The European Union: Channeling the Spirits of Chamerblain and Pétain

An Associated Press report tells us that the European Union has renewed contacts with Hamas despite strong Israeli objections. It seems the E.U. is even considering reviewing whether or not to continue to consider Hamas a terrorist group. Tell me this: how many suicide bombings, Qassam rocket attacks, shootings, and other forms of murder of innocent civilians are required before a group is permanently branded a terrrorist group? If such attacks are ongoing (and they are) why would anyone in their right mind consider Hamas anything other than terrorists and murderers? (OK, today's Qassam attacks were claimed by Islamic Jihad, but many recent attacks were carried out by Hamas.)

I understand that the Europeans fear that Hamas is coming to power in the Palestinian controlled territories. Israelis fear that too. The correct response should be to reject the idea of giving a state or any other sort of recognition to unrepentant terrorists who are sworn to Israel's destruction. Instead European leaders seem to be channeling the spirit of Neville Chamberlain and would rather appease Islamist terrorists. It seems they have learned nothing from their own history.

Arab culture, to it's credit, includes a keen awareness of history. I am certain the parallel I am drawing is one that is not lost on Hamas. They will undoubtedly see this as European weakness. So, of course, will all the other various and sundry Islamist terrorist groups who wish to destroy western civilization.

I am, perhaps, not reading enough into this. There may be more to it that Europeans repeating past appeasement. Perhaps what we are seeing is deliberate collaboration. Perhaps the Europeans are really channeling the spirit of Philippe Pétain. This theory fits the claims of former E.U. member of parliament Ilke Schroeder (Green Party, Germany) who accuses the E.U. of deliberately funding Palestinian terrorism as part of a proxy war against the United States in a speech given in New York on December 22, 2003. Then MP Schroeder stated:

The Europeans supported the Palestinian Authority with the aim of becoming its main sponsor, and through this, challenge the U.S. and present themselves as the future global power. Therefore, the Al-Aksa Intifada should be understood as a proxy war between Europe and the United States.

It is an open secret within the European Parliament that EU aid to the Palestinian Authority has not been spent correctly. The European Parliament does not intend to verify whether European taxpayers' money could have been used to finance anti-Semitic murderous attacks. Unfortunately, this fits well with European policy in this area.

Either way, the leaders of the European Union have much to be ashamed of. These are our allies? It's not at all clear they are on the same side as we are in the War on Terror.