Diegetics

In all fairness, why would you think the Europeans are not up to the challenge, Alph? After all, Europe, along with the United States, is a model of modern civilization and remains a wealthy, politically influential global power center. If I'm not mistaken, many European nations have even managed to sustain a relatively balanced trade with emerging East Asia (unlike the United States). If you believe that the dismantling of welfare states and increased competition in the private sector leads to more effective wealth creation for everyone, then Europe might stand to benefit from having to construct a sustainable public sector and foot its own defense bill.

You might be making a self-contradicting argument.

I'm not clear on what all the speechifying is about. Is it because the Libyan war isn't won after weeks, the same way the Afghan war isn't won after ten years?

Or are we shedding tears for the liquor stores and prostitutes who will lose trade when pointless US military bases in Europe are shut down?

You know what, if this is just the way it's going to be now, good luck to France , I will never forget the assistance you gave a struggling America . Also, I may need to emigrate some time, and I always wanted to burn a car .

The sooner America pulls it's head back in from the Eastern Pacific the better, then things can get back to the balance that has existed for thousands of years in this civilised part of the world, no need for the pagan worship of drinking a zombies blood..apart from the odd case of Cannabilism.. drinking Jesus blood wtf?? anyway, things were good for thousands of years, now even with 'zero' percentage of hangers on, ie anglo visitors, things can return to previous equilibrium.

Social Darwinists bore me. They are just cavemen with a clean shirt. Their way is the way of the Hitlers, Stalins and Mussolinis of the world, who used brute force to impose their rule. If they had their way we would still be practising slavery, torture and widespread genocide. The strong ought to rule, the weak are ruled. And strength has only two sources: weapons and money. And no scruples whatsoever in their use.