the US has no direct interest in the debts in question.

you mean defaulting on them won't send a ripple effect through the american economy?

or that they run a cost-benefit analysis and realise it's worth throwing a few homegrown plutocrats under the bus to keep petro-dollar denomination? collateral damage.

their interest in destroying the euro... thereby driving more safe-havening in us treasuries, propping up the dollar?

i think the EU attitudes to 'fair' rather than 'free' trade also may have something to do with it, likewise EU propensities not to kowtow swiftly enough to US corporations, cf apple, microsoft, monsanto.

The power of knowledge is in mortal combat with the knowledge of power. It really is that simple... That's the Edenic apple we are all munching on.