Maybe the French still have guts

An interesting turn of events in France: Nicolas Sarkozy, the interior minister whom Jacque Chirac had to accept recently in order to form an operational government coalition after the French people turned down the EU referendum, has set into motion a new program designed to deport Islamic preachers of hate.

"Imams and their followers who fuel anti-western feeling among impressionable young French Muslims will be rounded up and returned to their countries of origin, most commonly in France's case to its former north African colonies.

"Mr Sarkozy also revealed that as many as 12 French mosques associated with provocative anti-western preaching were under surveillance. Imams indulging in inflammatory rhetoric will be expelled even if their religious status is recognised by mainstream Muslim bodies."

If we were squishy, leftist Move-Alongs, we'd yell about rights violations and how this is only going to promote more terrorism. But we're not, so we're only going to say, "Lighten up, Francis!" The promoters of terrorism are the imams who are generated hatred from the pulpit by urging the faithful to conduct "holy war" on the West. If France is serious about this move, good for France. Better late than never.

That is not to say, however, that Islamic fanatics are going to take this move lightly. Expect troubles.

Our fear is not that Islamic radicals will have their butts kicked back to the desert, but that some anti-Christian French lefty will try to use the same law to expel Christian priests and preachers for arguing against abortion and for the sanctity of marriage. Obviously the messages are not equivalent, except in the warped minds of those who hate Christian morality.

Still, it's a risk that needs to be run, and perhaps it takes a France to show how to make it work. Can you imagine a similar program in the United States? It'll never happen.