Japan similarly has been reluctant to re-militarize. The essential question is whether they can now see change is required. Our super power role isn't good for

Japan similarly has been reluctant to re-militarize. The essential question is whether they can now see change is required. Our super power role isn't good for America either (I'm American). We spent too time in the middle east protecting oil, and committed ourselves to stupid wars in Iraq under Bush. Guntanimo Bay and special extradition are grave American errors. I am happy to see that through energy independence we can delink ourselves from the middle east. I am heartened too see new applicants to Nato, which is a defensive force only. Going forward neither European weakness nor American habit of leading should play us into anything other than strategic threats namely China. We have to learn to say no. Once nato partners have a problem on their border we need to compose better and strengthen each other. I'm inclined to agree: better to temporarily prioritize China over getting better European cooperation if push comes to shove. We can't own European risk more than it can itself.