One would think that a united front against terrorism was a no brainer. But clearly the United Nations is not the organization. Many member states are terrorist states, and as a result, the UN can not even agree on a definition of terrorism.
But since the West is the intended enemy of the Jihadists, it would seem that at at least NATO could come together to create a common approach to the problem of Islamist Terrorism. Unfortunately, this is not the case, because France is involved.
Plans to boost Nato's co- operation with countries such as Australia and Japan in an effort to forge a partnership against terrorism have been blocked by France....
The French opposition comes as a blow to the US, which spearheaded the proposal and which would like to see regular Nato "forums" with countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. But while the idea won support from traditional allies of Washington such as the UK, France has made it clear that it opposes a move it sees as part of a campaign to extend US influence.
Paris has always been suspicious of Nato because of America's domination of the organisation. In an article in Le Figaro this week, France's Defence Minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, spelt out her country's opposition to efforts to expand Nato's global reach.
France's, of course, has its own problems with Islamists. There is a year-long intifada going on in the suburbs of Paris and other major cities. And many in France, especially the French Press won't even mention Muslims in the same context with the on-going car- and bus-bombings.
So it could be that France is just reluctant to anger Muslims.
Perhaps, it's appeasement.
While the UN debated how to end the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah, France volunteered to lead a new and improved UNIFIL force. One that would be capable of disarming Hizbollah and enforcing the resolution leading to the cease-fire. Of course, things didn't turn out that way. Not only did France scale down their contribution to the force, but the UNIFIL isn't even bothering to try to disarm Hizbollah and instead, France threatens to shoot down Israeli overflights used to monitor how the cease-fire is being implemented.
Which it isn't.
Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semites isn't just a sentiment of the Left, of which there are many in France and the French government (as is the case in the US), it is also a sentiment of the Jihadists. And with the Jihad so close to home, perhaps France thinks it can appease the enemy; an enemy that wants France destroyed as much as it wants the US and Israel destroyed.
I don't think appeasement will work, but I wish France luck.
Maybe the burning will stop soon.
