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A Collective Loss of Europe's Will
NY Sun ^ | April 11, 2006 | DANIEL JOHNSON

Posted on 04/11/2006 6:03:56 AM PDT by veronica

London Letter

"The lamps are going out all over Europe," the British foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey, declared on August 3, 1914, as the Continent descended into world war. April 10, 2006, was not so apocalyptic, but its symbolism is nonetheless potent. Two years ago, the Madrid bombs panicked Spain into electing a left-wing government that would pull out of Iraq. Now it is the turn of two other Mediterranean peoples to put out their lamps.

Yesterday was a dark day in the history of Europe, not only because both France and Italy turned their backs on economic reform, but because both of these great nations have visibly lost their nerve in the face of an even greater challenge - a challenge to Judeo-Christian civilization itself.

For the real beneficiaries of this collective loss of nerve will be Al Qaeda and its Islamist power base, who pose a more immediate threat to freedom in Europe than they do in America. The failure of the Berlusconi government to win a ringing endorsement may leave Italy bereft of the courageous leadership that has seen Italian troops standing alongside their NATO allies in Iraq for three long years, in the teeth of public opinion. Mr. Berlusconi, for all his faults, had begun a renaissance of the entrepreneurial and family values that made post-war Italy great.

(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 11march; berlusconi; europe; italy; surrender; westerncivilization
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1 posted on 04/11/2006 6:03:57 AM PDT by veronica
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To: veronica
Sad but true. I throw up my hands in disgust. Seems like Western Civilization is under assault, demographically and otherwise, both here and in Europe. I hope I'm being unreasonably pessimistic. I'd rather be thought a fool than right on this point.
2 posted on 04/11/2006 6:07:15 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: veronica
Remarkably, Mr. Sarcozy seems sanguine about the failure of the French state to pacify its Muslim population, the largest in Europe. Indeed, Mr. Sarcozy reminds me of Marshal Foch, hero of the "Miracle of the Marne" in 1914, whose battlefield dispatch read: "My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking." Come to think of it, that wouldn't be bad advice for Europe in general.

This is from the NY Sun? I may need to send heaters to the place that is just starting to make snowballs...

3 posted on 04/11/2006 6:07:49 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - They want to die for Islam, and we want to kill them.)
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To: cvq3842

In 20 years who will be around to bail out Europe like we did the last two times.

The United States of Hispania?


4 posted on 04/11/2006 6:28:18 AM PDT by CPOSharky (Fix your own country before you try to tell us what we should do.)
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To: cvq3842
We are under assault - but we will win in the end.

The West bickers and dithers up until the last possible second, and then shows an uncanny ability to find a path to victory. If you haven't read Victor Davis Hanson's book, "Carnage and Culture", I suggest that you check it out. It lays out the case for ultimate Western victory pretty well.
5 posted on 04/11/2006 6:36:48 AM PDT by horse_doc
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To: cvq3842
re :I hope I'm being unreasonably pessimistic

Yes you are.

6 posted on 04/11/2006 6:37:55 AM PDT by tonycavanagh (We got plenty of doomsayers where are the truth sayers)
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To: cvq3842
Denial is the most dangerous thing there is. We must face reality no matter what.

The American Heartland is the last great bastion of ascendancy in the Western World and the last great bastion of Western Civilization. It is the world's best hope.

We are under attack from all sides but our greatest danger is the Left; its political arm, the Democrat Party; and its propaganda machine, the "Mainstream Newsmedia"--the embodiment of decadence and the enablers and fifth column of America's enemies, without which the United States would easily prevail over those who are determined to destroy her and The American Dream.

The American people must defeat the Left. The is the real enemy.

Once done, the defeat of our other enemies will be swift and certain.

America's enemies know this. Of course they support the Left.

We can prevail, but we must prevail!

And note tagline.

7 posted on 04/11/2006 6:38:32 AM PDT by Savage Beast (9/11 was never repeated--thanks to President Bush and his surveillance program.)
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To: CPOSharky

Good point and unfortunately too true.

I try and talk with my "liberal" "friends" about the decline or disappearance of Western civilization and they don't believe me or even want to listen.

At least a few of the Dutch and Scandinavians are finally starting to catch on (I hope) and do something about it. I hope it's not too late, I still care about Europe and England.

