WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH wakes up in the morning, his first thoughts are not about Europe. He is likely to think about Iraq, the Middle East, Afghanistan, China, Colombia, Venezuela, Pakistan and India before turning his attention to Europe. Even then, it will be to contemplate a country on Europe’s fringe: Russia.

America in the George W. Bush era sees Europe a bit like Canada. It is mostly friendly, occasionally annoying and seldom worth worrying about. When important decisions are made or large initiatives carried out, Europe is to be politely consulted but rarely given a big role and never a veto. In fact, “the Canadization of Europe” is a phrase that pops up sporadically these days.