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The picture above was taken in Belgium just a few days ago. That’s right, Belgium: the reassuringly boring, eternally peaceful expanse between France and the Netherlands, home of world-class chocolatiers, breweries and waffle-makers; the scene of history’s most peaceful civil conflict over land; office space of the European Union.
In this photograph, what can we see? Well, as far as I can make out, it shows heavily-armed soldiers interviewing a Muslim woman on the cobbled streets of the capital city, Brussels; a scene and scenario reminiscent of the darker days of the former Soviet Union, or perhaps an upmarket area of the modern Middle East.
Though this is happening in Europe, this isn’t Europe. Europe as we know it is suspended until further notice. And with great sadness, I must speculate that this notice may not come for some time.
We have grown so used to the majority of Islamic violence taking place in the Middle East that the near future is likely to be very traumatic. Whilst the Israelis have found a way to continue their coffee and croissant culture in the midst of military checkpoints, barbed-wire fences and back-slung rifles, Europe is entirely unaccustomed to that reality. How will we cope? How will we explain the changes to our children?
It is necessary that we think about this. The explosion of Islamist activity that began with the establishment of ISIS in Iraq and which opened a broad European theatre with the attacks in Paris is not going away any time soon. This is merely the beginning, the opening act. If you were thinking the fire would die down in a few weeks, after which you could go back to worrying about the next Manchester United match, or the prospects of Andy Murray at next year’s Wimbledon, you are greatly mistaken. I predicted many months ago (in my post “ISIS and the Coming Terror Wave”) that a massive campaign of Islamist violence would be inflicted upon European cities in retaliation for the bombing of ISIS territory in Syria. I was right, as were many others. We knew that ISIS could not be contained with airstrikes. We knew that ISIS wasn’t weak or disorganised enough to be broken up by police raids or rudimentary border controls.
To repel an organisation of this kind will take bold and ruthless action – not only by the West, but Russia and allied Middle Eastern states (Israel and Jordan) also. Tens of thousands of bombs must fall. Thousands of missiles must be fired. It will take years, not months. It will cost billions, not millions.
As to the home-front, attacks like those in Paris will be attempted across the continent. Expect them. Prepare for them. Obey government orders to stay inside when they are made. Do not launch vigilante retaliations. If you do so, emergency measures enacted to deal with terrorists may be extended to contain you as well. While governments are (by their very nature) untrustworthy, our militaries are surely on our side. Put your trust in them, even if in no-one else.
For all the Islamic State’s storm and bluster, they cannot challenge the West at its peak capabilities. Our weapons are better and more plentiful than theirs. A jeep cannot repel a Raptor. An RPG cannot outwit a Tomahawk. Let’s be sure to impress the bastards, even as we dispose of them.
Let’s also take the prompt of the moment to regain pan-civilizational solidarity. Here in England, we often consider the continental nations to be slightly ridiculous, their eccentricities entrenched so deep that they limit the rationality of their general population. We consider France, for example, to be hopelessly Left-wing, prone to post-modern philosophy and addicted to leisure. We see the Dutch as pot-smoking, laid-back liberals; the Swedes as naked, free-loving Feminists; the Germans as militaristic work-robots etc… But despite these bigotries, we all secretly value the traditions of our continental neighbours. Our rivalries are friendly; our prejudices are light-hearted. This is why the descent of a state like Belgium into a ‘den of terror’ (as it has been shockingly branded since Paris) is and will be hard to take for all of us.
This is a sad time, but not yet a hopeless one. Strength lies in numbers. We are all in the same boat. And if we combine our efforts and efficiently apply them, Europe – as we knew it – will one day resume.
D, LDN
A Visitor said:
1st time commenter here (found you via VA, been lurking for a while), It’s heart wrenching to see this happen to our European cousins (I’m American). Islam must be defeated. I stand shoulder to shoulder with you all. Though I never served in the military, as they say in the 11th ACR: Allons! As they say on their challenge coin, “Find the bastards then pile on!”
Regards from a brother across the pond
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Defend the Modern World said:
Thank you for your support. We definitely need American solidarity and help with this struggle. It’s every bit as daunting as the struggle against fascism.
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Daveyp. said:
A rousing post and hopefully the indigenous peoples of Europe will follow the path that you recommend. I heard on the radio this morning a Belgian politician saying that 40% of Brussels’ population is Muslim. Forty per cent?! I’d thought that it was about half of that figure. This brought home to me the severity of the problem. I suspect that ruthless military action is going to be needed, not just in the Middle East, but right here in Europe.
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Defend the Modern World said:
40% is shocking. Just imagine what it will be in ten years, or twenty years? A great, historic city lost to Islam.
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Defend the Modern World said:
I imagine the figure is similar in Stockholm and Malmo. London can’t be far behind either.
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Hatari said:
“Our weapons are better and more plentiful than theirs. A jeep cannot repel a Raptor. An RPG cannot outwit a Tomahawk.”
Hmmm. Debatable. “Better”?! Weapon efficacy is based on employment conditions and who/what is wielding it. This is asymmetric warfare.
I think you’d be surprised what a guy with said jeep along with a laptop,a few high MW lasers, a garage opener, refrigerator, a genny, and oh yeah, that RPG you mentioned, can do if he/she puts its mind to it. Especially once armed with a few advanced engineering degrees from western universities…
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Defend the Modern World said:
Terrorists can be innovative, but they still have limits. We dwarf them in the explosive power we possess.
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GREET MARIEN said:
Belgium boring? You wish. We are a small country, but a lot is going on here. Best music festivals in the world (tomorrowland, dour, etc.) Excellent musicians (Stromae, Novastar, DeUS,…and orchestra’s (Philip Herreweghe), inspirational dance companies (rosas), etc. etc. As for the jihadism, yes, it is sad, but it is not as bad as it was represented in the press. Even in Molenbeek there are no real no go zones.
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Defend the Modern World said:
Belgium is great. I was only referring to the stereotype of the country as being sleepy, dull and peaceful.
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