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Europe in the Terrorists’ Grasp: We’re Next
Europe’s sense of safety and security is being chipped away — or perhaps I should say “bludgeoned and run over” — by Islamist terrorism. As incidents increase, the French, Germans, and the rest of the European Union are wringing their hands and in a state of bewilderment. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said following the attack in Nice: “France is going to have to live with terrorism.” No one seems to know what to do.
In his most recent column, the Wall Street Journal’s Bret Stephens describes how Europe has found itself too paralyzed by its history and mythology to fight terrorism. I fear that the same reasons for their ineptitude and confusion contribute to our own. Stephens describes the current conditions as the Europeans holding onto to a historic mythology: “Among those mythologies: that the European Union is the result of a postwar moral commitment to peace; that Christianity is of merely historical importance to European identity; that there’s no such thing as a military solution; that one’s country isn’t worth fighting for; that honor is atavistic and tolerance is the supreme value.”
I think that the United States is suffering from the same delusions. I would describe them this way as they relate to the European myths:
- We too, particularly with the control of the Left, still believe in peace at any price. We believe that we can negotiate our way past conflict. As a result, for example, we now have the Iran Agreement, not worth the paper it is written on.
- Secularists are destroying the fabric of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Attacks to rid the country of anything that sounds religious (unless it is Muslim, of course) are ongoing. Particularly Christians are ridiculed for their beliefs and practices. Anti-Semitism is blatant on university campuses.
- Although the Left goes out of its way to praise our soldiers and veterans, it continues to denigrate the importance of a strong military and its importance to national security. We’ve seen the size of the military reduced to historic lows. We’ve also seen the military bowing to Leftist ideas, essentially weakening the military even more.
- Patriotism has taken a beating for years. The term is conflated with anything that relates to nationalism, with the sometimes not-so-subtle comparison to fascistic regimes. President Obama has gone out of his way to let the world know that we’re no more exceptional than anyone else.
- Celebrating “honor” and pride of country is “primitive” and “exclusionary.” Although “tolerance” is celebrated in this country, the Left is clearly talking about tolerance for its beliefs and programs. Our Bill of Rights is in jeopardy, thanks to the actions of the Left and our inability to stop them.
As Stephens also says, “People who believe in nothing, including themselves, will ultimately submit to anything.” We are a people who, like the Europeans, no longer believe in ourselves. The Left is trying to make us into Europe; the Right is trying to preserve our freedoms. Our confusion about who we are and our role in the world makes us unable to fight for ourselves and we’ve demonstrated our ineptness and reticence to deal with Islamist terrorism. And the Islamist terrorists know it.
Thus, we are next.
Published in Islamist Terrorism
Out of fear of making things worse we let the middle east fester, now the poison is spreading and spreading fast. I imagine if and when the Islamic State is driven out all of their 20,000 foreign fighters will come back to Europe and America to continue the Jihad here. The instinct of the left and Europe was to always look at Islamic terrorism as a policing problem. The police can not stop crime they manage and mitigate it. Thus inherit to the police mindset is an acceptance that the situation will go on. President Bush proposed that we in fact treat it as a war and military matter. We have now tried both methods and I think it is clear which one kept the homeland safer.
In this conflict Americans and Europeans are going to die, there is no way around that, but who should bare this risk? To me it seems that having it borne by well trained and equipped soldiers going into it knowingly at least gives them chance. While civilians watching a fireworks display or dancing in a night club have no chance what so ever.
Yes – this is obvious and well said – so why are so many not getting the message? I hate to say it, but that is why Trump’s messages are resonating – as O’s presidency draws to a close, I suspect there will be more bold attempts by our enemies here and abroad – they know there is no real leadership – this is a sad period in history – we’ve lost our way. The erosion in morals and values is deep – who is standing up for the Christian or the Jew? We’ve been made to feel less patriotic, less faithful. The hand wringing is the least of what people will be doing, if we do not realize what has happened. Terrible things happen when you are having to react in crisis mode –
Texas has a robust carry policy. Add to that armed Texans tend to be extremely tolerant and equal opportunity folks. If you attack them they will shoot in self-defense regardless of your race, religion, national origin, gender, or self-perceived sexual orientation. Texas grand juries are similarly enlightened in no-billing cases where a death resulted from self-defense. Texans really believe when seconds count the police are just minutes away and prepare and act accordingly.
There already was one terrorist attack in the DFW area where the perps ended up dead after being engaged by armed Texans. They did not even rack up a body count other than their own bodies. I suspect there may be a few copycat terrorist attacks in Texas, but these will cease once potential perpetrators discover it is easier to rack up a big body count in Blue States than in Texas, or perhaps in Federal reservations within Texas such as Fort Hood or maybe JSC.
Seawriter
Susan, I read your take on the sad trajectory of our once great and good land and my heart pounds. I know I’m not alone in my sense of foreboding and now . . . outright rage . . . at what the Left has done.
Meanwhile, I worry for my son who is in the DC area for a conference. Because of the latest threat from ISIS to strike again – he won’t be sightseeing.
I’m seeing red.
Trink – is there another threat? If not, he should see the sights and visit the monuments etc.
wow! what a statement!
Oh, I agree! But he has been there several times in the past – and yes – there was a broad ISIS missive about striking other foreign capitals. Our son texted us to let us know he’d settled in for the night and then directed us to a sub-headline on Drudge. (I generally stay away from Drudge – too much bad inflammatory stuff – I don’t need anymore brain flames)
This alarms me the most about where we and Western Europe are at the moment.
