The west will have to admit it's at war

Internet wags were quick to call on authorities to ban trucks following Thursday's terrorism in France, but the truck attack shows just how difficult it is to fight an enemy that will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who disagrees with their religion and are only too happy to kill themselves in the process.

Banning guns of any type is unlikely to make a long-term difference.

The latest count is 84 people killed when a Tunisian living in Nice, France, Mohamed Bouhlel, 31, plowed through a crowd of revelers enjoying fireworks for Bastille Day, celebrating the storming of a political prison during the French Revolution.

Armed police were everywhere, but despite officers climbing onto the cap and shooting at the driver, he was able to accelerate into the crowd, plowing through a mile and a quarter of people, many of them still in danger of losing their lives.

Flags will again be flying at half-staff and we wouldn't be surprised to see the White House lighted in the colors of the French flag.

But it is only a matter of time before the conflict with Islamic extremism is recognized for what it is -- a war -- and the West will be forced to go on the offensive to preserve its culture and freedom.