There has long been a divergence of views between the United States and its European allies, but the distance between the two appears to be expanding. The most recent contretemps concerns expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but the roots of the dispute are more fundamental. The real issue is the growing disparity in military capabilities and its impact on duties and approaches to problem solving.

The first shot was fired last week when leading Republican senators questioned NATO's plans to expand to former Soviet bloc countries. They complained that the move would leave the alliance overextended and ill-prepared to tackle future challenges. Mr. John Warner, senior Republican on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, asked whether Americans were willing to shed blood and spend money on the nine countries seeking to join the alliance. Mr. Warner, no dove, voiced the fear -- shared by many -- that NATO's expansion would leave the organization "increasingly inefficient, indecisive and just about a mini-United Nations for Europe."

Mr. Warner's views are countered by senators -- ironically those from the Democratic Party -- who argue that enlarging NATO is the best way to sustain "the historic victory of American ideals that we won in the Cold War." They are joined by President George W. Bush, who remains committed to NATO expansion "to all of Europe's new democracies."