Synonym a Day

[This is a word used figuratively as often as not].  It rankles me whenever I see a reference to “reluctant allies” or “the opposition of our allies.” These struthious populations of France and Germany are not our allies [any longer. They] try to ennoble their own dishonest motives by describing war as the ultimate failure of diplomacy, something to be avoided at all costs, claiming the moral high ground by virtue of their having experienced the horrors of war. If they would get their heads out of the sand, they might avoid repeating those experiences. (Orlando Sentinel, “Another Word for ‘Allies,’” 1/26/2003.)