One difference between Europe and the US

[Undertoad]

...it's the personality of the people that make the biggest difference.

After the worst act of terrorism on US soil the people of the US said, the shit has hit the fan and we had better seek these people out to the very ends of the earth, and kick their ass and all their friend's asses, liberating an entire country if we have to.

After Madrid, which is basically the Spanish 911, one European reaction is to urge the correct level of restraint.

The EU's foreign policy chief has warned against an over-reaction in the European Union following the bomb attacks in Madrid on 11 March.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag Mr Solana said "Europe does not find itself at war".

The fight against terrorism "must be carried out with various instruments".

"We need better co-operation between police, justice and intelligence services. We must expose the financial sources of international terrorism and raise the safety of our public transport".

Notably missing from that list of priorities is hitting back.

"Europe does not find itself at war." Compare and contrast Bush post 911 - not forgetting the atmosphere then, very united behind the Pres - "We wage a war to save civilization itself. We did not seek it, but we will fight it and we will prevail."

Part of this difference is that Europe brings a knife to this street fight while the US brings a shotgun. If all you have is a knife, maybe you prefer talking to fighting. But part of this difference is the national character, in which the American people, once struck, will fight back with ferocity. We ain't taking shit from nobody. Nobody comes into our house and pushes us around.

You punch us in the gut, it only makes us madder. You punch Europe in the gut and half of it shrinks back and tries to figure out how to walk away.

I prefer the US response. But then again, I'm in it.