From the U.S. viewpoint, it is altogether reasonable that the Europeans demand multilateralism for themselves. It is not reasonable to demand it of the United States. The current alliance structure has two purposes: One is to facilitate the effective defense of the West, the other is to create a framework for controlling European excesses. The alliance now is hindering rather than facilitating defense and, one would hope, the Europeans are now sufficiently chastened and mature to restrain themselves within their own multilateral systems. NATO's consensus system should not be permitted to impede U.S. war-making strategy, particularly when it permits countries that commit and risk little or nothing to control the United States, which is committing and risking much. From Washington's perspective, NATO might have outlived its usefulness.
At Davos, Secretary of State Colin Powell made the argument for the United States, although he left much unsaid. In general, the U.S. academic and NGO attendees sided with the Europeans, while the business leaders maintained a muted tone, focusing on the effects a war might have on the economy. There is a self-selection process at Davos that results in a certain stratum of U.S. views being represented while others are not. But it was more interesting than that. There was continual talk about European opposition to U.S. "unilateralism," but the Europeans were deeply split as well. The Spanish government has come in on Washington's position, and the Italian government is close. Most of Eastern Europe is siding with the United States. And of course the British government stands with the United States. Germany and France do not speak for Europe; they speak for themselves in a deeply divided Europe. The divisions within Europe did not come through clearly.
At Davos, Secretary of State Colin Powell made the argument for the United States, although he left much unsaid. In general, the U.S. academic and NGO attendees sided with the Europeans, while the business leaders maintained a muted tone, focusing on the effects a war might have on the economy. There is a self-selection process at Davos that results in a certain stratum of U.S. views being represented while others are not. But it was more interesting than that. There was continual talk about European opposition to U.S. "unilateralism," but the Europeans were deeply split as well. The Spanish government has come in on Washington's position, and the Italian government is close. Most of Eastern Europe is siding with the United States. And of course the British government stands with the United States. Germany and France do not speak for Europe; they speak for themselves in a deeply divided Europe. The divisions within Europe did not come through clearly.