Greenland is of obvious strategic importance in the event of another world war (and to prevent one), or even in the calculus of modern international relations. Americans have known this at least since the end of World War II, which is why President Harry S. Truman's administration made an offer to buy the island in 1946 for $100 million in gold. But it's equally obvious that the NATO alliance is even more important than Greenland. The United States needs the strength and unity of a free Europe to withstand the militaries and expansionist adventurism of the enemies of freedom.