This is John Batchel, a conversation with my colleague and friend Mary Kissel, Executive Vice President Stevens, Inc., former senior advisor to the Secretary of State, about the president in Greenland, what he gains from this emphasis that he's placed upon 50,000 people in an ice-strewn island well outside of the sea lanes right now. Why press

the matter? Mary has several explanations for it, all to the President's advantage, some not,

some gathering enmity. But here's Mary to explain how state in talking about Greenland is not

talking about other things that are more uncomfortable and lack clarity. More of this tonight.

Well, it's also a diversionary tactic, John. It's, I think, better for the president from his point of view to drive the agenda than to address some of the attack lines against him that come from the political left on things like affordability or from, you know, Iranians who would like to see the president act a lot more forcefully to help the protesters.

And so he's accomplishing two things.

He's driving his own agenda and diverting attention away from things he doesn't want to maybe talk about.

But he's also highlighting a very important national security problem.

Look, the former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Carlos Sands,

who I worked with when I was in office, just went on national television in these last hours and talked about Denmark's failure to honor a $200 million defense commitment to Greenland.

So it's not as if the president is wrong here. I think the question is really about, you know, the way that he goes about talking to allies.

And, you know, generally speaking, you want to befriend your allies and badger your and bludgeon your enemies.

And he's kind of trying the opposite approach.

And time will tell how successful that is.