His fourth column dismisses the idea that America doesn't care what anyone else thinks.
But look at the matter from an American point of view: for 50 years, via Nato, America risked nuclear suicide to guarantee the nations of Europe against attack. Sure, America benefited from the arrangement - but it benefited less than Europe and paid much more.
Then, paradoxically, the first Nato nation to be attacked turns out to be America. America invokes Article V - and where are the allies? Britain is there, and God bless you for it. Australia, though not in Nato, is there as well, and bless Australia, too.
But the others? Where are you? Where are the Germans whom America defended at their hours of maximum danger - the Berlin crises of 1949 and 1961? The French, the Dutch and the Belgians?
And, even better, he quotes John Hawkins in the UK Telegraph!
A few weeks ago, a piece by an American internet essayist showed up in my in-basket. It is an arresting statement of a newly familiar thought: "It's like we're the guy who ended up being the designated driver for the planet. Sure, we'd love to sit back and drink ourselves into a stupor with the rest of the globe, but we're responsible for getting as many people safely home as possible.
He goes on much further, but go read it yourself.
Kudos to John for getting a cite in a major media outlet. Bad form for David not to give a source for the quote, though.
