Democracy for the Middle East
March 14, 2004Le Monde Follows The Money
After Madrid, America's "simplistic" approach to world affairs is suddenly making sense to the old French. Here's a translated excerpt from today's editorial in Le Monde:
"If the trail back to Al-Qaida is confirmed, Europeans should rethink the war against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, as did the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001. . . . Will March 11 have in Europe the same effect as September 11 in the US? After having spontaneously expressed their solidarity with the Americans, the Europeans, preoccupied with other forms of terrorism, found that the Americans had become consumed with paranoia. Contrary to the latter in 2001, Europeans today discover not only their own vulnerability, but also that they are confronted with a new phenomenon, mass terrorism. Like the Americans, they may now be forced to admit that a new form of world war has been declared, not against Islam but against totalitarian and violent fundamentalism. That the world's democracies are confronted with the same menace and should act together, using military means and waging at the same time a war for their ideals."
Of course it would be foolish to attribute the side-switching to courage or conscience. Over recent months Bush simply made it worth the while of the only erstwhile European imperialists with less moral talent than the British.
Home . Posted by Editor at March 14, 2004 04:56 PM . DFME's new internet address is www.dfme.org