Trump's generals allow US allies to breathe a sigh of relief
The military veterans counselling the President may help his administration soften its tone and govern at a more settled pace.
Thursday 2 March 2017 03:32, UK
Among diplomats and observers on both sides of the Atlantic, a hope has been growing about Donald Trump and his generals.
We know that he has enormous respect for the military men he has put in his cabinet.
The President speaks reverently of defence secretary James Mattis and John Kelly at Homeland Security, and now he has the highly respected HR McMaster as his new national security adviser.
A man who seems impatient with most forms of authority holds his generals in the highest regard, taking their counsel and dining with them often.
It is perhaps surprising given Mr Trump was sent to military boarding school at a young age for what is said to have been an unhappy and scarring experience.
Diplomats observing the Trump White House believe the generals are having an influence moderating the unruly president.
Mr Trump's speech to Congress this week was, for instance, more conciliatory - particularly on NATO.
America's backing still sounds conditional on countries paying their dues, but he was emphatic in his support for an alliance "forged through the bonds of two world wars".
The message of the speech wasn't that new but the tone was - less strident and more presidential.
Have the generals weakened the influence of those behind the more incendiary rhetoric and actions of the last few tumultuous weeks?
There is still plenty for allies and their diplomats to lose sleep over.
The spectacle of a president who is easily riled and prodded into overreaction.
Of a leader who reads little and seems to spend as much time watching cable news as he does governing.
The lack of coherence and consistency in this administration.
The power struggle between Mr Trump's close advisers, his family, his military men and an almost mutinous diplomatic corps.
And there is deep concern that the President wants to balloon military spending while imposing swingeing cuts to America's soft and diplomatic power.
As defence secretary Mattis put it a while ago, if you cut the budget of the State Department, he'll need plenty more ammunition.
But the direction of travel seems towards a softening of tone and a more settled pace of government - and for that, America's allies and their diplomats are allowing themselves a quiet sigh of relief.
And a nod towards the military veterans counselling a more considered style of government well aware of the dangers posed by inexperienced civilians getting their hands on power.