allies

This from the New York Times: Bush and Hu Vow New Cooperation.

I am so glad that we are moving away from those yucky old allies like France (that helped us win the revolution, brought democratic revolution to Europe, enriched our democratic, liberal tradition with contributions from Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, and the like) for new partners like China (one of the world's worst human rights abusers, dictatorial, corrupt, pseudo-communist regime, unequal trading partner).

"Do you feel like America is headed in the right or wrong direction?" he hears over the phone.