LE MONDE SWITCHES SIDES (Andrew Sullivan)

AndrewSullivan.Com ^ | 3/12/04 | Andrew Sullivan

[Servant of the 9]

LE MONDE SWITCHES SIDES: An encouragig sign in France. Le Monde's editorial today, "Tragedie Europeenne," ends with the following sentiment: "If she did not know it yet, she knows it now: Europe is part of the battlefield of hyper-terrorism." Then there's this astonishing piece of black-and-white analysis: "Nothing, evidently, no cause, no context, no supposedly political objective, justifies this kind of [large scale] terrorism." Now they tell us. Whatever happened to all those sophisticated European "gray areas"? With any luck, they died in the wreckage of Madrid's trains. Here's another money quote from the French daily:

"If the trail back to Al-Qaida is confirmed, Europeans should rethink the war against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, as did the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001. . . . Will March 11 have in Europe the same effect as September 11 in the US? After having spontaneously expressed their solidarity with the Americans, the Europeans, preoccupied with other forms of terrorism, found that the Americans had become consumed with paranoia. Contrary to the latter in 2001, Europeans today discover not only their own vulnerability, but also that they are confronted with a new phenomenon, mass terrorism. Like the Americans, they may now be forced to admit that a new form of world war has been declared, not against Islam but against totalitarian and violent fundamentalism. That the world's democracies are confronted with the same menace and should act together, using military means and waging at the same time a war for their ideals."

One word: enfin.
- 5:49:56 PM

[jwalsh07]

No doubt Kerry will lag the French.

[tiamat]

A lot of places in Europe got hit. Famous train blow-up in Milan and things like that.



The difference is the fall of the Soviets. No Soviets, no East Germany, means fewer sources for terrorists, and fewer places for them to hide and get money.

[cripplecreek]

For starters i would say it was a different generation of europeans and of terrorists.

Then the terrorists had demands and goals, usually they hijacked planes and demanded the release of prisoners. Today they demand only that western civilization dies.

[Jewels1091]

Europe doesn't get it yet...Paris will have to be hit hard before they get it! Then they'll blame Bush cause he didn't stop it. I actually heard one of kerry's minons say tonight THAT THE ATTACK IN SPAIN WAS BUSH'S FAULT!!! He said Bush hasn't killed all the terrorist so it's his fault!!!!!!!

[Jewels1091]

Europe doesn't get it yet...Paris will have to be hit hard before they get it! Then they'll blame Bush cause he didn't stop it. I actually heard one of kerry's minons say tonight THAT THE ATTACK IN SPAIN WAS BUSH'S FAULT!!! He said Bush hasn't killed all the terrorist so it's his fault!!!!!!!

[Jewels1091]

Have no idea why it double posted.......

[mc5cents]

No doubt Kerry will lag the French.

No doubt whatsoever. Kerry is much to the left of the French.

[Ethyl]

Le Frogs may finally be having a 'Come to Jesus' moment

If I remember correctly, le frogs recently condemded the wearing of the a-rab scarf for the women. This should really piss the a-rabs off, so look for a problem in fwance. Is al qaeda perturbed yet?

[expatpat]

They will get it if the Eiffel Tower gets it -- they will immediately surrender.

[randog]

In response to the attacks in Madrid, the French have raised their terror alert level to white.

Hehehehehe!!

[NutCrackerBoy]

I used to read Andrew Sullivan's blog every day, but then I could no longer stomach the homosexual marriage advocacy. Glad to read that here on FR. Thanks for posting.

[OldFriend]

The French had a train 'warning' only recently. They halted all rail until everything was inspected. They know it could have been them.

[AZLiberty]

The one positive prospect of a Howard Dean presidency was the thought of him having his finger on the nuclear button the next time Al Qaeda strikes.

Yee-a-a-a-a-ah-arg!

[OldFriend]

France has had numerous attacks on it's soil by islamic fundamentalists. Mostly Algerians irate when the muslim attempt to take over that country was thwarted by the Algerian government with the help of the French.

[Ethyl]

For starters i would say it was a different generation of europeans and of terrorists.

Then the terrorists had demands and goals, usually they hijacked planes and demanded the release of prisoners. Today they demand only that western civilization dies.

I guess the fanacical muslim terrorists just hate because.
Because they can hate, because they are jealouse of our life style. because they have a miserable life style. Oh well. We need to get rid of them, if they can't live with us, then we can't live with them. Too bad they have no goals in life, just murder. We will murder them first. We didn't ask for this, we are only responding!

[Savage Beast]

So at least some Europeans have realized that it is the Europeans--not the Americans--who are delusional.

Americans are not paranoid. Paranoia is a delusion. The terrorist threat is reality.

Maybe what Europeans need is mass psychoanalysis. Unfortunately we don't have time for anything long-term.

[GOPJ]

It'a about friggin' time. Welcome back, France.

Like the Americans, they may now be forced to admit that a new form of world war has been declared, not against Islam but against totalitarian and violent fundamentalism. That the world's democracies are confronted with the same menace and should act together, using military means and waging at the same time a war for their ideals."

[squarebarb]

Good point.

[Nick Danger]