[Old North State]

The US could not really be considered a major military power until after the 1st World War. We used the safety of oceans to avoid the ravages of external wars with major powers and expanded across the continent. I doubt anyone would seriously believe we were a match for European military powers if they could have projected there forces across land.
The second world war, of course changed everything. Geography no longer provided the aegis.We turned our enormous industrial might loose in a world ravaged by a century of war and threatened by a nuclear foe. The great cold war standoff ensued.
I don't think Europe has recovered to this day from the terrible losses and I think to little has been made of the fact. It will probably take another generation or two, in the great sweep of time, for Europe to recover its vigor and will. The arc of socialism and communalism follows weakened and feminised society. I don't think we can question the valor and fighting spirit of the tommy or grenadier throughout history. It is hard for any country to bear the enormous destruction of modern warfare for very long, the populous loses its will long before the courage of military forces fail. The lands of France probably more than any other place on Earth have borne ceaseless carnage reaching a climax in the last two centuries. That should have been the lesson for the French in Algeria, the US in Viet Nam, etc. I think it is what the Islamists are counting on, that there will is stronger than the West's. Time will tell.

[ukman]

I largely agree, WW2 did change everthing. Here in Europe we have largely recovered from the demographic losses, but the main change was that the Europeans (particularly France and Germany) had had enough of war, and are very conscious of the limitations and pitfalls of military force projection. This is why diplomacy and non-military power is always preferred. And as we see in Iraq, a big army can't solve every problem.
As for Islamists, who's scared of them? They're a minority among Muslims, and Muslims are still a small minority in all European countries: look at the figures, and relax.
As for their culture, I love a good curry, but that's all I (and most other Europeans) will ever take to.