Quote of the day...

...America, if not connected at all, or only be the feeble tie of a simple league, offensive and defensive, would by the operation of such opposite and jarring alliances be gradually entangled in all the pernicious labyrinths of European politics and wars; and by the destructive contentions of the parts, into which she was divided, would be likely to become prey to the actives and machinations of powers equally the enemies of them all. Divide et impera must be the moto of every nation, that either hates us or fears us.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 7