1 re: "It also has to be distressing to the fundamentalists that their sons and daughters are walking around school hallways with images of Jesus Christ on the walls." It won't take long . . .look at what happened at St Albert's Primary, in the Pollokshields area of Glasgow http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/009814.php AN ISLAMIC campaign group has called for a Catholic primary school to be based on the Muslim faith.

2 They will just try to change the curriculum.

3 The St Albert's story was hyped up nonsence. Some local reporter looking for a story focused on a couple of local muslim idiots (self-proclaimed community leaders) and their rhetoric for shock value. Notice no one bothered with the feelings and opinions of the students and their parents of said school - or even bothered to consult the school. UK media lends itself to hoaxes and deliberately infamatory stretches quite too easy. Well-heeled muslims in much of Europe do favor Chistian and Catholic private schools. Oddly enough because they are a tolerant and respectful environments with strong traditional and moral values. European (progressive) public schools reflect their societies. They are NOT tolerant of religion - they are indifferent and often hostile to the very concept of religion (all religions). Irreligion and mild to outright atheism are what they represent. I'm no fan of islam - but I know many take their religion and belief systems very seriously. The Europeans, as a general rule, have a problem which they can't even comprehend. They claim to be "progressively tolerant" but tolerance to them means muslims coming to see "religion" as not important and nothing more than superstition that should be ignored or abandoned all-together. They are too dense to see that this is not going to work with muslims ... and all other problems flow from there.

4 hondo, no amount of respect shown to the Islamists will ever satisfy them, as they think they can attain their goals by belligerence and violence. This is why I feel we must join the secular Europeans in their fight against the Islamists if they in fact are willing to stand and not beg. I think it is a 50-50 possibility that they will fight, but it is too early to tell. I have my doubts about Britain and France, but some of the others may, although they are less able, both in numbers and resources. Denmark should take the lead and expell any Muslim who has threatened violence. Separating the radical and moderate factions of Islam would go a long way toward allowing the moderates to lose their fear of the radicals. I doubt whether many Muslims who are moderate will speak up due to fear of the radicals. We must help them, starting in Europe.

5 JJ Let the Euros sort it out for themselves. The secular Europeans are not fighting islam - what they are doing (had done) was mischievously disrepecting, insulting, and mocking a Religion - to them - just another religion. They have been doing this for decades (and you know that!). They just weren't prepared for a reaction. It will all cool off - the Euros (secular) will speak of dialog and education - and figure out how to blame the US. They will in their bizzaro way offer up sacifices on the altar of secular humanism - like the French - who ban headscrafs, crosses, medalions and the like - in the belief that no religion is good religion - and muslims will like that too (how wacky can you get!) The Euros have a shitload of problems - now and looming off in the future. And guess what JJ - they see us as THE BIG PROBLEM IN THEIR CONCEPTUAL UNIVERSE. I have no idea what they are going to do - but I'm not going to be their spine or fall guy. Let them dort it out - sit back and watch - and evalute the future.

6 hondo, my major worry is that success in Europe for the Islamists will encourage them here in the US. Hasn't our policy always been to fight them over there rather than over here? Just asking?

7 JJ 1) The islamists have been losing for 1000 years - thats some track record - makes the Cubs look good! And they lose for good reason! 2) We are not Europe or Europeans - whatever "success" you perceive possible in Europe is not due to islamists strengths - but to European weaknesses.

8 Good points on the last post hondo, we are Americans, regardless of where our ancestors came from, and we are still (mostly) free and willing to fight for our liberties.

9 BOB No offense - but what you said is stupid! Choose sides? Who the hell do you think is out there actually fighting radical islam - not just with words - but - troops and blood! A portion of the battle is already on - and who is fighting it - and not with euphemisms, lil' counter demonstations (of why can't we get along!), apologies, and hand wringing! ITS THE FUCKING EUROS WHO HAVE TO WAKE UP AND CHOOSE SIDES! I don't give a damn what the islamists do in Europe - what matters is what the Euros do in Europe! Am I the only one saying stand back and watch? Doesn't anyone understand where I'm coming from? We may or may not have a really big fight in our future - it remains to be seen. Want I want to KNOW NOW is the composition of the teams! Who you can depend on - who has balls - who you can trust ... especially in a foxhole next to our sons and daughters (I'm retiring but still am concerned!). this is a pre-game show ... sit back - watch - and evalute!

10 I was once privy to information that contained various senerios and responses to US/USSR direct confrontation in Europe and other possible fronts. Would you all be shocked to know that some of those senerios included - several or all NATO allies suddenly declaring neutrality and/or negotiated surrender? The possibility of US forces (350K!)in Europe being passively and actively cut off from rear supply by same allies and civilian populations? All this with a Soviet assault on Western Europe! If the action is in another theater the chances actually increased! I could go on with the nightmare problems this would all entail. Fortunately, we never did find out with the end of the Cold War. But we did get a lil' taste in the Balkans - I know the Balkans very well! No one has yet explained to me why we had to deploy personnel and equipment from as far away as Ft Lewis Washington to the Balkans (bulk of personnel in theater and all combat personnel USA!) .... when I had previously been in the very same areas (in better times) on vacation - and I drove there by car from Munich! Hell! It was easier that the commute I did once from NY to DC! Understand me know?

11 Yeah, I see your point, hondo. But I still want to support as much as possible people in Europe who are willing to stand up to the Islamists.

12 JJ Send them a Get Well Card - you can add my name to it - for now, I'm watching the pre-season game films and studying.