There is no other greater threat at the moment to peace and prosperity than the Islamic State fanatics at our heels.
Whilst the Finance Ministers of the European Union stick to their paper plans against the new government in Greece, against a justified rebellion, they ignore the real danger at their door from the Jihadists of IS. It is like having a family reunion to discuss the remodelling of the house whilst just outside the door there is the enemy preparing to launch an all out annihilation of the same house and its occupants.
It will matter little to the eurozone if Greece is in or out once the world of Christendom is besieged by the hounds of death. The persecution around us is not just for others. It is upon us. Just like the Boko Haram calmly walked in and stole our girls, there will be no need for an elaborate attack, although there are weapons enough for that in the hands of the IS in Libya. An “all in a day’s work” job is all that is needed to step onto our island, to cross to Sicily and set up shop. Even if a physical presence is unlikely to happen, the flood of immigrants will do to the European system what the fall of Lehman brothers did to the world economy. A breakdown in security, civilisation, peace and prosperity.
But all the while we turn our attention to the persecution of Greece and its people as they try to find some air in the tomb into which they have been buried for these last 6 or 7 years.
For goodness’ sake, can’t Germany’s finance minister, Wolgang Schaeuble and Jereon Dijsselbloem, the head of the Eurogroup lower the blinds and take a look at the world around them?
Speaking to France 2 television, Finance Minister Mr Sapin has hinted at the potential division between Germany and the rest of the Eurozone over how to best handle Greece’s demands. He said Europe’s leaders have to “find a way of functioning together”, and the new Greek government is “right” not to cede to an extension of existing bail-out conditions.
In the meantime, Greece and Mr. Schaeuble trade claims over who is irresponsible.
To me, this all smacks of righteousness when we then turn to Libya and tell them to resolve their division before we might call upon the UN to take a look at what is happening there and maybe think about the security of Europe and its citizens, the gun-pushed immigrants in the middle of the sea and the potential collapse of order.
Rupert Shortt’s book ‘Christianophopbia: A Faith Under Attack, is a study of the story that reflects a broader reality: that acute hostility to Christians in the Middle East long predates the invasion of Iraq. From Egypt to Turkey, figures depict the grim truth of the exodus and killing of Christians. The demographic evidence now speaks for itself. Christians formed 13 per cent of the Turkish population a century ago, but now only number about a fifth of 1 per cent – that is, around 150,000 out of a population of 72 million. Every Turkish citizen must state their religious allegiance on their identity card. The word “Christian” will mean that the bearer is excluded from many forms of public service. In Egypt at the time of Anwar Sadat, around late 50’s, 15 to 20 per cent of the population was then Christian. According to the charity Aid to the Church in Need, that figure has now fallen to around 5 per cent – still 4.2 million people – as a result of Christians leaving Egypt.
It would be infinitely better for Europe, Africa and the Middle East if they were to stop their navel gazing and throw Greece the life-line it needs to get up off its knees and then turn their full attention to defending life. If the EU ministers fear contagion to other countries of the Greek triumph, they can rally together for a greater cause than bail-outs and that is, unity of mind and purpose in eradicating this onslaught of terror. Putin’s war on Ukraine also urgently needs to come to a peaceful end but a fight between brothers can be put aside for the time being, whilst outside Europe’s borders the black flag can be seen flying and the blood of Christians flows mercilessly.
Here at home, it is no argument to say that we are small, that the threat is unlikely and that we are monitoring the situation. The government will have failed to do its job if it does not judge the terror threat for what it really is. A fear of conflict is not sufficient justification for deliberately keeping the population in a false sense of security. True, Government is now addicted to self indulgence and habit has become rule but there is a sense that people, no matter how hesitantly, are realising for themselves, a growing fear and they are worse off for being sheltered from the truth than if they had to face it and take a stand. Action needs to be taken sooner rather than later to organise a response at all levels – local, regional, national and international and get some plan into place to protect our territory and freedom. Just the thought of going out to sea to rescue the boat loads of hostages, as one might call them now, and the proximity of the rolling heads, is enough to change our mind on how secure or not we are.
In a report of 18th February, overseas reporters state that the Isil propagandist, who uses the alias Abu Arhim al-Libim, describes Libya as having "immense potential" for Isil. He points out with relish that it is awash with weapons from the Libyan civil war, when large quantities of Col Gaddafi's arsenals were appropriated by rebels. Some of those weapons came from Britain, which supplied the Gaddafi regime with machine guns, sniper rifles and ammunition during his final years in power, when he was seen as an ally against Islamist terrorism.
Mr Libim also points out that Libya is less than around 300 miles from parts of the nearest European mainland. He writes: "It has a long coast and looks upon the southern Crusader states, which can be reached with ease by even a rudimentary boat."
He also cites "the number of trips known as 'illegal immigration' from this coast, which are huge in number ... if this was even partially exploited and developed strategically, pandemonium could be wrought in the southern European states and it is even possible that there could be a closure of shipping lines and targeting of Crusader ships and tankers."
Pirates of the Mediterranean.
Irrespective of our ineptitude to deal with the situation, the effect on the economy will certainly be felt as tourism and shipping slows, in-spite of the favourable exchange rate with the euro, amid concerns of security. Let us not even begin to contemplate what could happen to a gas tanker sitting in our harbour or to ships loaded with LNG sailing towards Marsaxlokk. Sleeper cells around Europe will cause terror and a repeat of the halt in travel may happen as it did in the wake of the Twin Tower attacks of September 2001.
The need to consider our options is now urgent and necessary. Even in the UK they have already called meetings to debate the situation in full. A responsible and politically minded government should refrain from empty platitudes and show serious concern over the situation, consulting with neighbours and managing the capabilities at hand, both physical and political. Hoping that we are immune and the problems will just skip us by is weak at best and the country deserves better. Whatever organisations are available to us to join, we should not hesitate to do so. Whatever help we need, we should seek.
These are some of the weapons in the ISIS arsenal:
FIM-92 Stinger MANPADs
ISIS fighters acquired a host of American Stinger missiles from ravaged Iraqi basis, according to Fox News. The Stinger is lightweight and easy to use, and can be operated from the shoulder of a single soldier, making it no small threat.
9K32 Strela-2/SA-7 Grail
The Washington Post reported that multiple ISIS propaganda videos have surfaced showing fighters using the SA-7 Strela, a shoulder-mounted surface-to-air missile.
- See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Media/Slideshow/2014/10/16/9-ISIS-Weapons-Will-Shock-You?page=6#sthash.cZciZlbE.dpuf
Not just some video game but live action. A tweet here and there cheering some unreliable statement is no substitute for cabinet level meetings with experts and security advisors. Coordination and cooperation must start before chaos sets in. Will the Commonwealth meeting take place with such a violent backdrop? Or should we just meet for a coffee, carry on as usual and wait for Santa Maria to rescue us?