Of course, in fact it means “submission.” How confident can Reid really be of defeating this “intolerant and violent totalitarianism” when he refuses even to look squarely at its deep roots in Islamic tradition and teaching — despite the fact that the very depth of those roots will give him a good indication of what he really may reasonably expect from many Muslims in Britain?
“Europe faces ‘very real threat,'” from the BBC, with thanks to M.:
UK Home Secretary John Reid has said Europe faces a “persistent and very real” threat from terrorism, after a meeting with EU counterparts in London.
But he said the presence of five other interior ministers and top EU officials symbolised Europe’s determination to stand together and defend their values.
Finland, holder of the EU presidency, congratulated the UK on pre-empting an apparent plot to bomb US-bound planes.
Twenty-four people are now in custody in the UK over the alleged plot.
Mr Reid said the European Union needed to develop its counter-terror policies in response to the evolving threat.
He said the talks had discussed practical measures in four areas:
* Tackling liquid explosives
* Co-ordination of transport security
* Exchange of intelligence
* The nature of European IslamThe world was faced by a form of “intolerant and violent totalitarianism”, he added, which was subverting a religion, Islam, whose very name stood for peace.
And even if it did stand for peace, what kind of peace, Reid? On what terms? What makes you think Islam means by peace the same thing you mean by it? Why has it never occurred to you even to consider seeking answers to such questions?