...There are four general lessons here:First, when Europe is occasionally forced to confront the same human and natural challenges that the United States regularly does, it fares no better and often far worse.
Second, European Big Government can be just as callous as American private enterprise and is often less efficient.
Third, Europeans' anger at the United States reveals their own uncertainty about failing policies that have somehow produced too few jobs. More optimistic countries like India, China, Australia, Japan and many in Eastern Europe look to the future, not the past — and don't seem to scapegoat the United States for their own self-induced problems.
Fourth, to maintain our historical friendship — and we must — it is time to politely let Europeans regain their confidence by standing on their own. Let's start by pulling our remaining troops out. A continent larger and more populous than our own after 60 years can tend to its own defense needs or lack there of — as we Americans move on
Victor Davis Hanson Ping !
Let me know if you want in or out.
Links: FR Index of his articles: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson
His website: http://victorhanson.com/ NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp