America-European relations

I wonder if the US’ new proposal for NATO is really just a ploy to give any unilateral US action against a perceived enemy an air of international authority and suuport by including this new task force it its plans.

I also wonder, speaking of US foreign relations, how the US will now respond to the new German government. Both candidates campaigned against supporting US action in Iraq, and Rumsfeld has already said the campaign ‘poisoned’ german-american relations. Schroeder’s statement that two allies must be able to disagree and work out their differences in an open and honest manner seems eminently reasonable, but these are not reasonable people he’s dealing with in America.