The UN Security Council, meanwhile, has become ineffectual, stymied by the great-power interests of China and Russia. So it does nothing, even as Europe's borders are challenged, Ukrainian citizens are bombed in their homes by Russian troops, and a violent, bandit army ravages the greater Middle East, from the beaches of Libya to the borders of Iran.
欧洲的局面也不比美国光明。欧洲国家故意忽视它们的军事实力，这损害了它们在国际机制破坏时执行法治的能力。与此同时，在中国和俄罗斯等强大力量的利益的紧逼下，联合国安理会影响力也日益下降。因此，当乌克兰公民在家中遭遇俄罗斯军队轰炸时，当暴力的匪帮蹂躏大中东、席卷利比亚海岸直至伊朗边界的广袤地区时，欧洲毫无作为，即使欧洲的边界也受到了挑战。