Daniel Pipes on this topic.

When you think that most of these Muslims are probably living off British welfare it's doubly maddening

Soccer Dad:

Thanks so much for the link. Yes, the French government is, indeed, much tougher on Islamic terrorism than their British counterparts.

One of the reasons for this is because the Algerian experience is still fresh in the consciousness of the French intelligence community. And the old Algerian hands do not wish to see history repeated.

Bill:

Yes, it's well known that scores of Islamic radicals who agitate for the destruction of England, are on the dole.

I thought Daniel Pipes got it spot on. It always drove me mad how the French were perceived in the US after 9/11. And after the war in Iraq anything French was a symbol of cowardice and anything British of determination all because London had a Pro US PM and France had Chirac. Now look, the French President is closer to the US and tougher in the war on terror that Brown.

Maybe now the Fox News reporters will stop rolling their eyes toward heaven every time the word France is mentioned.

What I like best about this incident is the video. This is the way for ordinary citizens to respond when we see Muslim protests. We're not the police or the politicians who shouldn't be granting the permits in the 1st place, but when we see this kind of stuff, we must confront the gaggle of protestors. Get in their face, shout them down, and overwhelm them with larger numbers. If they attempt to defile a U.S. or Israeli flag, get in there and grab it away from them, (remember Rick Monday at Dodger Stadium in 1976?). Just DON'T ignore them and think they'll go away.

Jake:

I'm with you. Ignoring these terrorists is a losing strategy. We must be aggressive and loud and let them know that we know what they're up to and we won't give an inch, in spite of our pathetic excuse for a commander-in-chief.

Ted:

I've also been guilty of French bashing, mainly because French Jews are under siege. But I've also pointed out that the French intelligence services are excellent and really brutal, the only way to combat and defeat the Caliphite Muslims.

Robert

I have noticed your fairness in this regard. Its the crassness of some of the talk-show pundits that make me cringe.

France and Britain are the two European countries that have the greatest problem with its Muslims. In France most Muslims are Algerian. In England, Pakistani. I think this is relevant. Muslims of the same nationality are more likely to ghettoise and this is where and when problems often arise. Not so in other countries like Ireland (and the US I guess) where there appears to be no dominant nationality and less tension.

Ted:

You are correct in pointing out that various Muslim nationals create distinct terrorist threats. But it's important to keep in mind that it is Saudi Arabia, Waahabi Islam, that finances the overwhelming number of radical Mosques in Europe.

The Saudis, one of the most brutal, Jew-hating and intolerant regimes on earth, only N. Korea exceeds, plays a double flag game with the West: They claim to be combating terrorism while inspiring terrorism everywhere outside the kingdom.

Sooner or later, we will have to deal with the Saudis.

BTW, I believe the Dutch and the Swedes are in big trouble with their radical Muslim populations. Did you see the violence in Malmo when the Israeli tennis team came to play? It was a pogrom in the making. Thankfully, the Swedish police held fast.

Robert

I am aware of the particularly extremist nature of Waahabi Islam which is why I clumsily tried to point out a few days ago that I thought Iranian Shia Islam was less of a threat.

I was also aware of the situation in Malmo thanks to my Canadian friend over at http://thentherewaslight.com/ who you should try and acquaint yourself with. I guarantee you will be impressed with this young man.

I have more faith in the Dutch than the Swedes. The Dutch are a tolerant yet staunchly nationalist people whom I believe will come good.

Ted:

The Saudis, so far, do not have a nuclear program, hence they are not an immediate threat like Iran.

But look, the world is a dangerous place and we have to deal with a host of threats.

I do fear for Sweden, they have not fought a war since, oh, a loooong time and they have been lulled into a Socialist fog so thick they have no idea that their country is being colonized by maniacs. And if they do know about it, they have not a clue as to how to stop it.

Yes, the Dutch have some spine. Look forward to the day when they strike back.

Thanks so much for the link.

BTW, the Ali G. vid you posted is hard to understand because the Irish politics he's riffing on is, I have to admit, incomprehensible to me. All except for the Gaelic/Gay joke.

