Today Arab suicide bombers struck multiple times in Brussels, killing 34. One wonders how much of this punishment Europeans will absorb before they take action? I thought Charlie Hebdo followed by the Paris shootings would move them to act. I was wrong.
The dilemma for European leaders is that any action which would truly forestall terror would also seriously infringe on the human rights of many recent Muslim residents. The immigrants in question are already recipients of discrimination by native Europeans which leaves key decision-makers feeling guilty - as Brits say, on the back foot - and unable to act.
Franklin D. Roosevelt faced a similar dilemma following Pearl Harbor; we know his answer. We also know that, in the rosy glow of 20-20 hindsight, many regret the Japanese internment camps, believing them a grievous, unforgivable error.
Roosevelt was right, his critics are wrong. I know of no claims of torture or murder of Japanese internees. Sadly, the human rights of many fine patriotic Japanese-Americans were infringed.
War is an ugly business, innocent people get hurt. Unwillingness to act in self-preservation equals surrender. In the current argot, European leaders need to man up ("cowboy up" is too much to ask).
