We are coming ...

[Barbarian]

I mean, the barbarians are coming, at least according to a high-ranking British strategist (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2220267,00.html):
ONE of Britain’s most senior military strategists has warned that western civilisation faces a threat on a par with the barbarian invasions that destroyed the Roman empire.

In an apocalyptic vision of security dangers, Rear Admiral Chris Parry said future migrations would be comparable to the Goths and Vandals while north African "barbary" pirates could be attacking yachts and beaches in the Mediterranean within 10 years.
I am worried about immigration, especially Islamic immigration, to Europe, but this kind of hypothetical threat sounds just ridiculous to me.

[sentinel00]

The huns will be riding in on their bullet-proof horses very soon! BEWARE!

[Puck]

It is ridiculous. It seems like every subject has it's extremists, hollering hyperbolic warnings, when usually the truth lies somewhere inbetween. Leaving out the chance for reasonable discussion. Too rapid an influx of immigrants can have a negetive effect on a society, and it should be addressed with reason and compassion for all concerned. But try to suggest that, and one side accuses you of trying to destroy the society while the other side accuses you being racist against the immigrants. Because they aren't hearing what you are saying, just defending their rabid stance. Which I suspect is a personal smoke screen they carry around so they dont' have to look in the mirror. Or address the real issues the world is facing.

[Seb]

Well actually I am fairly pessimistic about the future, not as much as many others, but I'm still up there! I could certainly envision this scenario. One problem is that we somehow seem to think that this violence against our societies is unjustifiable, backwards and linked to irrational fanaticism. It is not. I find it extremely problematic to side with the muscular liberals who call for democratic imperialism masquerading as subjugation to informal empire. Fuck me for driving a car that I don't need, and fuck you if you do the same (sorry if this sounds harsh - the level our individual responsibility is up for discussion - but many of us have been living in a profligate and unsustainable manner - if only the choice to live differently were easier) And when, furthermore, the values that are supposedly part and parcel of what we call "democracy" are under siege at home. In attempting to tackle the problem we are actually bringing it about. Who will feel compelled to pledge any kind of allegiance to a rogue state that selfishly plunders abroad and opresses at home?

"The West", if you like, has long ago been unmasked in terms of its monopoly holding of the moral high ground. There is a very real power vacuum developing thanks to the half-baked, disastrous custody of Anglo-American interests. Who is to say it's a bad thing for the world to become more equitable and for policy makers and power brokers to be forced to make concessions and be more amenable to multilateral agreements within an international framework of law? It would in any case be a nice aspiration, but the likelihood is that hegemony and financial power will be fought for, tooth and nail, and will more likely lead to further warfare rather than peaceful cooperation in the face of the huge challenges we face. Has it ever been any other way?

[Seb]

I should probably add that the new problems will not only come from the unwashed "ragheads" in the Middle East and elsewhere, but from anybody that sees the current sole superpower as malevolent, savage and bent on a New Century of control. Some countries have seen no other way than to enter into heteroclite pacts in response to this sort of unruly behaviour.

US 'biggest global peace threat' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5077984.stm)

People in European and Muslim countries see US policy in Iraq as a bigger threat to world peace than Iran's nuclear programme, a survey has shown.
The survey by the Pew Research Group also found support for US President George W Bush and his "war on terror" had dropped dramatically worldwide.

[Godless Dave]

I thought what destroyed the Roman Empire was overextending themselves.

[Barbarian]

I have read one too many times the claim that "We should return to our Christian roots or Europe will become Muslim by [insert scary near-future date here]". Got no idea how many people support this idea, but they are pretty loud and it is likely that many faithless, formal Christians would rally behind such a slogan if the Muslim threat starts looking more real.