I accept that French counter-terrorism operations, including harsh new laws which many consider an affront to civilzation, have played a part in the absence of islamic terrorism on French but it is not the sole reason and I’m sure that any intelligent asessment would confirm that their absence in the Gulf war etc. also played a part (funny how Spain has had no more attacks since their grovelling withdrawal from the war isn’t it?)

Mysteriously, in your rush to defend your position you fail to mention the 1998 failed attempt to bomb the French world cup, the 2005 conviction of Djamel Beghal for plotting to bomb the US embassy in Paris, the 2009 arrest of a 32 year old Algerian born researcher at the European Centre for Nuclear Research in Vienne, this years foiled plot to fly a helicopter loaded with ‘lethal chemical gas’ into the Eiffel Tower, etc.

It’s probably best to assume that we all have the same problem to deal with and stop with the one-upmanship don’t you think?

http://www.gloria-center.org/gloria/2010/07/how-not-to-conduct-diplomacy

“The fact that the French have experienced less terrorism is almost certainly because of their continued support for Palestinian causes and opposition to the Iraq war and has little to do with internal counter-terrorism measures.”
Pardon me for the expression, but this is rubbish. It actually has a whole lot of to do with internal counter-terrorism measures. If you want to live in self-delusion then that’s your problem. Ever though about how come that France has more than twice in number of an Islamic community and zero terrorism? (The late 2005 car-burning “intifada” and other occasional rioting in the suburbs don’t quality as “terrorism” per se, AND Britain *also* had in in the North in 200-01.)
Tha fact remains that the French are lighyears ahead of the British (and to a lesser extant American) amateurishness and leniency Steve however painful for you to stomach this.

French support for Arrafat preceded Chirac and was certainly evident under Mitterand. As for Sarkozy, I think he arrived when Arrafat was already dead so we will cannot know what his opinion would have been.

The fact that the French have experienced less terrorism is almost certainly because of their continued support for Palestinian causes and opposition to the Iraq war and has little to do with internal counter-terrorism measures.

Having been pretty smug about their own ability to absorb immigrants into the ‘American way of life’ the USA have now experienced a number of ‘home grown terrorist incidents’ (Forth Worth, Times Square etc.) and I imagine are having to wake up to the threat of domestic Islamo-fascism as our security services have. For their sake I hope they are not as hamstrung as our own people by Shammi Chakrabatti and others of the cultural relativist brigade

Since 587 the head of the Orthodox church has been based at what is now Istanbul.But the Turkish authorities do not recognize him and place every obstacle in his way. He is not allowed to own property, church workers are denied visas and etc.

Only Armenians and Orthodox are recognized as communites – other churches face an enormous legal obstacle course.Many churches find it difficult to get permission for repairs- let alone build new churches. Since 2002 over 20 churches have had their recognition as places of worship withdrawn.

There is a constant background of hostility in the media and most worryingly a whole series of violent attacks in recent years, especially targeting priests, pastors and church workers. I find it difficult to undersand how Mr Cameron can continue to gloss over this catalogue of appalling abuse.

I’d rather have one Gabor than a thousand self-haters. No, make that ten-thousand!