Is having Russia as an ally such a bad thing? Am I missing something?
Russia is an ally in the same way that the fox is a friend to all chickens---his end game and the chicken's end game are totally different.
I was alive when Soviet Premier Nikita said, "We will bury you." Consider that an indication of Russia's value as an ally.
"We will bury you!" (Russian: «Мы вас похороним!», translit. "My vas pokhoronim!") is a phrase that was used by Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev while addressing Western ambassadors at a reception at the Polish embassy in Moscow on November 18, 1956.[1][2][3] The phrase was originally translated into English by Khrushchev's personal interpreter Viktor Sukhodrev.[4] (Wikipedia)
Russia doesn't always do what is right. (Yes, I know the same can be said about the US.) About a year and a half ago they started to invade the Ukraine, and not because the Ukraine was doing anything. We have treaties in place that would put us on the Ukraine's side of that.
I don't think we'll ever be Allies in the sense of the word but Russia and the U.S. Both have a common foe that sooner or later will start the road to expansionism and Russia just might help keep the balance. They tested NATO in Ukraine and just got so called sanctions and speeches but maybe an open line to Putin just might not be a bad thing. Who in NATO besides the British would have backed us in the Ukraine? It's best we get along with Russia as best we can until the Tiger awakens.
