Posted by
Republiservative on Thursday, June 19, 2008 12:52:16 PM
Here is what PSE, the acronym by which the European Union's Socialist Group in the European Parliament, has to say about what it does to combat terrorism in lieu of martial actvitity or aider therein:
"III. Prevention: Social inclusion and dialogue
Our response to terrorism cannot be confined to a set of security measures. We must also examine our capacity to respond to attacks and focus on the prevention of terrorism and terrorist recruitment. Prevention must include fighting root causes of terrorism such as social exclusion, poverty, inequality and discrimination and political resentment.
The Madrid agenda is right to stress that "
While poverty is not a direct cause of terrorism, economic and social policy can help mitigate exclusion and the impact of rapid socioeconomic change, which give rise to grievances that are often exploited by terrorists".
Fighting the root causes of terrorism must be based on promotion of universal values. This means upholding the civil liberties of all, promoting social inclusion, fighting discrimination and pursuing the better integration of minorities and migrants.
A European approach to social inclusion
We have recently seen growing social unrest in several European countries. In this age of globalisation, debate about welfare reform and a stronger European social model is closely linked to social inclusion.
In recent decades, EU member states have had different approaches to the integration of people living on the edges of society. While this has produced substantial improvement in living conditions and recognition of citizenship rights for some, new generations now face new forms of disillusionment. In most European towns and cities, these new generations experience the contradiction between successful cultural and civic integration and the perception of growing social and economic marginalisation.
Our duty as European social democrats is to set out political solutions to these new challenges. We begin with some reflection on different national experiences and promoting best practice to find new ways of promoting economic and social inclusion and equality.
A European strategy should be founded on two principles:
- Inclusion begins not only with recognition of fundamental rights and citizenship rights, but when people really exercising these rights.
- Fighting discrimination and promoting equal opportunities – in particular in education, training and employment – should be a cornerstone of all policies.
Promoting and developing the integration of minorities and migrants
The London attacks led to new political initiatives and a wide-ranging public debate about how to strengthen community cohesion and speed up integration.
Although all individuals have the same fundamental rights, causes of exclusion often build up. Victims of ethnic discrimination often have poor access to housing and education. This in turn threatens their job chances, bringing a real risk of exclusion from mainstream society. This lack of opportunity can help terrorist recruitment.
The EU must therefore make full use of its wide-ranging powers against discrimination. We insist on full respect for Article 13 of the Treaty and full implementation of European law in all member states.
Finally, the EU must actively promote civil and political rights, for failure to integrate and empower migrants can also help terrorist recruitment. The EU must set minimum standards for integration, such as civil and political rights, including the right to vote. " (End of EU PSE citation)
Obama has a lot of pols and activists rooting for him, but only like he's going to include all these folks, straight or gay, citizens or not in the 2008 Presidential election (or at least no-trail votomatics will); the only "change" so far pre-DNC Convention appears to be a shut-up/shut off forever case-closer that the USA WILL arrange as a Socialist oligarchy as the European Union and its friends demand (and would not otherwise have).
But, who talks anymore about Obama or for that matter his running mate (oh, that's right...he doesn't need one!)...on that point, McCain fares no better. The reason for this media was kind enough to excuse replays of Obama speeches, Democrat LOST/HR 1955/DREAM/LA offering to pay extremists, and so forth, meaning in such vacuum ANYBODY grinning and saying "change!" might be worth a shake; since USA politicians and officials are content to wait until the DNC and GOP Conventions to state what their ideas of change and progress and security are, your ol' curmudgeon and very interested USA citizen is on vacation until August 22, 2008, the tentative start of the DNC Convention (GOP tentatively starts Labor Day)...besides, even Congress.org has taken to using can't-read anti-robots on ALL letters to leaders til then, and Associated Press is crying that it will sue anyone who uses its video IF its video even if showing acta of officials and candidates.