Why do the French think they have so much power? They have almost no military power, their economy, along with the rest of Europe, is struggling under the weight of a burdening social safety net that no longer provides security but rather retards their prosperity, yet they cling to the remnants of Cold War political power that no longer hold any worthwhile significance. They cling to these institutions, such as the U.N., because without them the U.S. could easily dominate the world agenda. They finagle the methods of change and action because with every day that passes, the façade of French influence is undermined by the will of the powerful.

During a punctuated moment in history in which power shifts become apparent and pretenses of authority are shown for what they are, nations that have seen their day in the sun and now must watch their slow decline become nothing more than obstructionists in the path of safety, security, and general prudence for what is acceptable and what is not.

This is what has happened with the French. They no longer have the influence that they once had, and that America once required of them. They have become politically insignificant. Their U.N. veto is now one of the few traditions of power with which they can still justify their worldly pretension. The French have been flying under the radar for far too long, and they have been doing it on our dime.