Remember the episode of The Simpsons in which Bart is thrown out of Burns' casino but is challenged to create his own? Bart starts up a rival operation in his treehouse, abducting Wayne Newton, who was scheduled to perform at Burns' (and Smithers had to "defrost" Jim Neighbors as a replacement).

Such has happened with the assertion of American jingoists who challenged Europeans to create their own military: it is happening. Europeans are following his advice literally and creating their own EU defense force. It is under-conceptualized and the subject of some squabbling, but it is emerging. And it is putting a damper on the plans of Bush et al. Rumsfeld is already defrosting the B-list talent as well. He is crying that the competition between EU and NATO forces would be a risk to the stability of NATO. This was the challenge that Bush et al placed before Europeans: defend yourselves! And now that it is becoming a reality, Rumsfeld is not happy. (Should we remind him that US unilateralism has but trans-Atlantic relations in jeopardy?)

The subtext to this criticism is that Rumsfeld wants to move US troops from NATO facilities in Europe to the Middle East but he does not want to abandon US control of those facilities. He hopes that NATO troops will serve as placekeepers. He hopes that the Pentagon can maintain control over NATO even thought US involvement will be less direct. European defense policy would be confined to Europe and beholden to US interests. (Source: Reuters)