The laudatory response from many Republicans over a choice that a year ago, on paper at least, might have appalled them demonstrates a strong desire to begin a new administration aligned with Mr. Trump.
Such support from the Trump administration aligns well with the White House's ties to General Hifter's backers in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and President Trump's preference for authoritarian leaders.
It is for these reasons that we were not surprised at the current Australian government aligning with the Trump administration and Benjamin Netanyahu's rightwing government against the human and civil rights of the Palestinian people.
The Bush administration aligned itself with the religious supremacists in 1991 when it urged the Supreme Court to uphold a "nonsectarian" graduation prayer offered by a minister or a rabbi at the invitation of school officials.
By taking this new position, however, the Obama administration aligned itself with an unlikely ally -- Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma.
His views on crime, terrorism, and immigration — all big priorities for this administration — align closely with Trump's, making him one of the president's most loyal advisers.
In interviews, Michael Mukasey and Alberto Gonzales, who both served in the George W. Bush administration, aligned themselves Friday with a contingent of legal analysts who assert that the post should have been filled by a Justice Department official who has been confirmed by the Senate.
"It is entirely possible that the catalyst to this crisis was the feeling in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi that the U.S. under the Trump administration is aligned with them," said Emile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The rail industry is urging the Obama administration to align with Canada and direct tough, new oil tank car standards.
But even the local administrations marginally aligned with the government say they do not get much help from Mogadishu and now want to break away.
