The Friedman Test: Name That Country
Country A
Was among the very few in the Muslim world to hold spontaneous pro-U.S. demonstrations on 9/11
Country B
Some of its citizens celebrated on 9/11, and many of its people are hostile to the United States
Country A
Has long protected its Christians and Jews
Country B
Illegalizes the building of churches, synagogues or Hindu temples
Country A
Has a strategic interest in the success of the pro-U.S., Shiite-led, elected Iraqi government
Country B
Does not want the elected, Shiite-led government in Iraq to succeed
Country A
Has never sent any suicide bombers to Iraq
Country B
Its young men have been regularly recruited to carry out suicide bombings in Iraq
Country A
Rejects Al Qaeda's nihilism
Country B
Its private charities help sustain Al Qaeda
Country A
Actively helped the United States defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan and replace it with a pro-U.S. elected alliance of moderate Muslims
Country B
Helped finance the Taliban
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Now, can you guess which country should be the natural ally of the United States? That's right, Country A. Now, as for naming the countries: Country A is Iran, whose relations with the United States are becoming increasingly strained. Country B is Saudi Arabia, which has a largely cordial relationship with the United States.
The United States, in terms of overall values, perplexingly has much more in common with its current "enemy" than with its current "friend."