Four months after the inauguration, America's European allies are struggling to size up the Bush administration and find a way to deal with a new team whose members they respect but whose policies they find difficult to accept. Governments which consider themselves kindred spirits with the world's oldest democracy find themselves at odds with their ally on a range of issues, including global warming, missile defense and North Korea. Proud nations with long histories fear their influence with the world's remaining superpower is waning under a new president with little first-hand experience in Europe. Russia is a broken power.
China needs cutting down to size.
They won the Cold War because they broke the Soviet economy and thus the Soviet system without firing a shot. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman and deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley met with NATO envoys Tuesday. They were to fly to London later in the day for meetings with British officials. The team will also visit France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Poland. However, many Europeans believe the mission is designed to sell a policy rather than forge one in consultations with allies.