We can be pretty hard on the European press. But not half as hard as one of their own.

In December, Mathias Dopfner (search), head of Europe’s biggest publishing house, chewed out his fellow Euros for appeasing the world’s killers and forcing the U.S. to come in and clean up the mess.

“Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives…Appeasement stabilized Soviet communism and the German Democratic Republic, in that a large segment of Europe explained away state oppression as the result of ideological differences…Appeasement lamed Europe, as genocide ravaged Bosnia (search) and Kosovo (search), until the Americans did our work there…Appeasement ruled the day, when Europe looked away from the 300,000 murdered victims of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and in peaceful self-righteousness gave President Bush bad grades.”

So what’s the reason for all this appeasement? Most Europeans claim it’s their great sense of tolerance. But Mr. Dopfner says what it really comes down to is a craven dependence on creature comforts.

“Wouldn't we all rather discuss the 35-hour week, the cost of dental insurance, and listen to the television pastors who want to reach out their hands to the murderers? Europe, your name is cowardice.”

Tough stuff from a tough German.

And that’s the Asman Observer.

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