We are all watching—with a mix of astonishment and grief—what appears to be Europe’s slow-motion surrender to radical Islam.

Like many of us, President Trump has been struck by the passivity and weakness shown toward Tehran by leaders like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But in truth, this is not a new phenomenon. It is merely the latest chapter in a long decline that began after the peak of 19th-century imperial power, accelerated in the blood-soaked trenches of World War I, and culminated in the existential cowardice of the 1930s.

Ninety years ago, a satiated Europe raised its hands in surrender to Hitler. Today, it seems prepared to do the same for Khomeinism.

The Cycle of Imperial Decay

The current European submission to Khomeinism from without and jihadism from within is infuriating, but it is historically consistent. The passivity of France, Spain, and Britain is jarring only if we fixate on their “glorious” pasts. In reality, Europe is following the well-worn path of Assyria, Babylon, and Rome.

Just as the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires collapsed under the weight of their own decadence, the giants of the 20th century—Britain, France, Germany, and Italy—are fading. We have been so enamored by the beauty of Paris, Rome, and........

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