Yeah, right. I have heard a lot about this Eurabia, mainly from people who have no idea whatever of Europe. Diana West is a clever writer, but here she has made a fool of herself, and unfortunately her folly has been followed by a lot of readers in this site. Let me explain something to you: this is a useless piece of international bureaucracy that has all the relevance of, say, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The European public has had all the Islam and integration it can stomach. That is a fact and will be proven increasingly as election follows election: the friends of Islam will be increasingly punished, and people who take a hard line on "immigration" - code word for Islamic immigration - will be rewarded.

Now, before the usual suspects start calling me a liberal or whatever, let me tell you an anecdote. Next month, the Italian TV public will be following, as they do every year, a big musical competition, the "Festival di San Remo". The Festival belongs to the State broadcaster, RAI, and it is a guaranteed ratings winner. So the problem for RAI's competitors is to find a ratings winner strong enough to compete with the Festival. What has the largest competitor, Mr. Berlusconi's Canale 5, done? Why, a prime-time documentary on Oriana Fallaci, giving her full rein to vent her well-known views on Islam on national TV. This is what Mr.Berlusconi's programmers, who are only concerned with ratings and who have an intimate knowledge of the Italian public, think will compete with the Festival di San Remo. Incidentally, Mr.Berlusconi, the owner of Canale 5, is also the Prime Minister.

Posted by: Paolo at February 19, 2005 9:15 AM

I can only hope that the Italians don't fold to organizations like CAIR.
No doubt a TV special exposing the Islamic menace will generate Muslim outrage.
Will Oriana Fallaci be threatened by the Muslim community - news at 11:00...

Posted by: BillR at February 19, 2005 9:39 AM

Paolo:

If what you say is true, I and many like me here in the US will cheer these developments on. We expressed support and admiration for Hirsi Ali and Greet Wilders in Denmark. We're looking with hope towards Nicolas Sarkozy in France. And any further news of such happenings would be most welcome.

The situation in places like Malmo in Sweden cause skepticism to arise, though.

Posted by: voletti at February 19, 2005 10:46 AM

Sorry, Paolo but you're missing the ball here.

The article is mainly focussed on Belgium.
The assessment that Diane West makes is correct.
She doesnt say how it goes in Europe, she sarcastically analyses another reporter's article.

To Be anti-immigration, read Anti-islamisation, in Belgium is to be equalised with Nazism, Racism, Xenofobia.
Thanks to the "left wing parties" there are laws in place to criminalise such things.
The Vlaams Belang, formerly Vlaams Blok, has been condemned by such laws based on "tin air".
However other, govermental politicians saying almost the exact same things are left untouched.
The Vb represent 1/4 of Flanders, not 1/4 of Belgium; around 900 000 voters).

And the Mainly muslim immigration is not solely about oil, in the 1960s labour was needed to excavate the coal mines. First waves arrived.
Its the industry who lured them here, with acceptance of the goverment.

In a later phase it became a weapon against the Flemings.
Most Mulsim immigrants are French-speaking and give a rats ass about Flemish quest of independance.
They mainly vote for Belgicist and Left parties, if possible massively on French-talking parties (since thats their main official language).

That is how the area of Brussels is now certainly and firmly into French-speaking hands. It has also pushed French-Speaking deeper into our territory, which they're "colonising" to some extent (attempting too).

Thats why I'm also stressed with President Bush staying in Brussels centre...surrounded by some radical Islamic elements.
I've been pondering the past days on how the US president could be attacked. I have to say there is a possibility, but I'm not join to tell you for obvious reasons.

Posted by: Briggs at February 19, 2005 10:56 AM

I accept Briggs' correction. In fact, I am grateful, because it explains the otherwise slightly puzzling meteoric rise of Vlaams Blok/ Belang/ whatever, which was definitely beyond the norm of similar movements elsewhere in Europe.

The situation in Britain is moving. Immigration has become a major issue in British elections too, with Tories and Labour racing each other to who can be the tougher. However, they are also both begging for Muslim votes, so I doubt whether they will be as tough as they posture. But it seems quite likely that they will have their arses spanked by the so far unimaginable rise of the genuinely Fascist BNP. In neighbourhoods with large Muslim minorities, the BNP is becoming increasingly attractive and popular. The BBC has made a misguided attempt to demonize it, followed by the stupid arrest of its clever leader Nick Griffin. This is actually going to do them a lot of good, because Mr.Griffin was arrested and charged for talking about Islam - and saying rather less, in fact, than many contributors to this site do. He is saying what the man in the street is saying, and may well be rewarded at the polls. At the same time, Mr.Blair's brutal neglect of his party's left-wing traditions is being punished by a visible and vocal left-wing movement called Respect, which is also apt to harvest Muslim votes; in spite of his pandering to Muslim views in all sorts of petty ways, most British Muslims have not forgiven Mr.Blair his support for the war in Iraq, and neither has most left-wing opinion. All this makes the BNP's task all the easier, since they might end up coming through in between Labour and Respect's attempts to defeat each other. I will be surprised if Mr.Blair keeps his position at the coming general election. We might even see our first outright Fascist MP or two.
This is not very desirable. I know the BNP: they are criminals and thugs. But it may well focus minds at the higher levels of government.

