IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ
Let’s Talk About Cologne The mass sexual harassment attack in the German city of Cologne over New Year’s Eve seems to have been exclusively carried out by men with “migrant origins.” Swedish police may have covered up similar incidents at music festivals in Sweden. Meanwhile, gangs sought “revenge” by attacking refugees in Germany.
Editorial Aside: Now, what does all this mean? These attacks, like the Paris Attacks before them, raise serious questions about the capacity of Europe to absorb large numbers of refugees, particularly in the haphazard method currently occurring. Europe’s defunct asylum process incentivizes young men to take the journey North and bring their families later. Finger pointing and no accountability have created serious gaps that criminal elements exploit. Meanwhile, “feel good” talk, by European politicians and NGOs, that dismisses security concerns exacerbate a sense of frustration felt by millions of Europeans and feeds the far-right’s ranks.
We hope to continue threading the needle between highlighting the plight of refugees and the need for compassion while simultaneously underscoring the downsides of the current system in place including if/when refugees and others take advantage of those downsides. | 
