WATERCOOLER: Europe must rethink borders

In Australia, our Prime Minister is now being criticised for stating the obvious after the Brussels terrorism attack.

Terrorism hits Brussels.

IN the US, Donald Trump is winning support for not being shackled by political correctness.

Sure, he says some stupid things at times but he also states the bleeding obvious.

In Australia, our Prime Minister is now being criticised for stating the obvious after the Brussels terrorism attack.

Malcolm Turnbull has been attacked for allegedly linking the European refugee crisis with this week's deadly attacks.

The Prime Minister  used a speech at the Lowy Institute to warn the Islamic State is using the Syrian refugee situation to get extremists into Europe.

His comments echoed those of his predecessor Tony Abbott.

.@TurnbullMalcolm says #BrusselsAttacks highlight Europe's porous borders https://t.co/ImQp51ukF5

— ABC News (@abcnews) March 23, 2016

"The attacks in Brussels are an unfortunate reminder of how Islamist extremism appears to have reached a crisis point in Europe," Mr Turnbull  said.

"Governments are confronted by a perfect storm of failed or neglected integration, foreign fighters returning from Iraq and Syria, porous borders and intelligence and security apparatus, struggling to keep pace with the scope and breadth of the threat.

"For all intents and purposes there are no internal borders in Europe ... and the external borders are difficult to manage.

"Recent intelligence indicates ISIL is using the refugee crisis to send operatives into Europe."

It's a fair comment.

Mr Turnbull is not suggesting refugees are terrorists or are likely to be terrorists.

He is saying that given the huge volumes of refugees trying to move within Europe, it is very difficult for authorities to prevent IS terrorists from exploiting that situation.

Belgium's Ambassador to Australia Jean-Luc Bodson doesn't see it that way.

"It's dangerous because it's precisely what ISIS wants - that we would make a confusion between terrorism and migrants and between terrorism and Islam," he said, according to a report on the ABC.

"My view is that the terrorists who committed the latest attacks and in Paris and in Belgium are European-raised and born. Maybe from foreign origins, but they are Europeans.

"So it has nothing to do with the refugee crisis and I think that is the main danger to assimilate that."

The sad reality is that Europe will need to rethink its border policy, in the same way that Australia has.

It's a difficult balancing act.

Do we discriminate against the vast majority of refugees who have genuine issues for the sake of preventing future attacks?

How do you see it? Join our watercooler conversation today by leaving your comments below

Originally published as WATERCOOLER: Europe must rethink borders