Just to underscore my point with a story today from Denmark:
Social Democrats takes on Islam.
The social democrats is now challenging the arab world, and
concludes that western values are superior to the religious and undemocratic values that are prevalent in many middle eastern and northern African countries.
In their new foreign policy initiative which is published next week.
Western Values shall be rewarded.
The middle east in pinpointed as the most important area where foreign aid shall be purposefully used to reward countries and governments that encourages and develops westen values such as democracy, human rights, and good governance.
Mellemøsten udpeges som det vigtigste område, hvor bistandshjælp målrettet skal bruges til at belønne lande og regeringer, der udvikler vestlige værdier som demokrati, menneskerettigheder og god regeringsførelse.
Mogens Lykketoft has together with pary collegues challenged Islam. "There can exist no doubt that any religous deviations from these standards are not acceptable, and will not be tolerated by the social democrats.
...
Jeppe Kofod admits that the Social democrats are challenging many taboos relating to Islam and the arab world. The new initiative underlines the political earthquake that has occured within the Social Democrats. - "This is a challenge to some of the taboos which have been traditionally held on the left that one shouldn't actively be imperialistic about western values. But, we should be. The development problems in the arab world are largely of their own making, and that a fundamentalistic interpretation of Islam is worsening the problems. Therefore, Denmark shall have strict conditions on its interaction with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran.
The new social democratic position is in line with the conservative governments plans. "We must have the courage to "exort" our democratic values to the countries of the middle east", said prime minister Anders F. Rasmussed thursday in his constitution speech.
http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/article.jhtml?articleID=102895It is GOOD to see some hard headedness strike politicians as they ponder how to deal with the jihadis.