Fifteen years after the cold war ended, the transatlantic alliance is often said not to be realising its potential. America and Europe must act in step to do great things for the world. This week's summit between the United States and the European Union in Vienna fitted the pattern: "The world needs us to work together," declared George Bush, grandly. But there were also more realistic signals: Europeans and Americans may be making their venerable partnership more modest, less messianic—and possibly more effective. Mr Bush left the Hapsburg capital a bit like a ridiculed rich uncle at a family reunion, welcomed insincerely to his face and belittled behind his back. Impossible though it sounds, America's reputation has deteriorated with the European public in the year since the president last visited the EU, vowing to mend fences. And there are only fitful signs of renewed amity among diplomats. American foreign-policy types have gone out of their way to be nice about Europeans ("America supports a strong Europe because we need a strong partner," said the president's national security adviser recently), but most EU members have not returned the favour.
展开▼
