The [Kaiser era] Germans militarized themselves out of existence.

The British empire expanded itself out of existence.

The Americans have been busily spending themselves out of existence.

The EU will complacent and comfortable elite hubris itself out of existence.

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That’s my assumption too. There was something about the way he was looking around that seemed disoriented. I think it was an “ok grandpa time for your pills” moment and most likely they were trying to protect his dignity.