Diversity never equals strenght. It is what is held in common that give strenght.
Europe's strength has come primarily from the United States shouldering the burden of their common defense for over 60 years.
Jean Francois Carry notwithstanding, there is a trend lurking toward isolationism in the US. The current isolationist trend is founded in the "cut & run" from Iraq brigades.
The looming isolationist trend will rear its head in 2009, should a Democrat President take office. The tendency for Democrats is to involve our military forces in humanitarian missions, such as Africa, or in missions not tied to our national security interests, such as Bosnia.
As we speak, Democrats are painting themselves into a corner on the use of military force. They will not be able to make a case for such deployments for at least 10 years after we have left Iraq, assuming that our drawdown will commence within 18 months.
The rest of the world, particularly Europe, will rue the day they did not join with us in Iraq, and other battles in the War on Terror.
One part of me loathes the thought of the US becoming isolationist, while another part relishes the thought of sending a big "FU" to those countries that have fought us diplomatically in the UN, and the War on Terror.