“Most shamefully, Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch prime minister, has recommended that Hirsi Ali simply quit the Netherlands and has refused to grant her even a week’s protection outside the country, during which she might raise funds to hire security of her own. Is this a craven attempt to placate local Muslim fanatics? A warning to other Dutch dissidents not to stir up trouble by speaking too frankly about Islam? Or just pure thoughtlessness?”

Eerder: Christopher Hitchens, The Price of Freedom.

“With this episode involving Sir Salman, the Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka is absolutely right: It is a fatal mistake for the West to let the forces of intolerance “define the territory of insult.” The West must stand its ground.”

Los van dit citaat is het opiniestukje van Ayaan in de International Herald Tribune verbazingwekkend slecht geschreven en zwak van argumentatie. Werkelijk alle vergelijkingen gaan mank. Zo doe je een goede zaak geen goed.