all members of The Ruthless Autocrats Club which 45 is so anxious to join. He's been excluded from every elite group in polite society, so he has helped form a clique which won't reject him as a member -- they all share his lack of principles. He seeks their fellowship and shared admiration, but cares nothing for our traditional allies and their values, which he holds in contempt.

[alwaysinasnit]

1. I don't think Putin could have picked a better tool than 45. An argument can be made that Putin

has brought the US to it's knees without ever having fired a single shot.

[Karadeniz]

2. A good read! Outside of politics, Epstein, Roy Cohn...

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Good additions. nt