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Europe
France: Nous rendons!
2006-02-04
The French newspaper that set off Muslim riots this week by republishing Danish editorial cartoons implying a connection between IslamÂ’s founder and modern acts of terror, announced today it had reached a negotiated settlement with a leading Islamic group to end the controversy which has sparked boycotts, violence, gunfire and hostage-takings.

“We should not have portrayed this peaceful religion, or its Prophet (peace be upon him), as angry, violent, or reactionary,” said an unnamed editor of the French daily from his bunker in an undisclosed location. “Starting tomorrow, we will atone for our insults to Mohammed (peace be upon him), and demonstrate that we are fair and balanced.”

Under the terms of its agreement with the group, Bond of Muslim Brotherhood, the paper will run a series of cartoons portraying Jews as “greedy deceivers who control the world from their headquarters in the territory they stole from the Palestinians.”

A spokesman for the Islamic cleric group said, “We welcome this anti-Semitic gesture as a reasonable first-step toward reconciliation that will allow us to protect the reputation of the Prophet (peace be upon him), as we gradually phase out some of our planned riots, bombings and beheadings.”
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Posted by:Korora

#15  Wha' happened to Soft Power?

It met Jack Boot.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2006-02-04 21:43  

#14  Wha' happened to Soft Power?
Posted by: mrp   2006-02-04 21:30  

#13  Frank G nails it. I am tolerant of those who tolerate me. Otherwise it's meet Mister Mossburg and and Mister STG58. Something that is simply impossible in most of Europe. A carbq is not possible in my neighborhood.
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom   2006-02-04 21:05  

#12  all of our multi-culti HR training could've been boiled down to: get along with those who want to get along with you.


golden rule redux. I have no desire to cut off my muslim neighbor's head. yet.
Posted by: Frank G   2006-02-04 16:34  

#11  I don't think it's just cynical, though I wouldn't deny any cynicism. But our ancestors, the ones from Europe, left there for good reasons. Many, like mine, were crooks who chose transportation to prison or worse. But many others were fed up with the way things were run in Europe. Together they built a society that, while deriviative of, is definitely not European in ourtlook or conduct. We sully our heritage when we pretend that there are no differences between us and those who chose to stay behind in the old country. We are different. We aren't allies, except of convenience. We owe them nothing. They owe us much, but never repay, except the Brits. The reason they are so good to the muzzies is because it is only in comparison to them that the Euros look good. They deserve eachother.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-02-04 16:33  

#10  The multicultularism is now officialt DEAD in europe.

Now to kill it here in the US....
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2006-02-04 16:18  

#9  The more cynical, and perhaps more realistic, alternative to my response.

I understand it - and like you I wonder whether Europe will ever manage a dynamic balance rather than swinging from one extreme to another. I'm cautious on that point.

And as I've commented here, the State Dept. comments that many at RB decry as not supporting the Danish cartoonists sufficiently were indeed intended to avoid destabilizing Karzai and the Iraqi government-in-formation IMO. Karzai's comments on the cartoon controversy deserve more airtime.
Posted by: lotp   2006-02-04 16:08  

#8  Couldn't disagree more with the conclusion, lotp.

When Europeans start talking about the hard right what springs into my mind is not Barry Goldwater saying extremeism is the defence of liberty is no vice. Instead I see racist xenophobes who will be happy to match the islamofascists' barbarous threats and actions with their own.

One thing Bush has done well is to avoid turning this into the explicit war of civilizations. As a result we have been able to retain a fair number of parties in theater on our side, at least to some extent. The Islamofascists have now found a way to get the Euros to turn it into a civilizational war. Let them have eachother and their war.

I suggest we don't yet have a dog in this fight. Yet. The Europeans have not been our allies, with the exception of the UK, New Europe and a few others. Let's sit it out until Europe has purged and cleansed itself, at a minimum. We can tsk tsk at Turtle Bay, just as Dominique did until we need to step in. Then we can come in and knock heads so that we get the settlement that works for us.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-02-04 16:00  

#7  It's "nous NOUS rendons", dammit!
If you spoof, spoof correctly, at least, lol.

And it's not too far from the truth, "Le monde" aka "Al Jezeera sur Seine" (copyright MIF) didn't even bother to send its edition with the Plantu cartoon showing the face of old Mo made up of "I won't draw the prophet" lines to its usual overseas dsitributors in muslimland. No "L'immonde" for Tunisia, Morocco,...

The uoif (french muslim brotherhood) is asking for a blasphemy law, and I'm sure they'll get it somehow, the Shiraq regime already has established the Halde (high authority against discriminatiosn and foe egality) which, if the law is soon voted, will enable the islamoleftists (literally) and the PC political commissioners presiding it to fine and publicly shame anyone it might target, regardless of any due legal process. This is anticonstitutional, this is pure PC marshal law, this is a panicked reaction to the november ramadan riots, theses dudes will be able to get just anybody.

This is serious, too bad I can't get you any english language documentation about it.

The deathspiral of Europe has accelerated so quickly theses times it males my head spin.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-02-04 15:43  

#6  Nevertheless, I cautiously applaud any awakening on Europe's part.

Frenchfregoli, a lot of us are steaming mad at the nasty contemptuous language thrown our way since 9/11 (and in my experience, for a long longer than that). We believe we've been sacrificing lives, treasure and friendships on behalf of the whole civilized world, while western Europe both free-rides and kicks us in the teeth. It may take a little time for us to trust any growth of spine on Europe's part.

That said, I welcome any and all who rally together to defeat barbarous threats and actions.
Posted by: lotp   2006-02-04 15:35  

#5  Ghettoization is not enough, they must conform to civility or be returned to barbarity.

wait til the water cannons turn to live fire and you'll know the endgames on
Posted by: Frank G   2006-02-04 15:34  

#4  Moslem leaders should be both asking Euro governments what Moslems can do to integrate and be less offensive--and then preach this from their pulpits, or they do not deserve civilized treatment in a civilized society.

You cannot allow the barbarians to live among you and abuse you, any more than you can allow wild pack dogs to roam your streets. Ghettoization is not enough, they must conform to civility or be returned to barbarity.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-02-04 15:32  

#3  We don't need it in our papers we are emailing the images around to each other.

You seem to think the press is not showing it because of our troops. The Press hates our troops and would do nothing to help them you see it's a"quagmire" and "failure". If it damaged Bush they would publish them in a heart beat. The reason you are not seening them yet is because of the presses multi-culturial obsession not because they support our country. Most of them don't.
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom   2006-02-04 15:15  

#2  UHmmm! Guys, actually, on this subject the US commentators should tone it down.
None of your major medium has published them;CNN is "blurring" .
I understand the many valid reasons behind it (you don't one to stirr things up un-necessarily, while thousands of your soldiers are in harm way), but give the french or the euros some slack.
We are slowly waking up to the threat, and believe me, i predict a major swing to nationalistic or "hard" right parties in coming elections, in EVERY european countries.
The multicultularism is now officialt DEAD in europe.
Posted by: frenchfregoli   2006-02-04 14:57  

#1  Scrappleface, but only one iota away from truth.
Posted by: Darrell   2006-02-04 14:36  

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