Appeasement PING!
Great analysis...Is there any hope for Eurabia?
Posted on 01/24/2005 5:57:54 PM PST by mad_as_he$$
ONE GERMAN WHO GETS IT
Matthias Dapfner, Chief Executive of the huge German publisher Axel Springer AG, has written a blistering attack in DIE WELT, Germany's largest daily newspaper, against the timid reaction of Europe in the face of the Islamic threat.
EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE (Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG)
A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, "Europe - your family name is appeasement." It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.
Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.
Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe where for decades, inhuman, suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities.
Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.
Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance," now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.
Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace-movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush... even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program.
And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement... How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a "Muslim Holiday" in Germany.
I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State "Muslim Holiday" will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists.
One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolf Hitler, and declaring European "Peace in our time".
What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.
It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by "tolerance" and "accommodation" but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness.
Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.
His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery.
And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.
In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.
On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those "arrogant Americans", as the World Champions of "tolerance", which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes. Why? Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic, so devoid of a moral compass.
For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything.
While we criticize the "capitalistic robber barons" of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek or our dental coverage, or our 4 weeks of paid vacation... Or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to "reach out to terrorists. To understand and forgive".
These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house.
Appeasement? Europe, thy name is Cowardice.
I hope that they do get it, because saving them from themselves makes the Iraq war seem like a peace keeping mission.
Too bad we can't trade Barbara Boxer for Matthias Dapfner!
Maybe, just maybe, there is hope for a new Karl the Great (corrupted as Charlemagne).
Appeasement PING!
Great analysis...Is there any hope for Eurabia?
BUMP
Seems like there are some posters here at FR that need to learn this.
There is no way to "appease" a cobra, you can run, you can throw something at it, you can chase it away, but it will still try to bite you if you pass by, for no reason other than it's "afraid" of you.
If you kill it, you have nothing to fear.
Radical Islam is the cobra.
Excellent posting, FD.
There are a more than a few here at FR----of course, they are (for the most part) safely away from any targets worthy of mention. Nothing like being brave inside a bunker.
Remember the 'price of freedom' line? They must remember that price is easy when they aren't the ones paying the bill.
I'd rather see the islamofascists pay a price---in spades.
Absolutely excellent read!
Ah, here you go again, spreading your hateful comments. Still so ill-informed?
Over here in America we have something known as a sense of humor. I understand that doesn't translate well into German.
Quick! Someone name this guy an honorary Freeper! BTTT!
It ain´t funny, because you intentionally put Germany in the perspective as if we had no such reasonable people. To be fair, others on this thread tried to do the same.
it's not important, but his name is Matthias Döpfner (Doepfner)
IMO Germany has a historic opportunity to purge the demons of WW2, if it should take up arms and play the vital role it should in defeating this even greater totalitarian enemy. Heck, I'd even support an invasion of France, and this time you guys can keep it.
"Matthias Dapfner bump!"
Hope he doesn't wind up like Van Gogh.
But the Communist moles in the British secret service did not help in the slightest. Not to mention that Clement Atlee was elected, who did not have the strength and force of mind and vision that Churchill had.
LOL. Actually, with regard to the war against Islamic terrorism at home, the Red-Greens are on board since 9/11/01. Some of the hijackers have abused the freedom granted by our societies for preparing the worst attack on a friend of us since the end of WW2. The laws were tightened, just like in the US, and the cooperation between our intelligences improved a lot. I am not lying when I say that the prosecutors are doing their best to get the Islamo-terrorist-scum in prison. You have to understand that here the war against Iraq is not seen as part of the war against terrorism. Even for me it was a different thing, although I liked that Hussein was toppled down, but after May 1st 2003 it is clear that Iraq is a major operating base for Al Quaida et al. to fight the western world. Even our current government has no interest in another clash with President Bush.
Oh, and to answer your question: we have free speech, just restricted on the public showing of Nazi symbols and hate speeches (just like calling the killing of all Jews or Americans, and something like that). The article is perfectly legal and represents the opinion of many people in my party (the CDU/CSU - largest opposition party).
Wow! I'm passing this one on. Great article!
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