Glory of Rome

Europe is rising to political and military signifigance after 60 years of licking its wounds from the 40-years-war between 1914 and 1945. War bled dry the vigor of the European peoples but now the continent is ready to recover what was lost during that turbulent period. Millions of Europeans lost their lives during these two global wars resulting in wanton destruction of their property and way of life but also the refutation that their culture was superior to all others. Polite culture gave way to a barbarism unknown to Western Civlization since the Fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries. As Europe coalesces around a dedicated group of nations striving for a FEDERAL system of government, we see how the ancien' regime of Pax Romana comes into sharp focus.

The Roman Empire was the last unifying entity stretching from the borders of Scotland to the Egyptian hinterlands, from Spain in the west to present day Turkey in the east and centered entirely within Western Europe. Rome was defeated and humiliated on several occasions with the Celts sacking Rome early on to the Cartheginian victories under Hannibal to the German tribal invasions that ultimately broke the Western Empire into many pieces that in turn would form the first medieval states of Europe. However, even though Rome may have been defeated it always seems to recover and ultimately rise from the ashes of war. Roman ideals which were preserved by the Catholic Church which so happens to be based in the "eternal" city of Rome have been carried by each succesive generation to the present day. Now Europe is ripe for the consolidation of her ancient medieval states into a new Roman Empire that will astound the world albeit a weaker vessel than it once was.

Europe today can no longer afford the luxury of American military occupation of its continent. At some point, America will leave the fields and plains of Europa and return to its natural orbit around the Western Hemisphere. How long this may take is anyones guess. Europe will have to start paying for its own defense and when it does will be tempted to use it as "politics by other means". We do see a small EU military force taking charge from the American backed NATO contingent in the Balkans as well as other "non-Nato" states becoming more involved militarily speaking in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, after the fall of the twin towers in New York City on 9/11 we saw American airspace over New York being protected by GERMAN air force assets as America was starting to rev up for the War on Terror.

Perhaps America's War on Terror will be the catalyst that breathes to life the old body of the Roman Empire? We know Islamic Terrorism is a mechanism of political will to force other nations to do its bidding. Islam is a military paper tiger but does place a high priority on its religious fanatacism to make up for any deficiencies of its military capabilities. If Islam focus' its Terror campaign against a nascent Roman Empire then perhaps this will be the call to arms for a Revived Rome not seen since 476 AD. Just as the communist menace was the glue that kept NATO together then what will the Mohammaden threat be to the European Union? A glue or an acid? Only history will tell.