I suppose the unmentionable topic here is the trustworthiness of Muslims. It is the ultimate forbidden topic. We are so wed to our civil liberties in a context of multiculturalism that common sense precautions are out of the question. I suspect that the fear is that once we differentiate between one group and the rest of us, our whole mongrel family will be at each others throats. Perhaps so. But a nation that refuses to take prudent steps toward its own safety will not survive.

If we are in a struggle with some portions of Islam but not all, how do we determine who is and is not the enemy? Today’s Muslim ally can be tomorrow’s Muslim saboteur based on an unobservable change of conscience. Is this not an intolerable challenge to any security regime?

Nothing above should be taken to endorse our adventures in the Middle East or our dysfunctional empire.