So has the appointment of a new, more consensual American ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, who believes America needs friends to operate effectively in an increasingly globalised world.

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Who needs enemies with Facebook friends and Twitter followers like that?

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The Salvation Army, founded in 1865 as an evangelical church to "befriend those who have no friends, " needs new boosters.

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With friends like that, who needs enemies?

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"Remembering the needs of friends, relatives and neighbours who could be at risk is essential, " said Yvonne Doyle, director of public health for the South East Coast region.

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With friends like the liquidity-providing HFT algorithms, who needs enemies?

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With political friends like Mr Fabius, the prime minister may have wondered, who needs enemies?

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