Armas No. 8 — Deserve victory.

The free world reconstitutes itself, in Europe and Asia.

Last best hope.

Some months back, I had the opportunity speak with a group of French consular officials from across North America — this sort of public-diplomacy liaison is a commonplace in my sphere — and the subject of Ukraine arose. I noted that there was discontent on the American populist right over having to defend Europe (again), and several of the French interlocutors were eager to answer the critique. You see — they said — the war in Ukraine has driven changes, and France is leading the way in a Europe that defends itself. I countered, politely I think, with the note that this has been a French conceit since the dawn of De Gaulle’s Fifth Republic, and it never actually happens. Watch and see, replied our French friends. 

Well, this week, we watched, and we saw.