StrategyUnit

Day 7 of the Paris Riots

AP 11.03.05 Christohe Ena

Paul Belein has an excellent commentary on the Paris Riot (and in Demark) and what it means for Europe’s future and what is holding Europe’s politicians back . Hat tip to Instapundit for the link to Paul.

There are always talking heads and pundits analyzing the “Arab Street”. They have spread the constant fear of a US going so far as to upset the “Arab Street”, igniting radical revolutions against the authoritative governments throughout the Middle East. This fear is heard countless times from US support of Israel, authoritative governments and from Operation Desert Storm (Persian Gulf War) to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

All experts speak of this powerful “Arab Street”. Thomas Friedman mentions it countlessly. George Tenet in his “World Threat 2001” briefing before the Senate talks of “The recent popular demonstrations in several Arab countries—including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan—in support of the Palestinian intifada demonstrate the changing nature of activism of the Arab street”.

But now we see we’ve been looking at the right religion, but wrong ethnicity and region. We should be worried about Europe’s growing Muslim Street.

An “Arab Street” revolt is simply a revolt in an Arab state – states in a region already hostile to the West. But, a revolt of Europe’s Muslim Street threatens to constrain the birthplace of Western Civilization itself.

Here’s an except from Paul, touching on why the Europe’s politicians have been hesitant and constrained in their actions against the growing problem:

The first one is that the Muslim population in Western Europe has become so large that politicians fear what it might be capable of.
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A second reason why some politicians try to appease the Muslims is that these are now a substantial segment of the voting population. Demographics are deciding the fate of Europe’s democracy.

Europe has already been hesitant in pursuing any bold policies that involve Muslims and Arab nations, unlike the United States. After the Paris Riots - there will be no doubt that Europe would bulk at any risk of upsetting its “Muslim Street’.

Will this further isolate the United States on its “Global War on Terrorism”?

In terms of openly stated policy and openly seen actions by Europe’s leaders - the answer is yes. But, when it comes to Europe’s domestic security services - undoubtedly, they will step up their efforts, which currently are far more extensive than the U.S. (If some Americans fear the Patriot Act and Bu$h Hitler Police State ™, they would shriek at horror at France and UK’s anti-terror policies).

The War on Terror is also a war on political will between the Islamofacist and everyone else – this is something Europe has been short on and now it will be shorter still.

Until the day Europe comes around, the Paris Riots mean further isolation for Bush’s policies and a set-back against the War on Terror (to use the US Govt’s term).

Some have argued that the Paris Riots will awaken the French and Europe population to the growing issue and threat they have failed to confront decisively. Judging from what we hear from the French Press (specifically from opposition party leaders), it seems its Sarkozy that is under fire for trying to lay down the law. A bad sign of things to come…
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Update: Belmont Club has just posted its own (and opposite) take:

“What events in France have done is discredit the liberal recipe so badly that even those who are not prepared to admit that American policy may have been right must now root around for an alternative theory. “

I hope he’s right, but I am pessimistic. Maybe in the long term, it will.