It is clear now the European governments do not have a common position on what to do when they are haunted by political Islam.

When Sharon was elected, Europeans saw him as an impediment to the peace process.

This is a top-to-bottom problem in France. It is not a mood or a moment, it is a deeply felt resentment for the government, for the changes that are coming.

So far she has not put a foot wrong. One of the difficulties for Europeans over the past eight or nine months has been the desperate need for leadership.

In France, the idea was that everybody was going to become French. The UK and The Netherlands had more tolerant multicultural approaches. But nobody has found a quick fix.

There is also, of course, another view which is one in which you have a home-grown problem. And one of the things that the London tube bombings have brought home to people is that there is the potential for disaffected, young Muslim youth who feel they are not getting the benefits the society can offer them can turn against that society in a very violent way.

It is very difficult for a liberal democracy to deal with those that want to completely undermine the fabric on which liberal democracy is built. This is an absolutely new challenge for liberal democracies.

People are clearly feeling somewhat frustrated that the Iranians have been given lots of opportunities they don't seem to want to take advantage of.