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HagiaSophia
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And, in case you haven’t heard, Muslims in Europe aren’t buying into the “European model” of peaceful assimilation, tolerance and another round of kumbaya. In 2000, EU President Romano Prodi declared that the world desperately needed to emulate the European Model: “We have a unique historic experience to offer. The experience of liberating people from poverty, war, oppression, and intolerance.” Alas, it seems the European Model of multiculturalism seems better suited for breeding resentment of perceived oppression among its Muslim populations, which in turn translates into so much preaching for war and intolerance, which Europeans have a hard time denouncing, let alone combating, for fear of sounding too intolerant toward the very radicals bent on their destructions. The Dutch, at least, are coming to grips with this pathologically vicious cycle in the wake of Theo van Gogh’s murder.
Europe’s inability to deal straightforwardly with its problems at home mirrors its handling of things abroad. The French and Germans puffed their chests and fluffed their feathers in pride over their refusal to topple Saddam Hussein. But it wasn’t just their reluctance to deprive themselves of Saddam’s petrodollars, nor their more enlightened natures, that prevented them from lending military support to the effort. They simply didn’t have much to offer.
The little-discussed secret of European “enlightenment” on military affairs is that the most potent weapon in their arsenals is hot air. Even if they wanted to, France and Germany combined couldn’t send much more than 20,000 troops outside of Europe - and, not counting Britain, they’re the military powerhouses in Europe. France had the choice of playing the conscientious objector in the war and hero to the “oppressed” peoples of the world (and, thereby, staying bought by Saddam) or of joining the United States and revealing itself as a third-rate military power. Who can be shocked that Jacques chose Curtain No. 2?
townhall.com/columnists/jonahgoldberg/jg20041215.shtml
Europe’s inability to deal straightforwardly with its problems at home mirrors its handling of things abroad. The French and Germans puffed their chests and fluffed their feathers in pride over their refusal to topple Saddam Hussein. But it wasn’t just their reluctance to deprive themselves of Saddam’s petrodollars, nor their more enlightened natures, that prevented them from lending military support to the effort. They simply didn’t have much to offer.
The little-discussed secret of European “enlightenment” on military affairs is that the most potent weapon in their arsenals is hot air. Even if they wanted to, France and Germany combined couldn’t send much more than 20,000 troops outside of Europe - and, not counting Britain, they’re the military powerhouses in Europe. France had the choice of playing the conscientious objector in the war and hero to the “oppressed” peoples of the world (and, thereby, staying bought by Saddam) or of joining the United States and revealing itself as a third-rate military power. Who can be shocked that Jacques chose Curtain No. 2?
townhall.com/columnists/jonahgoldberg/jg20041215.shtml