Posted by: Paolo at February 19, 2005 11:32 AM

PAULO said: "The European public has had all the Islam and integration it can stomach. That is a fact and will be proven increasingly as election follows election: the friends of Islam will be increasingly punished, and people who take a hard line on "immigration" - code word for Islamic immigration - will be rewarded."

Since when has popular support had anything to do with EU policy? The Eurocrats, with help from Bush, are doing everything they can to shove Turkish membership down the throats of the EU public. Every EU nation has strong popular opposition to Turkey's membership, yet Europe's leaders openly state that Turkey's entrance is inevitable.

The fact is, Turkey is to Europe what Mexico is to America. Like America's leaders, Europe's leaders will continue to sell out the culture of their people for greed, all under the guise of the mythical 'multi-cultural' society. Indeed it is up to the people to fight for the preservation of their way of life, for their current leaders have abandoned them.

Posted by: Belisarius at February 19, 2005 12:10 PM

Berlusconi said straight up that Western Civ was superior to Islam right after 9-11. He was forced to retract it, but I'm sure his earlier statement shows where his heart lies.

Paolo: any hope of that Fallaci documentary coming out with English subtitles? Or maybe you or some other Italian speaker could get a transcript and translate it into English for us?

Posted by: Suzan at February 19, 2005 12:15 PM

PS To the Europeans here,

We need more translations of good articles about what's happening in Europe into English. Ordinary Americans don't know what's going on in Europe, that's why they support our "great" "ally", Turkey, getting into the EU.

You could help change the tide here by translating articles that we could send out to the blogosphere. The DutchReport blogs is a good example, but we need ItalianReport, GermanReport, FrenchReport, SpanishReport, SwedishReport, etc.

Obviously UK news we can read ourselves.

Thanks!

Posted by: Suzan at February 19, 2005 12:21 PM

Our interior minister Dewael, said almost exactly the same thing (West superior than Islam).
He received strong comments from the left, but he kept a stiff upper lip; stating that the Media had "swung it around".
But when the VB says something like that...then its unacceptable.

The BNP might be fascist, I dont know, neither do I really care.
I do know that the VB is not fascist, it has however some elements of former collaborators (ppl who fought in SS legions against the Communists, recruted on the pretext of christianity, more local power and anti-communism ; kinda like the Lithuanians who fought with the Germans for liberty against the Russians).
Thats seemingly sufficient to be labelled as a fascist or nazi organisation.
Some ppl pull out pictures. Last one was a picture of a Europarlementarian with Leon Degrelle (a Walloon Belgicist collaborator). That was "proof" of the fascism of the VB.
Unfortunately, yielded by a communist on TV, his source is a thief since that picture was stolen.
Beside that, the writing on it is typical for the person of Degrelle (he called everyone "My great friend"). No1 mentioned that the Europarlementarian is a historian who wrote a paper concerning the collaboration & Degrelle...who grabbed the chance to meet the devil in person.

Personally, I dont see where the problem is at Calling one's civilisation superior than the Islamic Civilisation. Its a person's subjective opinion, doesnt quite show neither prove anything.

There is a communications problem between the US and Europeans. Americans have this false perception that Europeans are like cows just watching and not intervening...dont worry we Europeans believe you Yanks are Gun-ho and intervene too much. ;p

Posted by: Briggs at February 19, 2005 1:15 PM

"Personally, I dont see where the problem is at Calling one's civilisation superior than the Islamic Civilisation."

Yes, indeed. After all,the Muslims are certainly not shy about trumpeting the "superiority" of their civilization to the West's, and no one ever tries to make THEM feel bad for doing it.

Posted by: Suzan at February 19, 2005 2:17 PM

That is a fact and will be proven increasingly as election follows election: the friends of Islam will be increasingly punished, and people who take a hard line on "immigration" - code word for Islamic immigration - will be rewarded.
Posted by: Paolo

All very interesting and hopefull, but in the end the only thing that counts is action, what people actually do not how they feel or what they say. So I will wait and see.

Europeans may be sick and tired of islamos, but the people in power in Europe are not, as they show by their actions.