Its been a tough week for us here. Paramilitary violence flared up in Northern Ireland for the first time in 11 years. Republican groups opposed to the agreement announced their opposition to the ongoing peace process by killing two British soldiers and a policeman in separate incidents. I posted the Ali G video to lighten the mood a bit.

Did you know that Ali G is Sacha Baron Cohen, the Jewish British comedian more commonly known in the US as "Borat".

Ted:

I kind of picked up, in a very general way, what was going on through your excellent post about the inevitable clash of ideologies by competing Irish groups, one group accepting peace and another refusing to give up violence.

But I'm the first to admit that I'm way out of my depth. My "Irish education" is pretty much confined to two John Ford films: "The Informer" and "The Quiet Man."

Pathetic.

Sacha Baron-Cohen is not only Jewish but traditionally observant and fluent in Hebrew. In "Borat," when he's supposedly speaking his native language, he's really speaking Hebrew. Hysterical.

I will confess that the naked wrestling match in "Borat" made me vaguely nauseous. I actually closed my eyes and told Karen to let me know when it was over. She said to me: "How should I know, my eyes are also closed."

Unusual way to watch a movie, huh?

I have seen Baron-Cohen in "Pat's," a local high-end kosher restaurant here in L.A. Most people don't recognize him out of character, and those that do leave him alone, affording the man some "kosher" privacy.

Your knowledge is not pathetic. Quite perceptive actually. I too love "the quiet man". I actually had the pleasure of meeting Maureen O'Hara in Dublin a couple of years ago.

I was aware that Sacha Baron-Cohen was observant. I'm sure this pleases you as I would imagine most Jews in Hollywood and the entertainment industry are secular. You would particularly expect such an eccentric charcter as Cohen to also be so.

He is I believe marrying Isla Fisher (wedding crashers), the Australian actress who is herself converting to Judaism.

I too struggled with Borat. I had to grab for the cushion on several occasions. He just loves making the viewer cringe. Did you introduce yourself to the man himself in "Pat's"?

Ted:

Maureen O'Hara. Sigh. I'm so jealous.

Borat is beyond cringing. I melted into a puddle.

Nope, I left Baron-Cohen alone. I know how much these people appreciate some quiet time.

Yes, Isla is converting and I'd like to welcome her to the club.

Poor girl, she has no idea what she's in for.

Between this and the certifiably crazy George Galloway, I have more than enough material for my weekly admonition that the last non-Muslim person out of the UK should remember to turn off the lights and (especially) close the door - the sun is setting on the British Empire and a crescent moon is rising. Churchill is SPINNING in his grave

Between this and the certifiably crazy George Galloway, I have more than enough material for my weekly admonition that the last non-Muslim person out of the UK should remember to turn off the lights and (especially) close the door - the sun is setting on the British Empire and a crescent moon is rising. Churchill is SPINNING in his grave

Poor girl, she has no idea what she's in for.

And how. ;)

If that crowd had been British football fans in a frenzy I would think the outcome wouldn't have been so peaceful ;-)

I have heard of that French terrorism center and how it has been so helpful to all parties - the French are certainly perplexing aren't they?

I would like to think they are more like Jean Reno in Ronin when pushed to the wall.

Mark - Ted - perhaps what I say is wishful or perhaps factual but people tend to predict the future based on the present and assume nothing will come along to change the course -

It is almost always amusing to read predictions from "experts" made 40 - 30 - even 20 years ago.

Robert, As always I enjoy your posts and the comments.

I especially enjoy the fact that you interact with the commenters.

We really do need to continue to counter-protest.

If someone is standing on your foot, it's only natural to say, "Hey, get off my foot!"

It seems that Obama's attempt to completely isolate Israel with ant-semetic advisors and international hate-committees has been curtailed somewhat.
The Durban 2 conference somehow was taken off the US agenda and Freeman's nomination was nullified... all within the same week!
Perhaps you have some inside info regarding the sudden change or movement in Obama's policy.

