European nations plan to train Muslim preachers to fight "radicalism"

The implications of this article are astounding. On the one hand we're told again and again and again that only a Tiny Minority of Extremists™ holds to the jihad ideology, and that most Muslims (like Azzam Tamimi, for example?) abhor violence and reject today's global jihad. Yet while everyone takes this for granted, no one thinks anything is amiss when non-Muslim European governments have to take it upon themselves to initiate efforts to eradicate the jihad ideology from Muslim communities in their countries. No one seems to notice that this very fact -- and the concomitant implication that Muslims are not at this point working against the jihad ideology in any significant way on their own -- contradicts the entire "Vast Majority of Loyal Citizens" meme. Obviously some Muslims in Europe, if not many, are indeed loyal European citizens who accept Western values; however, they obviously aren't numerous or powerful enough to place in power men who share their views.

"European Nations Plan New Anti-Terror Efforts," from the New York Times, aka the New Duranty Times, with thanks to Seymour Paine:

LONDON — European security chiefs pledged increased cooperation against terrorism on Wednesday, saying they may begin blocking Web sites, fingerprinting or iris-scanning airline passengers and training Muslim preachers to fight radicalism.

Ministers from Finland, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia and France met in London on Tuesday with British home secretary John Reid to map out new anti-terrorism measures. Afterward, in a press conference, members of the meeting laid out proposals that signaled a shift for Europe, which in the past has been loathe to limit individual freedoms or try to impose one set of values on all citizens.

[...]

In addition, ministers are proposing closer cooperation between governments and the Muslim community. Mr. Frattini outlined a plan to organize meetings of Muslim teachers to “eradicate violence from inside.” Governments may also work to train Muslim religious leaders to attempt to prevent radicalization.

“We do want a European Islam,” Mr. Frattini said. “That is very important not only to show to the Muslim communities that we fully respect other religions, other faiths, but we also want them to respect national laws, European laws and fundamental rights, and first of all right to live,” Frattini said.

At the moment, there are two fundamentally different sets of values in play in Europe, Mr. Reid said: Those of the European Union, including “democracy, freedom and justice to all” and those of “totalitarianism,” which hopes to “subvert a religion whose very name stands for peace.”

I discussed Reid's statements yesterday here.