Posted by: Sheik Canuck (swt) at February 19, 2005 2:27 PM

Hey folks, lets just kiss and make up. While I don't agree with all the political decisions made in Europe, I would HATE to see our cousins across the Atlantic become unwilling members of a gigantic Islamic caliphate.
We have a common enemy, and we the "regular folk" need to cooperate if we're going to win this fight. While I am new to the forum, it seems that time might be better spent on plans of action instead of arguing amongst ourselves.
Remember, "Divide and Conquer"
Treehugger

Posted by: treehugger at February 19, 2005 2:31 PM

Agreed, Treehugger. There must have been something in the water yesterday.

Posted by: Carolyn2 at February 19, 2005 4:20 PM

I've seen several articles pertaining to Muslim immigration into Europe, but what about European emigration out. Can anyone verify that "more people left Holland in 2003 than arrived" as mentioned in this tid-bit from the Telegraph's expat section earlier this week?

Dutch join the migrant exodus to Australia
By Peter Pallot
(Filed: 14/02/2005)

It is not just Britons, fed up with overcrowding and poor weather, who look to another continent for a new life. Across the Channel, the Dutch middle classes are quitting clogged roads and street violence in numbers unheard of in living memory.

Australia is a top destination for a wave of migration among educated Dutch people, sparked by racial strife and increasing unrest in the Netherlands. The murder of homosexual populist politician Pim Fortuyn and film-maker Theo van Gogh are seen as linked to the exodus. More people left Holland in 2003 than arrived.

The trend is likely to continue. A typical reaction comes from Els Booij, human resources consultant for the Japanese company Kawasaki. Away from home in Amsterdam for a holiday in the French Alps, she told me: "Most sensible people think things have gone too far. There's a lack of drive among politicians to get to grips with the problems. Instead, a sense of resignation reigns – nothing changes." ...

Posted by: dry_heavz_4_alla at February 19, 2005 4:59 PM

I grew up in Europe and i`m still going there almost every year,on vacations.
The increasing islamization of Europe is obvious even for an occasional vacationeer like me,but the internal politics of it has escaped me.
Paolo may be right and i really hope he is.
Only time will tell.
I admire Oriana Falacci,i bought all her books and i hope the italian viewers will tune up to watch her tv interview.

Posted by: adela at February 19, 2005 6:32 PM

At this point the question to Europeans has to be: So what are you going to do to stop the undeniable trend toward Eurabia? It may be too late given the demograhic trends.
It occurred to me that if one country of the EU--maybe Holand or Denmark from what I read--can start deporting the Islamofascists and discourage more Islamic Immigration, then possibly this will catch on in the other countries of EU. If they need more workers (and potential future citizens) how about all the poor folks from Latin America who are flooding the USA?

Posted by: sparrow at February 19, 2005 8:28 PM

Treehugger, you are correct that we must unite on this one. Below is an article by Lawrence Auster that appeared in frontpage last year called "How to Defeat Jihad in America". I find it hard to believe that a political moderate like myself would agree with the population controls and deportation policy suggested therein, but what other choice do we have? Auster has been a very right-wing guy (based on where he has written and his associations) but his policy suggestions (except for the last one) appear appropriate given the threat.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=13532

I have copied his points below:

1. End all mass immigration of Moslems into the United States, whether from Moslem countries or elsewhere
2. Deport all Moslem illegal aliens.
3. Deport all legal resident aliens with ties or loyalties to radical Islam
4. Remove the citizenship of and deport all naturalized and native-born citizens who are supporters of jihad
5. Publicly renounce and abjure multiculturalism as a societal philosophy.

Posted by: sparrow at February 19, 2005 9:07 PM

I just started reading Oriana's The Rage and The Pride. What a book! I love her style of writing. You can feel her rage on each and every page. You can almost imagine her sitting there, spilling it all out, from the pit of her belly and the depths of her soul. The frustration, the anger, the disgust. She pulls no punches. I hope many Europeans feel like she does. Europe is far too beautiful and precious to let Islam rubbish it. I'm not ready to give up on Europe yet, but the demographics look ominous.

Berlusconi was 100% accurate when he said Western civilization was superior. Of course it is. Only an idiot would think Islamic "civilization" was anywhere near Western superiority. Just look around.

Posted by: feralee at February 20, 2005 12:39 AM

With Sharia-Law being demanded by CAIR-Canada
for female Muslims up here in Canada,the threat to the USA is just North of you and some Islamic
Org.s and Mosques in Canada have been accused of being financed but Saudi Arabia for teaching Whahbbism style Islam.

