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August 16, 2005
They Finally Smell The Coffee
A heartening WSJ editorial(today's Opinion Journal) called EUROPE TOUGHENS UP: How do you say "Patriot Act" in Italian and German? talks about the Eurofolks finally wising up to the realities of Islamofascist terror.
Mr. Blair is once again playing a leading role in the war on terror and, unlike in the Iraq war, most of Europe appears ready to follow this time. From Spain, which suffered the March 11, 2004, train bombings in Madrid, to less likely targets such as Sweden, the Continent finally is waking up to the universal and very real threat that terror poses. France, for all its objections to the Iraq war, already has some of Europe's toughest anti-terror laws.
It's about damn time!
Worries of an imminent attack are particularly acute in Italy. A recent poll by the daily Corriere della Sera found that more than 80% of Italians believe that terrorists could strike within months. Since the London attacks, Rome has granted to the military search powers that previously were reserved for police. It has broadened law enforcement's scope by doubling, to 24 hours, the amount of time suspects can be detained and by making telephone and Internet records more accessible to investigators, among other measures. Police will spend more time carrying out raids against terror suspects--authorities made 200-plus raids in one week shortly after July 7--and will keep closer tabs on suspicious mosques.
Italians who think their vulnerability is the result of their participation in the Iraq war should look no further than Germany, which opposed the war yet feels compelled to step up its security. Interior Minister Otto Schily has been outspoken about his belief that Islamic terrorists are at war not just with the U.S. and its allies in Iraq but with Western society in general. Mr. Schily has called for increased search and detention powers in cases involving terror suspects who are known to be a threat but who haven't yet committed a crime.
While the Euro Countries have their unfair share(like we do) of liberals who will naturally rail against their governments taking any really definitive action to defend them, we must hope that those leaders who weren't born with spines grow some and do what has to be done, like George Bush and Tony Blair have and are, despite the inevitable suicidal whining from the left.
With Europe in the game at last, the terrorists will find themselves with many less safe havens in which to coordinate operations, take some R & R, spread their hate and preach their intolerance for all that is not Islamic.
Good.
Posted by Seth at August 16, 2005 02:20 AM
Comments
The funny thing is, if the reforms Blair asks for will go through, Britian will have tougher laws than us. The Euros have already agreed to better deportation laws. Looks like we need to play catch up.
Posted by: NYgirl at August 17, 2005 06:52 PM
Big time.The American left seems to have forgotten 9/11 altogether, they still believe the terrorists are playing patty cakes with us and want us to play by a set of rules that gives the bad guys the edge.OTOH, Britain and the Euro countries have had more recent reminders, though not nearly as extreme as 9/11, of the reality of Islamofascism in the works, so they're thinking smarter than we are.The first thing we need is some strong judges and responsible jurors to let the ACLU, CAIR and other orgs that seek to support the right of al-Qaeda and their minions to terrorize know that they are supporting a minority position, that most Americans want our government to do whatever they have to do to protect our citizens.
Posted by: Seth at August 17, 2005 07:09 PM
