The prospect of European civil war, between Islamic jihadists on the one side and Breivikist far right on the other is almost too awful to contemplate, but contemplate it we must, if it is to be avoided. I have a suspicion that, being Americans, neither Geller nor Spencer nor the founders of Gates Of Vienna have any idea how horrible total civil collapse is, nor how easily it can come about. Geller and Spencer would certainly say that they do not advocate such a thing, and do not support any violence. Indeed, they have said this many times. And I would reply: so what? No one wanted the Great War. No one, not even the Nazi leadership, wanted the Second World War, and as late as 1943, one can find Goebbels fearful of the prospect of "a genuine world war". They got it nonetheless.

Let me finish by noting three things that are essential to at least reduce the risk of such a conflagration. The first is that Geller and Spencer and others in the counter-Jihad have to be willing to unambiguously define what they are for and to do it in such a way that leaves no room for confusion. They must also take on those who both deal in violence and advocate for it. This cannot be at the level of pro-forma denunciation; it has to be a deep and theoretical refutation. The same thing, in other words, that they, rightly, ask of liberal Muslim spokesmen towards the jihadists.

Liberal and democratically minded Muslims have to reciprocate. I fully appreciate that it isn't very pleasant to have to confront the nasty elements of one's religion, especially when the nasty elements have a habit of responding with more than just rhetoric. But this is their fight more than anyone's: neither the Jihadists nor the Breivikists will show them any quarter if this goes wrong.

Finally, the liberal mainstream has to cease its squeamishness when it comes to the criticism of Islam and the Islamic far right. There are very many decent people who do not want to touch this subject out of fear of giving support to racists or worse. That is a fine and noble motive, but it is utterly misguided. Unless one thinks that the Islamic far-Right is going to just mysteriously vanish, it will remain a feature of our daily news coverage. That means that there will be more and more people looking for answers, and if liberal minded people are not willing to provide them, others will.