As you argue, the first permanent president of the European Council, the body that brings together the heads of the European Union’s governments, needs to be a big hitter (“The Other Presidential Race,” April 19, 2008). The job recently created by the Lisbon treaty would go to a politician from Luxembourg, Austria, or Denmark at the Union’s peril. In spite of his many faults, some of which are far from negligible, the only big hitter on offer is Tony Blair, as you rightly point out. But the main reason for this is not the world stage, with countries such as China and India, among others; rather, it is America. There is much mending of the fences that is now due between Europe and America. Whoever wins the other presidential race, this is why the best candidate for the Union’s top job is still George Bush’s old mate of Iraq fame. This is where Jean-Claude Juncker, Wolfgang Schüssel, or Anders Fogh Rasmussen would have hardly a chance.