America looks after Europe because it remains in its best interests to do so. Had the Third Reich conquered Europe, Russia and North Africa its tendrils would only have spread. If it had not invested in the continent post-war, communism would have ran rampant and the Iron Curtain would have been across the Atlantic.

The USA has the largest cultural empire the world has ever known, conquering the world and extracting money from foreign economies through branding and consumerism. It was a lot more efficient than waging a war. There are only 24 countries around the globe without a Mcdonalds whilst only 3 have a Greggs.

Europeans do not hate the USA as much as lampoon it. Largely based on stereotypes, they (not I) see the former colonies as culturally bankrupt, commercialising the history of other countries because its own is so young. I am sure the USA lampoons european culture in the same way :)