FWIW, I think a lot of what we're seeing in Europe is an unintended consequence of the Cold War. Given the money and troops we placed over there, it's been 50+ years since the European nations have had to worry about their own protection. They're complacent in the same way, I suppose, that Rome was complacent. They entrusted their military protection to outlanders (i.e., us), and used their monetary savings to build welfare states.
At the same time, however, the last century shows just how incredibly savage Western Civilization can be, when pushed too far. The Muslims are a numerical threat only on the fringes of Europe, and not a legitimate military threat anywhere. If they ever become a serious physical threat (and they're not, yet -- not even close), the results will not be pretty. It's coming....
interesting thoughts!
scary, too . . .
I agree that they lost a lot, both men and materiel. It took a lot of time and money to rebuild their homes and other buildings. Their GDP/cap is still only about half of ours. Since 1990 their minds has been on bringing the Eastern European countries up to standard. They are as busy promoting democracy and prosperity as we are, just in their own area.
No, I was just using de Gaulle as an example, who shows that the problem in Europe is not merely with the socialists. And you are right that France has a long history of destructive and essentially uncivilized behavior.
Going back even further, France allied itself for long periods of time with the Muslims against Christian Europe, during much of the 16th and 17th centuries, even though the Grand Turk at that time was a threat to the very survival of Europe.
Then there was the Napoleonic adventure. Not to speak of the French Revolution, which, unlike the American revolution had destructive effects which echo through the western world even today.
France has a long history of putting its "national interests" above absolutely everything else, and the result has not, in fact, been helpful either to western civilization or to France.