You seem to have a funny definition of “dysfunctional” or confuse the term with “politically shortsighted”.
Europe did have a relationship with the US that was beneficial to both sides, that was the basis of it and the reason it worked for so long. This has ended, one could have seen it coming much earlier and indeed France has seen it coming for a long time and is therefore also one of the best prepared member states but even France has been complacent when it comes to modern IT infrastructure. That has little to do with being dysfunctional.
I am wondering if you are really that naive and truly believe that Putin ever intended to see the EU member states as equal partners. His rhetoric have changed indeed his goals not really, at best his means have become increasingly bloody and ruthless. If you can’t see that Russia wants to rebuild its colonial empire in Europe I really can’t help you. And if you can’t see that colonial empires are based on oppression and exploitation I can’t help you either. Maybe read how the old East Block worked economically, communist economy aside it was just the same old story.
You really seem to believe the US to be all powerful apparently. This has little to do with reality and lies at odds with the actual EU legislation which is often at odds with what the US would like. Does the US have influence? Of course it has but it is not nearly as total as you seem to believe and it is rooted in Europe’s dependence. I listed a boat load of initiatives that are being undertaken right now to reduce those dependencies for that very reason. Most of them are something the US opposes to varying degrees (from mildly to hysterically). If your world view held any water, hardly any of those would exist.
European unification happened of course in the context of “PAX America” but it was formed by the interests of many players. The fading away of the Western European Union was certainly a consequence of US opposition for example. That does not change the fact that a unified Europe within the EU is the only realistic chance for European autonomy and shared sovereignty without being vassals of either the US or Russia, which is as I said, the key reason why the US and the Russian regime are firing with all their propaganda might against the EU nowadays and you appear to have completely fallen for it.
You seem to have a funny definition of “dysfunctional” or confuse the term with “politically shortsighted”. Europe did have a relationship with the US that was beneficial to both sides, that was the basis of it and the reason it worked for so long. This has ended, one could have seen it coming much earlier and indeed France has seen it coming for a long time and is therefore also one of the best prepared member states but even France has been complacent when it comes to modern IT infrastructure. That has little to do with being dysfunctional.
I am wondering if you are really that naive and truly believe that Putin ever intended to see the EU member states as equal partners. His rhetoric have changed indeed his goals not really, at best his means have become increasingly bloody and ruthless. If you can’t see that Russia wants to rebuild its colonial empire in Europe I really can’t help you. And if you can’t see that colonial empires are based on oppression and exploitation I can’t help you either. Maybe read how the old East Block worked economically, communist economy aside it was just the same old story.
You really seem to believe the US to be all powerful apparently. This has little to do with reality and lies at odds with the actual EU legislation which is often at odds with what the US would like. Does the US have influence? Of course it has but it is not nearly as total as you seem to believe and it is rooted in Europe’s dependence. I listed a boat load of initiatives that are being undertaken right now to reduce those dependencies for that very reason. Most of them are something the US opposes to varying degrees (from mildly to hysterically). If your world view held any water, hardly any of those would exist.
European unification happened of course in the context of “PAX America” but it was formed by the interests of many players. The fading away of the Western European Union was certainly a consequence of US opposition for example. That does not change the fact that a unified Europe within the EU is the only realistic chance for European autonomy and shared sovereignty without being vassals of either the US or Russia, which is as I said, the key reason why the US and the Russian regime are firing with all their propaganda might against the EU nowadays and you appear to have completely fallen for it.