Europe Awakes

Real Clear Politics ^ | February 6, 2006 | Victor David Hanson

[Daralundy]

Over the last four years Americans have played a sort of parlor game wondering when—or if—the Europeans might awake to the danger of Islamic fascism and choose a more muscular role in the war on terrorism.

But after the acrimony over the invasion of Iraq, Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo, pessimists scoffed that the Atlantic alliance was essentially over. Only the postmortem was in dispute: did the bad chemistry between the Texan George Bush and the Green European leadership who came of age in the street theater of 1968 explain the falling out?

Or was the return of the old anti-Americanism natural after the end of the Cold War—once American forces were no longer needed for the security of Europe?

Or again, was Europe’s third way a realistic consideration of its own unassimilated and growing Muslim population, at a time of creeping pacifism, and radically scaled down defense budgets after the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Yet suddenly in 2006, the Europeans seem to have collectively resuscitated. The Madrid bombings, the murder of Theo van Gogh, the London subway attacks, and the French rioting in October and November seem to have prompted at least some Europeans at last to question their once hallowed sense of multiculturalism in which Muslim minorities were not asked to assimilate at home and Islamic terrorists abroad were seen as mere militants or extremists rather than enemies bent on destroying the West.

On January 19, Jacques Chirac warned that his military would use its nuclear forces to target states that sponsored terrorism against France—El Cid braggadocio that made George Bush’s past Wild West lingo like ‘smoke ‘em out’ and ‘dead or alive’ seem Pollyannaish by comparison.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Mike Darancette]

Over the last four years Americans have played a sort of parlor game wondering when—or if—the Europeans might awake to the danger of Islamic fascism and choose a more muscular role in the war on terrorism.

I'm afraid that "Old Europe" will find any excuse available to turn over and go back to sleep. The socialist governments are too far gone on their "Welfare for Peace" economies.

[bugs_dallas]

It is amazing to compare the lines in the sand. For the USA the line in the sand was 911 and the thought of WMD in the hands of the terrorists. Europe's line in the sand will be the furor over a cartoon.

We've seen more "arab street" rage over a cartoon than anything else.

It seems that Europe and organized "Islamic rage" are made for each other.

[Herford Turley]

Hardly. Recent polls show a majority of Europeans are becoming increasingly tired of current liberal immigration policies and foreign aid programs that have given billions of dollars to the Palestine Authority that they now learn in the aftermath of Yasser Arafat’s death resulted in both rampant corruption and the Hamas backlash.

Liberalism doesn't work. Never has. Never will.

[SuziQ]

And should we ever see a true alliance of such Western powers, the war against the fascists of the Middle East would be simply over in short order.

From your pen to God's Ears, Mr. Hanson!

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

Liberals have held Europeans up as being so much more advanced culturally than Americans.

If that traitor Kerry had been elected he would no doubt be back and forth to France to kibbutz with the Socialist dunderhead Iraq-Chriraq regularly. Afterall, they know that killing babies is no big deal and killing murderers is barbaric. How enlightened.

The U.S. did not achieve it's greatest from following the lead of Europe and any other continent or nation...and it never will be great by being a follower.

[Ronin]

...we should never forget that if aroused and pushed, a rearmed and powerful Europe could still be at the side of the United States in joint efforts against the jihadists.

It would be nice. But I really don't think the Europeans have the testicles anymore. Within the next couple of weeks, this whole thing is going to be forgotten.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"I'm afraid that "Old Europe" will find any excuse available to turn over and go back to sleep. The socialist governments are too far gone on their "Welfare for Peace" economies."

You're right! European governments are falling-over-themselve apologizing over cartoons that they didn't have any role in printing. Nor, were the cartoons recent... just convenient for a hate protest.

European leaders are apologizing to people who say they are going to cut off Danish heads, give them a "9/11" and take their freedom.

[Mike Darancette]

European leaders are apologizing to people who say they are going to cut off Danish heads, give them a "9/11" and take their freedom.

Are the European people as cowardly as their leaders seem to be?

[DoughtyOne]

We shall see how long more conservative leaders remain in charge of France and Germany. If they can grow some backbone and assert some authority, very good. If not, we'll be right back where we started.

What bothers me, is that Europe does seem to be showing a glimmer of what the terrorists are all about. Now, will they do anything significant in opposition?

I'm not convinced they will. Iran is the test case. If they waffle and allow Iran the nuclear bomb, the west has taken a giant twenty year step backwards.

We will once again be under the gun, a party waiting to be struck by nuclear weapons on a moment's notice.

We will have gone from a promise of peace, to the precipice once again.

[Tzimisce]

Europe is learning the hard lesson that the American Media is: bashing America doesn't win you any sympathy in the Muslim world.

[glorgau]

VDH has got to be the man with the most exact view of the current world situation today. Studying history for a living will do that I guess.

[Clemenza]

In all my experience traveling through Europe, I've found that, more often than not, the men fit the "metrosexual" category much more than American men.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Perhaps some divine intervention behind the scenes?

[Reaganez]

"El Cid braggadocio that made George Bush’s past Wild West lingo like ‘smoke ‘em out’ and ‘dead or alive’ seem Pollyannaish by comparison."

El Cid was Spanish. Is there not a French archetype that fills the role?

[caveat emptor]

Nice article by Hanson. And no mention of ancient Greeks for a change - gets pretty annoying after a while.

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP what you said. Exactly.

[fella]

They'll be back cutting ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs within a month.

[GretchenM]

marker