The fall of a post-junta era symbol

Last week, another symbol of Greece's post-junta era was buried in the cemetery of history. The symbol is anti-Americanism, which was one of the building blocks of our national mythology after the fall of the military dictatorship and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Sometimes pictures speak louder than words: Think of the contrast between decades of anger over the docking of the United States Sixth Fleet in Greek ports against the recent festive presence of its flagship, the USS Mount Whitney, in Thessaloniki.

But words can be impressive too, such as statements by US Defense Secretary James Mattis, who has spoken of relations between the two countries being at their best point ever. This is not happening during a quiet period in international affairs, but at a time of renewed Cold War tensions worldwide.

At this point, the greatest risk is of exaggerated...