I found a Canadian website that now offers courses in Sharia-law and learning Arabic,the site
states that the Canadian Sharia will be based on widely practised Sharia in Islamic or Muslim Countries.
The idiots from CAIR and the CIC now avoid the term "Sharia" and tell the media that the Canadian Sharia will respect the Charter and Constitution when dealing with human rights.
If this is so then why bother with a Sharia system that uses the Charter anyway,it's because
the Saudis want to get their foot in the door
while Muslims are a minority and can whine for special treatment as a "Victim" group.
While it has become the norm for Arab and Muslims students in Universities to preach hate and antisemitism to demand religion to be kept out of public institutions,CAIR is demanding a mini-Mosque in a University under the Freedom of Religion section in the Charter.
No other group had the nerve to demand a prayer room after signing the enrollment papers that made it clear the school was a secular campus.
Muslims knew ahead of time that they had to pray 5 times per day,the University shouldn't have to change the rules when it's the Muslims that need to select a education inline with their faith restrictions.

Just to show you how pathetic CAIR really is the below link is to their new webpage design
and the endorsement of CAIR in the upper right corner list the opinion as that of a CAIR Board member,CAIR can't even find one average Muslim
to promote them.
CAIR even hijacked Canada's flag symbol and now
has the mantra "Your voice,your future".

http://www.caircan.ca/index.php

Posted by: ala-sux at February 20, 2005 1:29 AM

With Sharia-Law being demanded by CAIR-Canada
for female Muslims up here in Canada,the threat to the USA is just North of you and some Islamic
Org.s and Mosques in Canada have been accused of being financed but Saudi Arabia for teaching Whahbbism style Islam.

I found a Canadian website that now offers courses in Sharia-law and learning Arabic,the site
states that the Canadian Sharia will be based on widely practised Sharia in Islamic or Muslim Countries.
The idiots from CAIR and the CIC now avoid the term "Sharia" and tell the media that the Canadian Sharia will respect the Charter and Constitution when dealing with human rights.
If this is so then why bother with a Sharia system that uses the Charter anyway,it's because
the Saudis want to get their foot in the door
while Muslims are a minority and can whine for special treatment as a "Victim" group.
While it has become the norm for Arab and Muslims students in Universities to preach hate and antisemitism to demand religion to be kept out of public institutions,CAIR is demanding a mini-Mosque in a University under the Freedom of Religion section in the Charter.
No other group had the nerve to demand a prayer room after signing the enrollment papers that made it clear the school was a secular campus.
Muslims knew ahead of time that they had to pray 5 times per day,the University shouldn't have to change the rules when it's the Muslims that need to select a education inline with their faith restrictions.

Just to show you how pathetic CAIR really is the below link is to their new webpage design
and the endorsement of CAIR in the upper right corner list the opinion as that of a CAIR Board member,CAIR can't even find one average Muslim
to promote them.
CAIR even hijacked Canada's flag symbol and now
has the mantra "Your voice,your future".

http://www.caircan.ca/index.php

Posted by: ala-sux at February 20, 2005 1:30 AM

Canada is particularly vulnerable, being a virtually empty land - thirty or so millions sprawled across untold acres of fertile prairie and profitable mining and timber land. A few more million immigrants - legal and otherwise... Hey up, lads, we've got them! And all the time the morons in government waste time and alienate religious people with their homosexual marriage nonsense, when in twenty years the coming Canadian Muslim majority will proceed to make hash of it, and perhaps bury all homosexuals alive for good measure.

Posted by: Paolo at February 20, 2005 8:38 AM

Feralee: there is something of a Greek tragedy about Ms.Fallaci's book, which is not widely known. In order to write it, complete the English translation, and keep control over the other translations (she does not trust translators, and rightly so), Ms.Fallaci stopped taking chemotherapy. To write this book, and the two that followed, she practically condemned herself to death by lung cancer, knowing what she was doing. I do not know whether to call this reckless or brave, but at any rate it is on a different moral level from her enemies' notion of martyrdom.

Ms.Fallaci is from Tuscany. You have to know Tuscans to understand fully the kind of person she is. Dante was one.

Posted by: Paolo at February 20, 2005 8:41 AM

To this day Muslims in Canada still haven't
denounced the killing of homosexuals in Palestine by Islamis zealots,Sharia in Canada is a true threat to democracy and freedom.
Canada's Charter and Constitution are onlt documents expressing the will of the people,when Islamists try to take power they'll tear up those papers and hold up the Quran as the new laws for
the Islamic State of Canada. One Muslim group already titles itself the "Canadian Islamic Congress" and other use middle east terms about
"Supreme" and "Holy" just to show you how they're building the infrastructure to be a Political
Party that rules the Country.

Posted by: ala-sux at February 20, 2005 7:36 PM

Time for a joke :
Thought Ca Na Da stood for "Nothing Up there" in Inuit :)

Europe isnt quite in danger yet....we still have a capable army and the people is gettin grumpy

Posted by: Briggs at February 21, 2005 12:04 PM