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The question of whether or not America's alliance with Ethiopia demonstrates political wisdom cannot be answered without first defining the scope of the alliance and the purpose it serves. "Lay down with dogs and you'll rise up with fleas," (Franklin, 1733) is an old familiar adage frequently used to illustrate the lack of wisdom in establishing relationships with the wrong kind of people. It has, however, probably never been used to describe what might be considered a dubious alliance between a major world power and a politically unstable third-world country. To be fair, let's also remind ourselves that, under optimal conditions, a dog can still be man's best friend. Before we make this metaphor walk on all fours (no pun intended), we do well to ask the significance behind such an unlikely partnership. That said, Why is the United States calling Ethiopia its political ally in spite of this country's frequent acts of barbarism which it justifies as a necessary evil against the spread of "global terrorism?"

In spite of Ethiopia's century old history of internal instability, revolution, and political upheaval, Meles Zenawi, her Prime Minister, continues to be looked upon by the US as a prominent ally. When addressing the question, "Why?" three factors emerge to form the basis for Ethiopia's desirability as an ally with the United States. Ethiopia's religious climate, her history of both waging her own war and coupling with the United States in its war against terrorism, and her fledgling attempts at becoming a democratic nation must all be taken into consideration when weighing the significance of this alliance.

Ethiopia's Religious Climate

Ethiopia is a land-locked nation centrally located within the Horn of Africa. It is bounded by Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya. While all of these nations are decidedly Islamic in culture and religion, Ethiopia in particular has been highly resistant to radical Islam. More traditional Islamic influence, such as that of the Sufi, has helped to propagate the concept of peaceful co-existence between Islam and Christianity communities within Ethiopia. While approximately one-third of Ethiopia's population is traditional Muslim, Christianity retains a strong influence with an almost thirty-percent margin. While the current religious climate lends itself toward an alliance that is beneficial to both countries, there is growing concern that young Muslims in the country of Ethiopia may become sympathetic to more radical forms of

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