'New' Rumsfeld is Seeking Stronger Ties with Europe

The New York Times:

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld returned Saturday to the scene of his most brutal and bitter clash with Europe, which occurred two years ago, suggesting that he was a new man eager to forge a stronger trans-Atlantic relationship in the second Bush administration.

"When I first mentioned I might be traveling in France and Germany, it raised some eyebrows," he joked in his speech at the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy. "One wag said it ought to be an interesting trip after all that has been said. I thought for a moment and then I replied, 'Oh, that was the old Rumsfeld.' " ...

His appearance was only decided late Thursday, and it seemed intended to reinforce Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's message on her recent European tour to convince America's traditional allies that the United States takes them seriously. The Europeans are so hungry for attention and respect from Washington that some participants said that the fact that Mr. Rumsfeld showed up at all was important. ...

Mr. Rumsfeld told the audience that one nation alone could not defeat radical Islamists and their "totalitarian" aims, emphasizing the importance of the NATO alliance. "It will take many nations to help Afghans and Iraqis succeed in bringing democracy to places where tyrants once ruled and terrorists once trained," he said. ...