India, March 2 -- There are good reasons to take a close look at US secretary of state Marco Rubio's Munich speech, delivered two weeks before the attack on Iran. It provides some explanation for President Trump's roller coaster approach to international relations. Secondly, it is a window into the mind of Trump's top diplomat, supposedly a saner MAGA voice, and a hopeful for the next Republican nomination.

The speech, which evoked a collective sigh of relief - and a standing ovation - is packaged to salve the wounded self-esteem of European leaders after Trump's constant sniping at their "free-loading" and Vice President Vance's harangue of a year ago. All that comes, Rubio asserts, from a place of deep caring because the transatlantic ...