The Hispanic "immigrants" here have no loyalty or affection for America. It's just an ATM or toilet to them.


8 posted on 04/11/2006 6:41:03 AM PDT by garyhope
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To: CPOSharky

Maybe they will do a better job of facing up to Islamofascism than the "secularized" elites did. They're largely Catholic!

(extreme pessimistic flippant response, I know . . . )


9 posted on 04/11/2006 6:48:58 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: CPOSharky

"The United States of Hispania?"

Bingo. The US has lost it's will every bit as much as Europe has. And these fine souls from Mexico, what kind of government and situation did they produce in Mexico? Oh, and they'll do better here? Not a chance. Our corrupt system will be fine tuned to match the Mexican system.

The politicians are going against the wishes of the American people. Notice I didn't say will of the people. We no longer have a collective will... just things we wish for, like wishing to Santa Claus.

We can no longer condescendingly shake our heads at Europe. We must now look, and see our immediate future being played out in Europe.


10 posted on 04/11/2006 6:49:09 AM PDT by brownsfan (It's not a war on terror... it's a war with islam.)
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To: horse_doc

thanks!


11 posted on 04/11/2006 6:49:17 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: tonycavanagh

:)


12 posted on 04/11/2006 6:49:26 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: Savage Beast

Thanks for response!


13 posted on 04/11/2006 6:50:48 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: veronica

Great article...better newspaper. I read it on the train today. The NY Sun is one of the best new newspapers in the country.

Support The NY Sun and the Washington Times!!!


14 posted on 04/11/2006 6:54:06 AM PDT by SelectiveJNJ
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To: cvq3842
LOL, sorry I usually give a better reply but find that then the person I replied to never replies back.

If you look at the populations of Europe in most European countries the Muslim population is negligible ot about 3% at most.

I agree in France its about 9%.

About they are going to out breed us.

Muslim working class youth is no different to its western counter part, that is those born in the western country seem to pick up the those western values we tell are own youth of for.

In other words they are more interested in material belongings than trying to out breed us in a baby breeding war.

Immigration is being stamped down on and has slowed down.

I agree that France does need to sort herself out, but that is more to do with her economic outlook and I feel she has a few more hard lessons to learn.

While Europe may not seem as hawkish as America they are still contributing to the War On Terror even France there is a lot of intelligence exchange and a number of Islamic terrorist networks have been rolled up.

There is still much to do , but it is not all doom and gloom

15 posted on 04/11/2006 6:58:58 AM PDT by tonycavanagh (We got plenty of doomsayers where are the truth sayers)
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To: cvq3842

That depends. If the Muslims convert the Mexican population there then our situation would be no different than Europe.


16 posted on 04/11/2006 7:13:31 AM PDT by swampmonster
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To: swampmonster

The Muslims are not likely to convert the Mexicans without forceful coercion. What the Mexicans, who have embroiled us in so much anger recently, need to understand is that, if they want to become US citizens, they must be done with Mexico, just like our forefathers were done with Germany, or Poland, or Ireland when they chose to live here. The must assimilate from the second generation on like every other group has.

The problem is, the US culture is now so splintered into subgroups now that there is no way to justify to the immigrants that this is the correct process. They can live here in our bounty, skim untaxed money off the top, and yet remain completely loyal to thier land of origin. There is no good end for America as a nation to that scenario...


17 posted on 04/11/2006 7:27:13 AM PDT by Amalie (FREEDOM had NEVER been another word for nothing left to lose...)
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To: tonycavanagh

No, I appreciate the info! I will take any good news I can.

And I know what you mean about people not replying. I log in infrequently, so sometimes I feel everyone's moved on by the time I see the message . . .


18 posted on 04/11/2006 7:28:31 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: swampmonster

yup.


19 posted on 04/11/2006 7:29:07 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: veronica

I hate to say it, but Nicolas Sarcozy is just as bad as the rest of them. If you actually read his statements during the Muslim riots in France, you will find him saying that the youts need more welfare benefits and education.

As for Chirac, he is a so-called conservative. De Gaulle was a so-called French conservative, too, and he is the guy who first laid out France's long-term policy: break up NATO, oppose America in every way possible, and cozy up to the Arabs.

Not much hope in the European political and intellectual classes that I can see. Not much hope in Europe, apparently.


20 posted on 04/11/2006 7:38:42 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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