Thanks

Editorial correction, if I may. The obese whiner stage left in the photo holds a sign claiming that the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, are "the Butchers of Basra."

In fact, when the Iraqis decided to crack down on Basra last year, they sent elements of my old Iraqi Army brigade in to sort things out. Brits weren't invited. So, my Iraqi brothers in arms are most appropriately the Butchers of Basra. They would be hurt at being left out of the battle honors.

Credit where credit is due, porky! And try cutting back on the pies, taxpayers will have to pay to treat any obesity-related illnesses you develop.

Virgil Hilts

Well pointed out Major Hilts

I was wondering. Did you ever get to see Berlin from the ground or the air before the end of the war as you hoped. You are "The Cooler King" are you not.

Ted:

Busted! I like to think he finally escaped and got back into the cockpit. It reaffirms my own mindless optimism when faced with an oppressive reality. I grew up wanting to fly P-51s against the Nazis.

Today, fighter pilots seem to be computer operators in cool leather jackets, so I'm an airborne infantryman instead. But I do like leather jackets!

Best,
Virgil

On Borat: Did anybody else notice the pistol the gun store owner offered him when he was looking for "the best pistol to kill Jews?" Any guesses which predominantly Jewish nation that particular .50 cal hand cannon is manufactured in?

Virgil - you are right about the fighter pilots, except for the A10 pilots. They fly low and slow and support the infantry, just like WW2.

Do you have an A2 jacket? Been around since WW2 but like Ray Ban glasses, never seem to go out of style.

I think the Navy pilots are a breed apart. Try landing on a runway a few hundred yards long while it is bobbing up and down 20 feet.

Bill:

A-10s always gladden an infantryman's heart, as do AC-130s! But, please, don't tell any of the Air Force guys I work with that I said that... And agreed on the Navy pilots, one of them described carrier landings to me as "parallel parking at 70 mph." But even USAF jet guys have to be pretty good just to fly their aircraft. They're the reason US infantrymen haven't been strafed since Korea. But, that's just between us...

Concur on the A2, I have one made by a guy in Washington State that I wear pretty much whenever the temperature drops below 90 degrees (OK, slight exaggeration). As I tell my boss (USAF fighter pilot), pilots, regardless of their lack of utility, DO have style! But he'd better not sew on a Ranger tab...

Best,
Virgil

Virgil - last year my car club had a treat - going up to an AFB - home of the late SR-71 and the U2 - and got the deluxe tour. I learned that the U2 is one of the hardest aircraft in the military arsenal to land - it is essentially a huge glider with the wheels on the fuselage - we would go out on the 13000 foot runway in a Pontiac GTO at 120mph following a landing U2 - the pilot driving the GTO would call out the altitude for the rear main wheel for the last 10 feet -

The SR71 was legendary - lots of stories about that - but it is retired now - Also saw the remote controlled Global Hawk that flies 400 mph for up to 36 hours. They take off from the US - fly to the middle east - do their thing and come back at 60,000 feet - it is a different world now -

My nephew is going to Ranger school - I really have to admire him that is one tough program -

A book you may like is by Robert Kaplan - he spent about 2 years traveling around the world visiting military units from the US from as remote as Mongolia to the Horn of Africa - wrote 2 books - one primarily on the Army and Marines and then second volume on the Navy and the Airforce - he was saying that A10 pilots are very different from other fighter pilots - since their job is to fly relatively low and slow and support ground units they have a WW2 pilot's persona and outlook - interesting history on the A10 - the Air Force wanted to retire it after the Cold War - it wasn't fast and sexy enough for them - when the Army said that they'd take it - whereupon the Air Force decided they were OK after all -

I'm probably taxing Robert's hospitality straying off topic but get me on aircraft or history and I am good to go!

Thanks for your service - It isn't easy being overseas away from family...

There is a counter demonstration organised by ex-soldiers on the 28th of March. It is definately something worth keeping an eye on, especially considering Luton is the place where Al Qaeda declared War on Great Britain from.

who started the fight the british or the french.?