[TIME] Washington is used to taking responsibility for anything that goes wrong in the world. But Europe and Greece need to figure this outNo skin off our national fore...
With each passing day, it seems the stakes climb higher in Greece's game of chicken with Europe. What is Washington's attitude toward all this? The U.S. needs a solid, stable E.U. to coordinate on foreign policy priorities like Russia, ISIS and the rise of China. The U.S. just wants the Greeks and the rest of Europe to work out their differences.
So what is Washington's strategy? It seems to be an incoherent mix of what I call "Indispensable America" (the U.S. must lead), "Moneyball America" (target your strategy shrewdly), and "Independent America" (this problem is not OUR problem).
At the G7 presser in Germany, President B.O. was asked whether European governments were being too difficult on Greece. The President responded by nudging the Greeks: "It is going to require Greece being serious about making some important reforms." Then he prodded everyone else: "If both sides show sufficient flexibility, we can get this problem resolved....but it will need tough decisions from all involved."
| Since his own philosophy is pretty much akin to the Greek Left, he can't say hardly anything... |