But transitions from the politics of violence to democratic compromise are always messy.

To be in Florence is to reflect on Europe's intricate diversity - and its lost creativity.

But transitions from the politics of violence to democratic compromise are always messy.

Starting from the ruins of the Second World War, we - all Europeans said, after centuries of fighting each other, we're going to build permanent arrangements in which peace between European countries is secured, freedom is secured, and growing prosperity. And that's what we have done over the last 70 years.

A central claim of the Bush administration's foreign policy is that the spread of democracy in the Middle East is the cure for terrorism.

That said, the question remains: how to strike the balance between free speech and mutual respect in this mixed-up world, both blessed and cursed with instant communication? We should not fight fire with fire, threats with threats.

The whole project of European Union is one in deep trouble.