December 1, 2005

Merkel and Sarkozy Say No to Eurabia

What to make of Europe? Just when I'm ready to write the Old Continent off as Eurabia-in-the-making, two prominent European officials show some backbone against the gathering Islamist threat. One of them, Germany's new Chancellor, Andrea Merkel, used her first major speech before Parliament Wednesday to take aim at terrorists in Iraq. Here's an excerpt from Der Spiegel:

Facing the first major crisis of her week-old administration -- the first kidnapping of a German citizen in Iraq -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel had stern words for the terrorists responsible: "This government will not allow itself to be blackmailed." Nor, it became clear during her first major address to parliament on Wednesday, would this chancellor allow herself to be shaken during her early days in office.

Speaking calmly but firmly, Merkel said the war on terror remains the greatest challenge facing the international community -- one that targets "our entire system of values." She warned that countries could not ease up in the war on terror and said the German government would do everything in its power to bring German national Susanne Osthoff and her Iraqi driver to safety.

At first glance, Merkel seems a marked improvement over the feckless Gerhard Schroeder, at least in the national security realm. As for Germany's neighbor and frequent diplomatic ally, France, the reverberations of last month's widespread riots continue to be felt. Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy--who caused a stir when he called the mostly Arab and African Muslim rioters "scum"--has come forward with a refreshingly tough (especially by European standards) plan for 2006. He plans to deport 25,000 illegal immigrants from France next year, with the vast majority of them heading back to the Islamic countries from whence they came. He's also promising to tighten France's asylum laws, making it tougher for asylum seekers from Muslim countries to enter France. Here's more, from AKI:

In 2006, temporary accommodation will no longer automatically be provided to asylum seekers if they turn down the accommodation offered them, Sarkozy announced. And if their application for asylum is rejected, the asylum-seeker will now have 15 days instead of one month to appeal the decision, he said.

"I have embarked on a policy of systematically sending people back," Sarkozy told the commission. "The number of deportations of foreigners without proper papers which have been carried out has risen strongly," he continued.

A total 10,000 deportations were carried out in 2002, 12,000 in 2003, and 15,000 in 2004, he noted. "There are going to be more than 20,000 in 2005, and I have set a target of 25,000 for 2006," Sarkozy said.

Bravo to Merkel and Sarkozy. Now if only they could sit down and have a nice chat with the Brits, who seem hell-bent on bringing about their own demise (see here and here.)

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