US defense chief charms allies during NATO debut

[babylonsister]

Music to my ears! The best part? I don't have to worry about who's trying to game the system to fill their own pockets.


US defense chief charms allies during NATO debut
Biden administration’s pledges to consult and collaborate win praise after four years of Trump’s bludgeoning.
By David M. Herszenhorn
February 18, 2021 1:49 am



It was three days late for Valentine’s, but the mood among NATO allies was lovey-dovey after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attended his first meeting of allied defense ministers on Wednesday.

Austin, a retired four-star U.S. Army general, weighed in during each of the two virtual gatherings of the North Atlantic Council and, according to diplomats and officials, played all the right mood music by expressing a willingness to consult and full-throated commitment to NATO’s principle of collective defense.

Under other circumstances, that might seem as ho-hum as a date night during the pandemic. But after four years of being badgered and berated by U.S. President Donald Trump, suddenly Washington sounded like a friend again — and that in itself felt refreshing and remarkable, participants in the meeting said.

“Evening falls over #NATO HQ,” tweeted Belgium’s NATO Ambassador Pascal Heyman, along with a picture of the giant glass headquarters building glittering just after sunset. “Successful first day of the Defense Ministers Council concluded. Highlight was a strong @SecDef statement to turn a new page, revitalize alliances, and a reaffirmation of the ironclad Art 5 guarantee,” he added, referring to Article 5, the treaty provision that proclaims an attack on one NATO ally to be an attack on all.

more...

https://www.politico.eu/article/lloyd-austin-charms-allies-during-nato-debut/

[Elwood P Dowd]

1. Refreshing change from the bull in a china shop approach. K&R

[blm]

2. Balm

[Cha]

3. Kick for Biden's Admin!

[moonscape]

4. Am wondering how long before prior

normal will feel current normal again. Am still lugging around a wad of ptsd that might take a while to shed. Suspect our allies are in that space also.

[Enterstageleft]

5. It is so good to have a competent President again...

Thank you voters!