Month: February 2006

Here’s his spin. I’m looking forward to the exchange with Feingold.

A reminder of why Denmark has often, in the past, been at the forefront of resisting totalitarianism. And why we must stand by Denmark against the new totalitarianism today.

A well-deserved drubbing of the apologist for Islamist terror, Robert Fisk.

A Danish reader writes:

"You posted a mail today saying, "1. The State Department’s comment on the Danish cartoons was brilliant. This is a European problem and we owe Europe nothing," and "frankly, it was a nice ‘fuck you’ to Europe. I LOVED it."

As a Dane, I am very much apalled by the state of mind in much of the Muslim world. But I am frankly disgusted by such a comment as "frankly, it was a nice "fuck you" to Europe. I LOVED it". Denmark has been a steadfast NATO ally for half a century. My father sailed in the Danish navy, my uncles served in the Danish army, most of my friends were conscripted to serve in armed forces arrayed alongside America against Soviet despotism. I myself served as an artilleryman and was on watch on the eve when the Soviet Union finally fell.

Denmark was one of only four nations who answered the call, when the United States of America asked for the world to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s violent regime. This very day our troops serve alongside yours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Quite frankly I expected that a Danish prime minister, who has invested considerable political goodwill in standing by an old ally, should have received more support from the American government and the American people. Learn some geography, history and diplomacy before you insult a nation committed to the fight for liberty and justice alongside the United States of America. Europe is not a single entity and some of us should have earned more respect than this. Despite our small size we try to hold our head high in the face of this anti-democratic onslaught. Will you not stand by us, as we have stood by you?"

Well, count some of us in. Just not the administration, alas.

My take: The president’s new line on oil addiction is "like being warned by Kate Moss of the dangers of Red Bull." Full treatment here.

The Danish cartoon clash has been illuminating in many ways. Now, we see where this Pope stands – and, of course, it is against the unfettered right to freedom of speech:

"The right to freedom of thought and expression … cannot entail the right to offend the religious sentiment of believers."

The Vatican, while deploring violence, urges legislation banning anti-religious offensive expression. In the end, the real fundamentalists are on the same side.

The Islamist threat, elaborated …

Matthew Parris knocks it out of the park. Money quote:

"Offence implicitly offered, and offence actually taken, are two different matters. On the whole Christians, for example, take offence less readily than Muslims. The case for treating them, in consequence, differently is obvious, but we should be wary of it. It means groups are allowed to be as thin-skinned as they wish: to dictate for themselves how delicately we must tread with them — to create, as it were, their own definition of respect and require us to observe it. Those who do this may not always realise that that they create serious buried resentments among those of fellow-citizens who are more broad-shouldered about the trading of insult."

European Muslims – all Muslims in the West – need to develop the thick skins freedom demands. In the meantime, the violent demonstrators owe the West an apology, not the other way round.

What’s the response to the rioting and violence after the publication of mere cartoons? About what you’d expect.