Shadows Over Europe
May 28th, 2006You remember the Danish cartoon saga, where a newspaper published a couple of pictures only to be met with furious Muslims through Europe and the Arab world? That publisher is speaking publicly and denouncing “multiculturalism” in Europe. To be sure, Europeans have a lot of social problems, but I think the Danish cartoons don’t illustrate that Europeans have to rethink their laws on immigration, as the author suggests, or other issues: I think it shows us that Europe needs to grow a pair of testicles. When something like this occurs, the answer is to defend Freedom of Speech and enforce the Rule of Law. It isn’t to bend over backwards because a couple of kooks burnt a couple of cars. It isn’t the time, either, to take such an event and say, “We need to rethink immigration!” because that’s not the problem. Europe’s problem, so clearly demonstrated in Denmark, is a refusal to stand up to a violent minority.
This, of course, may sound similar to what he’s arguing, but it shouldn’t be as there’s a distinct difference: I believe that all minorities, political and otherwise, have to abide by the rule of law, and that nobody — not the majority or the minority — has a right to take to the streets in violence to censor someone else. Salman Rushdie deserves to live, and a backlash shouldn’t be had against immigration because of crackpots. A backlash should be held against the leaders of Europe — Jacques Chirac comes to mind — who deal in appeasement, and stronger leaders ought to be elected. The reaction to violence in the streets shouldn’t be modeled after Hitler’s but Nixon’s — minus the wiretaps or burglaries. Know what I’m saying?
Victor Hanson is out calling Iraq “a War to Be Proud Of” and I think he’s about right. We all know that I’m a supporter of the Iraq War, its principles and its goals. We all know, additionally, that I am not a Bush-type supporter of the War, and that my reasons to support the War range from supplemental, similar and independent of the Administration’s . But at the end of the day, I come down on the Right about Iraq. And while I don’t agree with all of the article — it is far too sympathetic to Rumsfeld and Bush, in my view — I do think it’s worth a read. Much like Tony Blair’s latest speech on the subject is worth listening to.
I don’t want to reopen past arguments. I want to advocate a new concord to displace the old contention. It is three years since Saddam fell. It has been three years of strife and bloodshed. But it has also seen something remarkable. Despite it all, despite terror, sectarian violence, kidnapping and the exhibition of every ugly aspect of human nature, a democratic political process has grown. Last week, a new Government was formed. This Monday I visited it in Baghdad, I sat and talked with the leaders, chosen by the people, Sunni, Shia, Kurds, non-aligned, and heard from them not the jarring messages of warring factions but one simple, clear and united discourse. They want Iraq to be democratic. They want its people to be free. They want to tolerate difference and celebrate diversity. They want the rule of law not violence to determine their fate.
They were quite different from the Interim Government of 2004 or the Iraqi Transitional Government after the elections of January 2005. This is a child of democracy struggling to be born. They and we, the international community, are the midwives. You may not agree with original decision. You may believe mistakes have been made. You may even think how can it be worth the sacrifice. But surely we must all accept this is a genuine attempt to run the race of liberty. These are not stooges. Or placemen. They believe in their country. They believe in its capacity to be democratic. They are fighting a struggle against the odds but they are fighting it. And in their struggle is a symbol of a wider struggle. Listen to what the new Prime Minister says and the new Government’s programme. Tell me where their vision differs from ours except that ours is based in experience and theirs in hope. I came back from Iraq not less daunted by the responsibility on our shoulders to help them succeed. But I did come back inspired by their determination that they do indeed succeed. This should be a moment of reconciliation not only in Iraq but in the international community. The war split the world. The struggle of Iraqis for democracy should unite it.
If the reaction of European politicians to Iraq and Denmark cast a shameful shadow over Europe — which I believe they did, and I don’t think it’s yet to lift — then Tony Blair is a ray of sunshine cracking through, and I do hope that men like him can take over in countries all across Europe. I love Tony Blair, and I find him the most capable leader on the global scene. Can’t you tell?