It turns out that peace through weakness is a failed national and economic security strategy. Remember how the world, especially the American media, fawned over former German Chancellor Angela Merkel? The adoration was so over the top that in 2015 Time magazine named Merkel its "Person of the Year."

Unvaccinated Germans could soon face severe and crippling punishments from Merkel's government, including losing the ability to enter restaurants, cinemas and shops. Amid a new Covid-19 wave in Germany, a top aide to the German Chancellor warned that vaccinated Germans will "definitely have more freedom" than their unvaccinated counterparts.

Ten years after the financial crisis, Europe's economy achieved a recovery, but not a revival. Low inflation, low interest rates and low growth were the new normal across the continent. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit, causing incredible damage to the economies of numerous countries.