Eurabia

There are huge differences between the Muslim populations in each of the
main European countries, and huge differences in the responses of these
countries to their Muslim minorities.
For example, in Germany the Muslims are mainly Turkish, in France they are
mainly North African, in Holland mainly Indonesian (a former Dutch colony),
and in Britain they are mainly Pakistani.
Each of these European (EU) countries also has a different approach towards
their minorities. In France officially there are no minorities, they are
considered to be simply French. Remember "liberte, egalite et fraternite,"
and that Algeria was actually a part of France, like Wales or Scotland in
the UK. And so the French strive for full assimilation, even though in
practice this is not nearly achieved. France tries to be totally secular
and that's why they banned headscarves in state schools, against Muslim
objections (which is why the rioters torched schools). With the massive
rioting of the past two weeks the French will have to rethink their
strategy!
Germany is quite the opposite to France, non-Germans, even if born in the
country, could not get German citizenship until a few years ago. The German
approach was exclusivity, and it was frankly racist. Only now after many
years are the Germans realizing that they have a permanent minority of
Turkish Germans, and not just gastarbeiters.
The British, more like the Americans, recognize the existence of specific
minorities in law and try to assist their integration. But some, while
taking the assistance, don't want to integrate. They prefer their own
separate culture, as shown in some recent British movies, including "East is
East." But, at least the British have recognized their problem and are
trying to tackle it. The bombings of 7/7 have shown that so far their
attempts have not been so successful.
In Holland, the attitude is basically liberal, whatever the minorities want
they get. A too liberal immigration law means that now 20% or more of the
Dutch population are immigrants, they have liberalled themselves almost out
of existence. The murder of Theo van Gogh by a Muslim fanatic was a wake up
call for many Dutch, but maybe too late.
Notwithstanding all these differences there are similarities and connections
between the Muslim extremists in each of the European countries, making the
EU a prime center for terrorist planning and training. The 9/11 attacks in
the US were planned by a group living in Hamburg. As we see from some of
those arrested, it does not matter what country they come from, Arabs,
Indonesians, North Africans, Somalis, converts to Islam, they are all in
this together, and the Islamists regard their original countries as
insufficiently Islamic, witness the explosions in Amman. They will have to
be fought in a coordinated way, and it does not look as if that is
happening.