The EC's competition authorities acted against Microsoft but refuse to undertake similar anti-monopoly proceedings against Russia's Gazprom

Between President Barack Obama and Europe these days, it's all been about — with forbearance from Rodgers and Hammerstein — raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

writes John Vinocur.

But how does "energy security" squeeze into the clingy lyrics that padded the very willful mood of trans-Atlantic reconciliation last weekend at the Munich Security Conference?

After all, the Americans representing the new administration at the annual meeting of defense officials and experts wanted to be liked. And the Europeans, convinced that the Bush administration had mocked and belittled them for eight years, were waiting to be soothed.

Although Europe got no comfy all's clear, the possible hectoring from Washington — on more troops for Afghanistan or greater European defense spending — was turned way down.

Still, and unmistakably, an ambitious new refrain is being fit into all the sweet song.

Using the tag-phrase "energy security," Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. and James Jones, a former NATO commander in Europe whom Obama named as his national security adviser, made clear that the administration would place emphasis on rolling back its allies' dependency on Russian-controlled natural gas and oil.

…At this stage, the administration could probably count on real support on the theme from Britain and Sweden. That's in addition to EU and NATO members in eastern Europe, who are completely dependent on Russia as an energy source and say their sovereignty is threatened by Moscow's determination to use its grip as a political lever.

The Czechs talk about all countries needing two separate energy sources and the means of supply to achieve genuinely secure circumstances.

But the Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the EU's revolving presidency till July, sounded a little doubtful about the perspective of change. He told me: "There are special interests in Europe, and it will take some time to get them on board."

Some Americans are skeptical too.

They refer to the attitude of the European Commission, whose competition authorities have acted against Microsoft but refuse to undertake similar anti-monopoly proceedings against Gazprom, the Russian energy concern, which supplies two-thirds of European gas.

…The Czechs talk about all countries needing two separate energy sources and the means of supply to achieve genuinely secure circumstances.

But the Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the EU's revolving presidency till July, sounded a little doubtful about the perspective of change. He told me: "There are special interests in Europe, and it will take some time to get them on board."

Some Americans are skeptical too.

They refer to the attitude of the European Commission, whose competition authorities have acted against Microsoft but refuse to undertake similar anti-monopoly proceedings against Gazprom, the Russian energy concern, which supplies two-thirds of European gas.

…So much love, plus an outstretched helping hand! And so fast.

For Europeans supposing otherwise, the next lines in this part of the Obama administration's songbook fall something short of the glow and feel of bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.