Nato leaders’ isolation has rarely been greater
Chicago is one of the most vibrant and engaging cities in America but the Nato summit with its rings of watertight security, its phalanxes of cops, roadblocks and bulldozer barricades – presumably all of it designed to keep that fierce some regiment of demonstrators at arm’s length – has rendered the windy city an urban graveyard.
I have seen this happen before in Istanbul or Munich. The irony is that just as the world’s embattled leaders stand increasingly accused of being out of touch they closet themselves away more and more. On Saturday huddled in Camp David. Some of their entourage were even forced to share cabins as if they were on a proper camping trip. That bit I like.
Perhaps Angela Merkel should be bunked up with Francois Hollande. It might have overcome their differences about the euro. No such thrills in Chicago, where everyone gets the luxury of their own hotel floor. But the isolation of Nato leaders has rarely been greater. We even did an interview with David Cameron on a wild roof garden on the top of City Hall, where the prime minister had been meeting Rahm Emmanuel, Chicago’s mayor, who combines a svelt tightly coiled stature with sharp political elbows.
He has the unique distinction of having been both Obama’s chief of staff and a trained ballet dancer. Apparently Cameron loves spending quality time with mayors in just every city other than his own. Standing amongst the eco-weeds of the City Hall roof top garden we asked Cameron about the war in Afghanistan and how we can still ask British soldiers for the ultimate sacrifice when Nato is rushing to the exit door and the Taliban cannot be defeated. He gave the expected answer about doing the best to make the transition work. After a decade of war we really do have precious little to show for Afghanistan apart from a lot of sacrifice in blood and treasure.
The best moment of the day was when my friend Robert Moore from ITV showed the prime minister the snapshot of yesterday’s Champions League penalty moment when the agony of the euro talks was interrupted by the ecstasy of the Chelsea victory. It defied history, made Cameron cheer like a boy, Merkel glower like a true iron chancellor and Obama stand there open mouthed at the drama. Cameron later gave Merkel a hug. It was a nice touch. She had after all had a tough day and must have felt like she was outside the tent at Camp David.
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