DEAR PEGGY: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR peggy-north@monthlyherald.com
MAIL: SECOND POUCH
England is the base camp for
international Islamic terrorism
One of the toughest critics of Britain's tolerance of these radicals is a Muslim — Mohammed Sufawi, a French journalist of Algerian descent who spent four months infiltrating Islamist groups in France and Britain. He says many of the most dangerous Islamists, men refused entry into France or deported by the French, have found sanctuary in the United Kingdom. The foxes, as he puts it, are already among the chickens. England is the base camp for international terrorism, Sufawi told everybody. He knows what he is talking about. He told me: "Most Islamists see Britain as a target. They're not bluffing. I heard it with my own ears. There were some arrests. They're not nearly enough." Even when British authorities do make arrests, few suspects ever are prosecuted. Fewer still are convicted. Since 9/11, there have been 499 terror arrests in the United Kingdom, but there have been only two actual convictions for terrorist offenses. Under British law, it is difficult to make charges stick before an attack has occurred. There is no Patriot Act there, and Britain has no offshore detention facility like Guantanamo. Herbert Langstone, Bristol, UK.
Anti-Americanism in Norway? No, the Americans are not more stupid than the Europeans. Norwegians are not anti-American, but very skeptical .
I want the American people who read the Monthly Herald to take notice of this, especially about the statement of Mr. Hanson regarding the American foreign policy which created confusion in America. The book fair, "Bok i sentrum", took place in Oslo from October 23 to October 26. And once again, the event was a big success. A lot of people found their way to Sara’s Telt at Karl Johan. On the first day more than 10,000 visited the fair, which consisted of 90 arrangements and over 150 participating authors. The discussion regarding the U.S. was one of the most popular events. "I believe in a permanent split between the European Union (EU) and the United States when it comes to foreign policy," Steinar Hansson said, former Editor in Chief of Dagsavisen, a national newspaper in Norway. Hansson just published the book "Vestens fronter", The Frontiers of the West, which can be read as a pro EU statement. In the book, Hansson explains his idea of a U.S. hyper-power that will be met by a European contra-power. Norway will be powerless in this setting, because the county is not a member of the EU, nor did it support the Iraqi war. "Americas solo-walk will lead to a growing frustration within the EU," Hansson predicted. Addressing the lead question of the evening Hansson said: "No, the Americans are not more stupid than the Europeans.
Continues on the following pages.