It took Hitler 10 months to cross Western Europe from Poland (September 1, 1939) to France (June 10, 1940). What started me thinking about this time frame was an article I stumbled upon years ago when the New York Times was free online and I was sent “This Day in History” every morning. One day I got the front page covering the reporter’s actual account of France’s surrender. Something about looking at it in its original type and the accompanying photographs sent chills up my spine.
The reporter’s account focused not on Hitler’s invading a sovereign nation but on how Western Europe had brought this on itself because of the supposedly harsh and punitive actions it had taken against Germany in the Treaty of Versailles. The article was a masterpiece of propaganda–clearly the reporter bought into Hitler’s propaganda completely uncritically. (Reporters on tight deadlines work the same way today–often they simply reprint what is handed to them.)
Hitler succeeded in making the West stare guiltily at its feet rather than watching the horizon for threats against it.
This is where I see us today.
It scares the heck out of me.
This situation definitely calls for military action, or more civilians will die. Thanks, V.
Excellent point, Seawriter. I think about my being armed against those within our country, but especially if the government isn’t going to protect us against the Islamists, we’ll need to do it ourselves. And I expect if enough people and enough states do it, we might have a chance. I’m ready.
Precisely, P! When will we learn??
Apparently, we ignored the sign of Jonah, and it is the only sign we will be given.
“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet.” St. Matthew 12:39
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet.” St. Matthew 16:4
Which will be the first western country to expel the muslims?
Well, I just learned that Poland has refused to admit them. They seem to be able to stand up to the pressure just fine, even comments from the pope.
Those that don’t know history (modern society) are doomed to repeat it.
So true and so frustrating.
Great question. Japan has already made some steps in that direction.
I don’t think it is possible here. I know because I read it on Ricochet.
Great post!
And the most frustrating thing to me is: what do Omega and Mrs. Bill admire so much about the situation in Europe, that they are determined to repeat it here?
The solution: don’t let ’em in! And Trump is the only one who has actually said that.
There’s nothing Dems won’t do to ensure that we are overrun with Muslims. Did anybody even notice the travesty of justice that just occurred?
26 states have sued the fed gov’t to stop the forced implantation of unassimilable Syrians. Omega’s attorneys in the Dep’t of Justice :
lied.
to the court:
in order to prevent the issuance of an injunction against continuing importation, representing the program would be halted pending the litigation.
It was not halted.
What has happened to those lawyers, who shoulda been disbarred? ( In my state, “candor toward the tribunal” is an ethical obligation which we can be disciplined for if breached)
They hafta take an ethics class! (Awwwww….gee, Your Honor, have a heart! These are just a buncha lawyers working hard night and day to ruin their country..)
Too little, too late, doesn’t begin to cover it. What they’ve done guarantees that by 2017, we’ll be where France and Germany are now. Too many 3rd world Muslim men to control: women, dye your blond hair black, and cover up! Gays: well, how can we protect them, aside from leveling all our tall buildings?
Please dear intelligent Ricochetti: does anybody understand why the Dems want this to happen here?
Who, in power or running for office, is even taking up the threat to our safety and saying that they will make us safe?
I wish there were someone in power or trying to get into power that would address this issue head on, political correctness be damned.
Uh, Trump is saying this. If you don’t want terror attacks, don’t let em in. It’s really pretty simple.
So we are at war with Islam after all aren’t we?
Let’s be fair – with Iraq and Libya we have been badly burned when interfering in ME affairs and I can’t entirely blame those who are reluctant to get involved. Should we do something? Probably. The question is what can we do without making it even worse.
Somewhere I read that Clinton planned to increase Syrian immigration 500%. Help!
Susan,
Sorry, it took me a while to get to your excellent post. There is so much going on at once. Here are some recent developments at the highest political level.
Merkel At Emergency Press Conference: Germany Stands By Mass Migration Policy Despite Terror Attacks
Sarkozy Calls On French Government To Be ‘Ruthless’, To Introduce Right Wing Anti-Terror Measures
German Leaders Demand Counter Terror Policies, Trump Style Muslim Migration Block
Marion Le Pen: Christians Must Stand Up To Islam; Young Patriots Should Join The Military Like Me
Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Austria have huge movements to stop the immigration and the multi-culturalist insanity. The EU has stood against this. Germany & France are the two main pillars of the EU. If Merkel and Hollande go down then the EU will have nothing to stop the demands of a revived conservative European alliance of individual Nation States. The ultimate weapon against EU is Brexit. That is a very sophisticated piece of economics. Britain is in a perfect position to make Brexit hugely profitable. Normally, the EU would still be exercising economic discipline over the smaller European States. However, if the EU continues to tie itself to the absurd migrant policy then many European Nations will simply opt for Exit taking their economic chances. Internal social collapse is not worth a few euros more per year.
Regards,
Jim
Thanks so much for your input! I’m going to have to make time to read all these links; they look really informative. No wonder you have no time to read posts!!
Who will deal with this better, Trump or Clinton?
Starting 1/20/17 it will be one or the other. It won’t be Gary Johnson, or Jill Stein, or the Magical Mystery Man folks are still yearning to see spring full-blown from the brow of Bill Kristol. Staying home won’t change that either.
I’m rolling the dice for Trump
Democrats want to take you out in the womb; Islam wants to put you in a tomb. They make great partners!
The problem is that, as you’ve stated, they are here already. See Dearborn, Michigan.
Plus, we need the intelligence that Muslims give us. Part of our problems with Islam is our own ignorance in the languages they speak, including the nuances that their culture adds to their language. Without interpreters, we’re sunk.
Muslims have saved American lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
So we need to keep those communications channels open.
Restricting immigration is a good idea, but like everything else in life, we need to think about this intelligently.
Not all Muslims are out to kill Americans. Something like 3,000 Muslims served in active duty in the American military forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan.