Two of the three terrorists frequently visited "Djamel Beghal, a French-Algerian champion of jihad who had once been imprisoned for planning an attack on the American Embassy in Paris in 2001." This may be obvious to everyone but me, however, I must ask: Why was Beghal OUT of prison? Why not put someone who foments jihad, murder and mayhem in solitary confinement? He clearly intended to keep stoking the fires of jihadism until he got what he wanted--a big, spectacular terror event.
Sadly, France is tragically trapped in a time warp.
Socialism in law and practice limits hiring. To sever an employee is prohibitively expensive in severance costs. So, few will hire the full time.
Youth are stymied, cannot get hired, as the aging cling to what they have.
The muslims are at the bottom of the pyramid where hiring is concerned, hence they are angry and feel denied.
Isolated neighborhoods have been allowed to govern themselves - and now are ghettos of discontent and cauldrons of muslim hatred for many unemployed muslims.
The rage breaks out and violence ensues, compounding things, risking backlash and repetitive syndrome criminality in a vicious cycle that can cause civil discontent and even civil war... reaching to cross border war.
In all this we have the jihadist and other psychotics running crazy in Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, and parts of Africa. Fortunately Morsi was arrested and there is a more sane form of dictatorship running Egypt.
In all this we have a White House here that seems to believe in democracy for the thugs... Perhaps the president and his staff have not read The Republic of Plato.
Needed: Socrates on the Potomac.
Socialism in law and practice limits hiring. To sever an employee is prohibitively expensive in severance costs. So, few will hire the full time.
Youth are stymied, cannot get hired, as the aging cling to what they have.
The muslims are at the bottom of the pyramid where hiring is concerned, hence they are angry and feel denied.
Isolated neighborhoods have been allowed to govern themselves - and now are ghettos of discontent and cauldrons of muslim hatred for many unemployed muslims.
The rage breaks out and violence ensues, compounding things, risking backlash and repetitive syndrome criminality in a vicious cycle that can cause civil discontent and even civil war... reaching to cross border war.
In all this we have the jihadist and other psychotics running crazy in Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, and parts of Africa. Fortunately Morsi was arrested and there is a more sane form of dictatorship running Egypt.
In all this we have a White House here that seems to believe in democracy for the thugs... Perhaps the president and his staff have not read The Republic of Plato.
Needed: Socrates on the Potomac.
Irresponsible and inflammatory headline. The prime minister of France doesn't have the authority to declare war. Let's not confuse a figure of speech with an actual declaration of war, which, somehow, French newspapers are not reporting. You'd think the French public would be interested if their PM had actually issued a declaration of war.
Europe appears to be waking up and recognizing the dire threat of radical Islam. It was heartening to see Muslims marching and showing their solidarity with their fellow countrymen. If France can tackle the ongoing problem of assimilation of its Muslim minority, this will greatly help to end this problem. Uncommonsense66.com
4
Oh disgrace of the USA not sending an important representative to this magnificent rally and then sending an out-going Attorney General for meetings! What sort of government do we have that doesn't send someone to stand with the "I am Charlie" rally when for 2001 attacks the Europeans said "we are all Americans". Shame on our government.
5
Was watching the CNN coverage of the rallies in the streets of Paris and the ceremony in the Grand Synagogue of Paris. What was noticeable by its absence was an high level American presence. When Israel's prime minister can find his way to attend, Germany can send its Chancellor, Great Britain can send its prime minister, when Jordan can send its king no less, the failure of President Obama or Secretary of State Kerry to attend was a national embarrassment and a disgrace. Does Obama think to the risk to him, or the challenge of the Secret Service and the French police was higher in his case than in the case of Netanyahu? One would think that Benjamin Netanyahu was a more important target for these murderers than Obama, but he came. Frightened to leave the sanctity of the situation room, Mr President? As an American, I am ashamed and offer my apology to the French people as well as my sympathies, not just for the families of the Jewish victims but also for the Charlie Hebdo jounalists and the fallen French gendarmes.
5
How inspiring it is to see the citizens of one country pour out support of their country during a time of national crisis. How sad that the only demonstrations likely to occur in this country would be against whatever action the US would decide to take. As illustrated by so many of the comments here, people will acciuse the US and its foreign policy for being the underlying cause of the tragedy. Almost as if an otherwise peace loving segment of society were driven to murder innocents, to slaughter thousands of Muslims simply because their beliefs are more moderate, to subjugate and humiliate women, and to destroy schools to insure perpetual ignorance, particularly among girls.
All the fault of the United States of America.
All the fault of the United States of America.
3
I keep wondering, what proportion of the Charlie Hebdo attack was motivated by cartoons, per se, and what portion was motivated by the decades long American-European desecration of so much of the Muslim Middle East, cartoonists simply being an easy target for revenge. Personally, I'm pretty sure it's the latter, so as long as the desecration continues, unfortunately so will the revenge terrorism.
1
Living well is the best revenge. I wish that instead of our recent costly wars, the U.S. had focused instead on becoming energy independent using the best technology, built every school to be state of the art, rebuilt our crumbling roads, bridges and rails, made quality healthcare free to every American, razed and rebuilt blighted neighborhoods . . . And on and on. That and more could have been achieved, with the money we wasted stirring the toxic pot of the Middle East.
We need to focus our drive on being strong from within. Conquest of this multi-headed Islamic beast will not occur any other way. If we back away, they will expend their energies fighting each other. We have provided them an irresistible target, by foolishly engaging on their terms.
We need to focus our drive on being strong from within. Conquest of this multi-headed Islamic beast will not occur any other way. If we back away, they will expend their energies fighting each other. We have provided them an irresistible target, by foolishly engaging on their terms.
5
Is a market based political and economic system where money now is the predominant theme, it is difficult to be forward looking. Stock market now is predominately derivatives trading(i.e. short term gambling) and humans are commodities whose livelihoods are subject to same "trade'. And we wonder why there is such widespread disatisfication, cynicism of our institutions.
1
Eric Holder attended the meeting? Give me a break.
5
Islamophobia of population, elites of society could be mitigated by politicians. But making such a statement, in fact opposing Muslims around the world, portraying them as a universal evil, French politicians create escalation of the conflict inside European society.
2
Did not say "at war with Muslims"
Said "at war with Radical Islamic"
Think.
Said "at war with Radical Islamic"
Think.
2
And the United Ststes is represented at the Sunday rally attended by a galaxy of Chiefs of state by...
7
Somewhere in the comments is one I made about the Muslim woman who was generally mentioned as the partner of the Muslim who held hostages at the grocery store. I indicated that there was some confusion as to her status from the news reports. Further reading says that she was married to the man with whom she was living. In that case I do not see why she is not referred to as his wife. There is no need to attempt to characterize her as any more immoral as her participation in this event, if she is involved, would already make her. I would say it is a very slight quibble in regard to horrible activities, but in these stories one should chose words carefully. This woman would seem to be in a similar situation to the wife of the Boston Marathon bomber. She is not in jail and everybody seems to believe her when she says she knew nothing of the plot even though the bombs were being made on her kitchen table.
2
They were married religiously, not civilly. Get it? They performed a wedding ceremony at a mosque, but as far as civil society was concerned, there was no record of a wedding on any official books.
4
Wait till they get a NUKE, oh just wait...................
4
There will be plenty of shouting but never the real solution, Cease immigration and deport.
9
The French President Mr. Holand was seen allowing Palestinian Authoity Presisent Mr. Abu-Mazen to march next to him. Three weeks ago, Palestinian terrorists entered a synagogue in West Gerusalem and slaughtered the10 Jews there. They were killed. Abu-Mazen's official paper praised and glorified the terrorists !! As if that was not enough, the PA declared that the 5 terrorist killed in that attack were named Martyrs of 2014 Abu Mazen support terrorism !! The French President should have never allowed this man into France, especially not today !!
10
Who inspired the attack on Charlie Hebdo? The Prophet Muhammad, of course.
Solidarity with the deceased editor, writers and cartoonists can only be shown by reprinting the cartoons and content from Charlie lampooning Muhammad and Islam, or creating material similarly themed.
A soft target is one where the inhabitants are precluded by gun-control laws from protecting themselves.
Solidarity with the deceased editor, writers and cartoonists can only be shown by reprinting the cartoons and content from Charlie lampooning Muhammad and Islam, or creating material similarly themed.
A soft target is one where the inhabitants are precluded by gun-control laws from protecting themselves.
4
Yes, it takes brutality to bring about peace, right? Brutality such as:
World War I
Killed: 16 Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
World War II
Killed: 60 Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
Korean War
Killed: 1 1/2 plus Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
Vietnam War
Killed: 1 1/2 Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
A soldier will either fall in love with war or with peace, but can not simultaneously love both.
Man should stop making war in the name of liberty, justice, peace and in the name of God (all religions in the world). The true God is good and would not be blessing soldiers nor war itself.
World War I
Killed: 16 Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
World War II
Killed: 60 Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
Korean War
Killed: 1 1/2 plus Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
Vietnam War
Killed: 1 1/2 Million soldiers and civilians (all sides)
A soldier will either fall in love with war or with peace, but can not simultaneously love both.
Man should stop making war in the name of liberty, justice, peace and in the name of God (all religions in the world). The true God is good and would not be blessing soldiers nor war itself.
5
I hope our American Homeland Security Department is better prepared to prevent similar terrorist attacks on the United States as occurred in France this past week. I have reason for optimism though:
I recently returned to J.F. Kennedy airport in New York after a month-long trip to Viet Nam. I breezed through US Customs in less than 5 minutes. They have a new touch- screen computerized system at J.F.K. for American citizens returning from abroad: All you have to do is read and answer correctly the questions about you that appear on the computer screen. If you answer correctly you are cleared to leave the Customs area. As I passed through Customs I noticed that a few passengers were being directed into an adjoining room for further questioning by Customs officials. Some of the passengers looked nervous. I wondered why?
I would like to make a suggestion to Homeland Security:
Why don't you have a similar system for American passengers LEAVING the US and traveling abroad? Since the procedure takes less than 5 minutes, traveling passengers would hardly be inconvenienced. Questionable passengers, however, would be taken to an adjoining room for further interrogation.
In addition, questions on US passport application forms should be updated to enable Homeland Security to do its job more efficiently in the fight against terrorism.
I recently returned to J.F. Kennedy airport in New York after a month-long trip to Viet Nam. I breezed through US Customs in less than 5 minutes. They have a new touch- screen computerized system at J.F.K. for American citizens returning from abroad: All you have to do is read and answer correctly the questions about you that appear on the computer screen. If you answer correctly you are cleared to leave the Customs area. As I passed through Customs I noticed that a few passengers were being directed into an adjoining room for further questioning by Customs officials. Some of the passengers looked nervous. I wondered why?
I would like to make a suggestion to Homeland Security:
Why don't you have a similar system for American passengers LEAVING the US and traveling abroad? Since the procedure takes less than 5 minutes, traveling passengers would hardly be inconvenienced. Questionable passengers, however, would be taken to an adjoining room for further interrogation.
In addition, questions on US passport application forms should be updated to enable Homeland Security to do its job more efficiently in the fight against terrorism.
4
CHARLIE HEBDO IS DEAD, shouted the assassins during their rampage on Wednesday. They sought to die as "martyrs" and live eternally in Paradise enjoying romps with their 72 earned virgins.
As a non-believer, I don't believe so.
Saïd and Chérif Kouachi are DEAD. Amedy Coulibaly is DEAD.
One thing I do know with certainty: Thanks to them, Jean Cabut (Cabu), Bernard Verlhac (Tignous), Georges Wolinski and Stéphane Charbonnier (Charb) live eternal in History and in Art.
They are Triumphant. THEIR war is over and won!
"So now he occupies a niche, like most artists worth remembering, based on ... work that nevertheless still speaks to us."
~ MICHAEL KIMMELMAN
NYTimes Art and Architecture Critic
As a non-believer, I don't believe so.
Saïd and Chérif Kouachi are DEAD. Amedy Coulibaly is DEAD.
One thing I do know with certainty: Thanks to them, Jean Cabut (Cabu), Bernard Verlhac (Tignous), Georges Wolinski and Stéphane Charbonnier (Charb) live eternal in History and in Art.
They are Triumphant. THEIR war is over and won!
"So now he occupies a niche, like most artists worth remembering, based on ... work that nevertheless still speaks to us."
~ MICHAEL KIMMELMAN
NYTimes Art and Architecture Critic
6
French Premier Declares ‘War’ on Radical Islam as Paris Girds for Rally?
That is good news.
Now he should also prohibit mocking any religious belief,whether it is Christian,jewish or Muslim. Respect in order to be respected.
That is good news.
Now he should also prohibit mocking any religious belief,whether it is Christian,jewish or Muslim. Respect in order to be respected.
2
@tony silver
And after the French Premier prohibits "mocking any religious belief," if the next murderous attack by a radical Islamist terrorist whose sensibilities are offended is aimed at a woman wearing a mini skirt, or at couples embracing passionately on the quais of Paris, or peaceful citizens enjoying a nude sun bath or swim on the Riviera, or people having sex outside the bonds of marriage -- well, then, what laws will you ask the French Premier to enact then?
Exactly how far will you go to encroach on the cultural norms and to curtail the legal rights of citizens of liberal Western democracies who are acting within the laws of the land in order to placate madmen who would kill in the name of "religion"?
Mockery -- that is, satire, no matter how crude or vulgar it may be -- is a time honored way to speak truth to power, and it antedates Charlie Hebdo by more than a thousand years. Try Aesop, Aristophanes, Juvenal, Voltaire, and dozens more who live in history -- and the cartoonists who rightly mocked Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in the most obnoxious and tasteless cartoons.
The freedom of expression is at the core of Western law and belief. How much chipping away will it take to remake France and the rest of Europe in the image of Saudi Arabia?
Be careful what you wish for.
And after the French Premier prohibits "mocking any religious belief," if the next murderous attack by a radical Islamist terrorist whose sensibilities are offended is aimed at a woman wearing a mini skirt, or at couples embracing passionately on the quais of Paris, or peaceful citizens enjoying a nude sun bath or swim on the Riviera, or people having sex outside the bonds of marriage -- well, then, what laws will you ask the French Premier to enact then?
Exactly how far will you go to encroach on the cultural norms and to curtail the legal rights of citizens of liberal Western democracies who are acting within the laws of the land in order to placate madmen who would kill in the name of "religion"?
Mockery -- that is, satire, no matter how crude or vulgar it may be -- is a time honored way to speak truth to power, and it antedates Charlie Hebdo by more than a thousand years. Try Aesop, Aristophanes, Juvenal, Voltaire, and dozens more who live in history -- and the cartoonists who rightly mocked Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in the most obnoxious and tasteless cartoons.
The freedom of expression is at the core of Western law and belief. How much chipping away will it take to remake France and the rest of Europe in the image of Saudi Arabia?
Be careful what you wish for.
11
Wouldn't you think that the NSA would have heard conversations between the Kouachis and Coulibaly, what with all that hi-tech spying they're doing on everyone? And that they would have passed the info on to the French? And if they didn't know about these impending terrorist attacks, isn't that a failure of the US intelligence services? All that money spent and loss of freedoms got us what, exactly???
4
@TEACHER GAL Don't be ridiculous. Do you really think NSA is monitoring ALL telephone conversations around the world ? And secondly what with at least 2 of those men being trained by A.Q. do you really think they would be speaking together on phones about their next terror attack?
Yeah, you're right! I stubbed my toe talking to my wife this morning over the phone. The NSA should have interrupted the conversation to tell me to watch my toe, because, uh... obviously, they should have known, what with their crystal balls and such. Sheeeeeesh..
For all those that couldn't find anything good about George W. Bush - at least he DID declare war on Islamic Terrorists. Now, with the "appeasement doctrine of the Obama Administration" we are helpless to identify our enemy. Again, every other nation leads. America has become the new "Neville Chamberlain - and we know what happened under his stewardship.
4
Agreed. My two cents is that while journalists have been targeted, this is not primarily about attacks on freedom of speech. It's not about immigration, though disenfranchisement may add to contempt of the societies under attack. These terroristic, maniacal, radicalized Muslims have two aims, one being to destroy the Jews and Israel, and the other to dominate the Western, i.e. 'infidel' world they despise.
Yet since some of these terrorists are also citizens of the countries in which they murder, so are permitted to travel freely between their country of birth and countries known to present security threats, such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen. Why? The U.S. imposes travel bans on nations known to be hostile to American interests; so why can't France do the same, or strip them of citizenship.
As a New Yorker who was here during 9/11, it both saddens and angers me to see other cities endure such attacks. And I wonder, how many times must this happen before a determined, intelligent, non-zealous plan is formulated to address this enormous risk to all our lives? In recent times: NYC - 2001, Madrid - 2004, London - 2005, Boston - 2013, Paris - 2015. Why aren't we fed up already, why isn't it more than enough; why do we have to wait for the next time around, the next list of victims, the next official postulation?
My condolences to the loved ones of all who perished in Paris this week. Per Mr. W. Churchill, 'Never, never, never give up'.
Yet since some of these terrorists are also citizens of the countries in which they murder, so are permitted to travel freely between their country of birth and countries known to present security threats, such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen. Why? The U.S. imposes travel bans on nations known to be hostile to American interests; so why can't France do the same, or strip them of citizenship.
As a New Yorker who was here during 9/11, it both saddens and angers me to see other cities endure such attacks. And I wonder, how many times must this happen before a determined, intelligent, non-zealous plan is formulated to address this enormous risk to all our lives? In recent times: NYC - 2001, Madrid - 2004, London - 2005, Boston - 2013, Paris - 2015. Why aren't we fed up already, why isn't it more than enough; why do we have to wait for the next time around, the next list of victims, the next official postulation?
My condolences to the loved ones of all who perished in Paris this week. Per Mr. W. Churchill, 'Never, never, never give up'.
15
What a delicate line we try to walk in order to accommodate the many different religious beliefs held by the world's population. Most mainstream religions teach tolerance of different beliefs as a core principle. Religious fanaticism, no matter what the "brand", damages ALL of us. And it is going to be up to all of us to stop the radicals among us.
The worldwide Islamic community must do more to stop the violent fundamentalists who are wreaking so much havoc on those who don't believe as they do. If they do not the rest of us will be forced to clean house for them.
Whatever we decide to do about the Islamic fundamentalists it must be a decision that comes sooner rather than later because they appear to gaining in strength. We will have to learn to overlook our abhorrence of things like the death of innocent civilians aka collateral damage and realize that this fight is going to be a worldwide battle that will be both bloody and expensive.
The worldwide Islamic community must do more to stop the violent fundamentalists who are wreaking so much havoc on those who don't believe as they do. If they do not the rest of us will be forced to clean house for them.
Whatever we decide to do about the Islamic fundamentalists it must be a decision that comes sooner rather than later because they appear to gaining in strength. We will have to learn to overlook our abhorrence of things like the death of innocent civilians aka collateral damage and realize that this fight is going to be a worldwide battle that will be both bloody and expensive.
4
" Prime Minister Manuel Valls declared Saturday that France was at war with radical Islam after the harrowing sieges that led to the deaths of three gunmen and four hostages the day before. "
It remains to be seen how France is going to fight this war on radical islam. If France follows the US leadership, the tragic incidents of the last few days may turn out to be just the beginning.
It remains to be seen how France is going to fight this war on radical islam. If France follows the US leadership, the tragic incidents of the last few days may turn out to be just the beginning.
So Prime Minister Manuel Valls actually knows where the delineation between the radical Islam and non-radical Islam exists which will make this plan effective?
1
One should be against any religious radicalism. Whether it is Christian,Islamic or jewish.
Religions are sensitive. Mocking prophets is a bad taste and provocative. Those poor victims reaped what they sew.
Religions are sensitive. Mocking prophets is a bad taste and provocative. Those poor victims reaped what they sew.
1
@markjuliansmith
How about starting with the religious injunction, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," and drawing a line in the sand when it comes to murdering others or exhorting them in mosque and madrassa to do so because their actions or words "offend" your religious sensibilities or the words of you particular holy book?
Or if you're unable to accept that as a line of demarcation, then just forget about these small-time terrorists who operate in groups of two or three or four and get on with the need to eliminate violent acts perpetrated by your own Australian group, Abu Sayaf, or the large, militarized and easily identified groups including, but not limited to Al Qaeda, ISIS, Boka Haram, the Taliban, and dozens of other such armies inflicting terror and misery on "infidels" as well as other Muslims around the globe.
How about starting with the religious injunction, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," and drawing a line in the sand when it comes to murdering others or exhorting them in mosque and madrassa to do so because their actions or words "offend" your religious sensibilities or the words of you particular holy book?
Or if you're unable to accept that as a line of demarcation, then just forget about these small-time terrorists who operate in groups of two or three or four and get on with the need to eliminate violent acts perpetrated by your own Australian group, Abu Sayaf, or the large, militarized and easily identified groups including, but not limited to Al Qaeda, ISIS, Boka Haram, the Taliban, and dozens of other such armies inflicting terror and misery on "infidels" as well as other Muslims around the globe.
2
The civilized countries are not serious about ending the terrorists murders.
They get their encouragement from the success of ISIS' dream of a calipharte.
ISIS has about 50,000 terrorists winning the game in Iraq-Syria, Boko Haram has a field day destroying villages in Nigeria, and these groups and organizations can be beaten if there is the will to make the commitment.
A coalition of nations of 200,000 or 300,000 thousand soldiers and a contingent of air and sea support can do the job in a matter of weeks.
This pussy-footing with the terrorists only make them stronger and gain more volunteers for this most evil cause.
We can stop it if there is the will.
9
Even though Ms. Boumeddiene may not have participated directly in the attacks it is important to successfully hunt her down simply for her association with Coulibaly. ... The million strong rally in Paris and the diversified world leaders present will be a turning point to begin to carve out the radical element in Islam that has Islamic leaders finally coming out to support this common cause. ... It's becoming all too apparent that we are dealing with individuals who have been programed like pathetic robots whose only purpose in their lives is death and this is the program we must speed up to grant that wish without hesitation .
4
I commend the French Prime Minister for declaring war on these terrorist acts and even more so for calling it what it is......."terrorism" "radical Islam". Good for him and good for the French government for recognizing this for what it really is. Our President Obama won't even utter the words terrorist and Islam in the same context. He is completely blinded by what is happening in the world today because of his absolute love of Islam and the Muslim world. And it is truly sad for America that because of this we have no absolute agenda on defeating this evil in the world nor in protecting the American homeland in the long run. Many world leaders attended the rally in Paris on Saturday but no one above the level of our French Ambassador was present. the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu; the King and Queen of Jordan; the leader of the Palestians; the German Prime Minister, and scores of others attended but Obama elected not to attend nor to send a high ranking official or delegation from America. That in itself tells one something.
5
Our own people, whatever their religion, need to be our priority. Yes, send some humanitarian aid abroad, to show that Americans are a kind people. But military adventures overseas just cause more trouble. We cannot force other peoples to act or think like us.
2
These people who committed these acts should be referred to as criminals, not "radical Islamists," which tends to refer to religion, and this was not a religious act. It was an act of vengeance for the hundreds of thousands of innocent dead people, that the U.S. and Europe have killed in the middle east, with incredible explosive force.
We have also polluted the Mideast soil forever with cancer-causing depleted uranium shells, bullets and bombs.
We have also polluted the Mideast soil forever with cancer-causing depleted uranium shells, bullets and bombs.
4
I don't agree with anyone's radical religious interpretation because it's ideology is usually taken out of context of the original. This applies to any religion. I hope that in regards to the French Premier declaration is that he doesn't make the mistake of waging war on Islam altogather. Those responsible for the killing of people who worked at and for Charlie Hebdo were probably going to do what they did anyway someday but the satirical newspaper give them an excuse. They are in my opinion little men and women that wanted to lash out at someone for their own problems.
As for Charlie Hebdo, while I agree that one should aways be able to express their own free speech, one should do so with sensitivity. Remember how most Christians reacted when someone suggested a few years back that the image of Jesus that most people wake up with probably did not look like the reality of the Jesus that was, the outcry was world wide. People can't handle that which has been indocrinated in their heads since birth being different. That does not excuse the extremist for their actions which were probably more political than religious. France is an ally of the west, and to be sure some of USA policies have been to aggrevate a festering wound of a people in foreign countries. This divide and conquer ideology is not good in the long run. But the people who felt the need to result to result to violence were not practicing Islam. They were practicing Destruction. They destroyed themself .
As for Charlie Hebdo, while I agree that one should aways be able to express their own free speech, one should do so with sensitivity. Remember how most Christians reacted when someone suggested a few years back that the image of Jesus that most people wake up with probably did not look like the reality of the Jesus that was, the outcry was world wide. People can't handle that which has been indocrinated in their heads since birth being different. That does not excuse the extremist for their actions which were probably more political than religious. France is an ally of the west, and to be sure some of USA policies have been to aggrevate a festering wound of a people in foreign countries. This divide and conquer ideology is not good in the long run. But the people who felt the need to result to result to violence were not practicing Islam. They were practicing Destruction. They destroyed themself .
2
It seems that Charlie Hebdo has devoted all its covers to bash Islam. What if it was related to Judaism or any jewish prophet?
In the caricature on the cover of the February 9, 2006 edition, the prophet Mohammed is seen crying, alongside the headline: "Mohammed is overwhelmed by the fundamentalists." In the caption alongside, he says: "It is hard to be loved by idiots ..."
In the caricature on the cover of the February 9, 2006 edition, the prophet Mohammed is seen crying, alongside the headline: "Mohammed is overwhelmed by the fundamentalists." In the caption alongside, he says: "It is hard to be loved by idiots ..."
1
@ tony silver
It seems that you haven't bothered to research what Charlie Hebdo has published over the years.
The magazine is an "equal opprotunity" mocker of whatever it deems ridiculous, and no major religious group, including Jews, has escaped its barbs.
It seems that you haven't bothered to research what Charlie Hebdo has published over the years.
The magazine is an "equal opprotunity" mocker of whatever it deems ridiculous, and no major religious group, including Jews, has escaped its barbs.
2
One of many concerns with the "War on Islamic Extremists" is that peaceful Muslims are not rallying throughout the world to condemn and shun said extremists. Or, are they? If so I don't see it. Perhaps the war on Islamic Extremists should be waged within the Muslim world first, and peaceful Muslims support in there efforts by the West, Instead of the West going to war directly with one faction of Islam. As the west is taking initiative in this, I fear peaceful Muslims, mainly the young will step across the line into Radical Islam.
5
@Scott Lake Mills WI
The problem with your statement is that in almost every one of the majority Muslim states (that is, countries where 50% or more of the population is Muslim) there is no line between church and state, blasphemy laws prevail, harsh punishments are meted out to anyone who violates the "rules" of the culture police, adulterers are condemned with harsh punishments, including death by stoning.
Very hard to speak your mind in such circumstances -- all the more reason why the liberal Western democracies which value freedom of expression must hold the line and not cave in to the notion of "offending" the religious sensibilities of others. Our rule should be, "When in Rome . . ."
Just this week, Saudi Arabia (considered the fountainhead and economic base of radical Islam) sentenced a liberal blogger to 5 years in prison, a monetary fine -- and 1000 lashes to be inflicted publicly.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raif-badawi-saudi-ar...
The problem with your statement is that in almost every one of the majority Muslim states (that is, countries where 50% or more of the population is Muslim) there is no line between church and state, blasphemy laws prevail, harsh punishments are meted out to anyone who violates the "rules" of the culture police, adulterers are condemned with harsh punishments, including death by stoning.
Very hard to speak your mind in such circumstances -- all the more reason why the liberal Western democracies which value freedom of expression must hold the line and not cave in to the notion of "offending" the religious sensibilities of others. Our rule should be, "When in Rome . . ."
Just this week, Saudi Arabia (considered the fountainhead and economic base of radical Islam) sentenced a liberal blogger to 5 years in prison, a monetary fine -- and 1000 lashes to be inflicted publicly.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raif-badawi-saudi-ar...
3
France and the rest of the thinking world will likely prosecute and persecute Islamic extremist scum but what will France and the rest of us do with their supporters, the fellow travellers who praise and protect them?
3
Basically, if non-Muslims keep pushing the idea that Islam is inherently violent, doesn't that just help everyone who interprets the Quran as violent and uses it as an excuse to do bad? Why not support those who do interpret the text, or any text for that matter, in a positive way and use it to do positive things? The text is in the power of the interpreter---spread a positive word.
1
4 people die in France, 67 soldiers die in Israel, 1300 Palestinians - soldier, women and children die because of Israel, two get top billing as tragedies, the other is somehow justified. When will anyone understand that when you disenfranchise a people to this extent they tend to lash out in any way they can. I saw news photos from Gaza and Israel recently that were posted on the wire, an Israeli had a hole in a retaining wall around his home from a rocket, over 1100 homes and entire blocks of building were reduced to rubble in Gaza
it looked like Dresden after the bombing. This is the why, if no-one cares to change it then this type of individual attack will continue, very sad but true.
it looked like Dresden after the bombing. This is the why, if no-one cares to change it then this type of individual attack will continue, very sad but true.
2
People who go train with violent extremists and then return to their home countries should be considered as enemy combatants, and should be jailed for a very long time.
7
When I was studying in Bengaluru, India, Muslim children used to have separate schools. Very, very few Muslim children used attend our standard or regular schools. Such segregation in education must stop. Education, at least up to 12th grade, should be compulsory and all children regardless of religion, ethnicity, etc., should attend common or regular schools. Lack of education in basic Mathematics, Science, Civics and so on is the main reason why Muslims are, in general, poor. Poverty breeds discontent, resentment and anger which results in violence and terrorism. Social laws, social wellbeing and civic rules shall trump religious freedom of ANY religion. Only then will alienation of Muslims will end in any country.
5
@CMR --
Don't forget that another reason why Muslims are, in general, poor is that in many places 50% of their adult population -- their women -- are prohibited not only from being educated, but from taking part in the work force. Treating women as chattel, keeping them wrapped up in burqas and preventing them from operating as independent human beings is a relic of an antique tribal way of life which must end.
Don't forget that another reason why Muslims are, in general, poor is that in many places 50% of their adult population -- their women -- are prohibited not only from being educated, but from taking part in the work force. Treating women as chattel, keeping them wrapped up in burqas and preventing them from operating as independent human beings is a relic of an antique tribal way of life which must end.
5
Anyone but me notice what world leader is obviously absent from the rally? Leaders of Germany, Britain, Israel, even Palestine will be there. The President of the United States will not.
5
i thought the french were smarter than to copy the usa's insane idea to make war on an idea, whether terrorism or radical islam.
1
Pretending that Islam isn't extreme and that there isn't a problem is just as detrimental to society as judging all Muslims because for these actions. These words and rallys are not bigoted, they are merely the responses of real human beings. Do not feel ashamed or guilty for holding these extremists accountable.
6
Odd that the principal behind all of this is missed by so many. Radical Islam is just radical religion. And religion is all about controlling others. And the more primal the religion, the more it has to do with controlling women and the more intolerant and hostile is toward outsiders.
Civilized (Western) society has figured out how to allow freedom of religion while prohibiting those religions to pray on others. They tolerate all but intolerance.
Allowing pockets within a civilized society to promote intolerance and hatred can just lead to a less civil society.
How did France imagine that allowing pockets of uncivil society would not eventually prey on its own civil society?
Free speech is essential to a civil society. but if civil society can't manage free speech without tolerating the promotion of hatred and intolerance, then it endangers itself. No society can survive a freedom of speech that allows the promotion of the degradation of women, mutilation of women, how to make a bomb in your garage or the characterization of non believers as the enemy.
Civilized (Western) society has figured out how to allow freedom of religion while prohibiting those religions to pray on others. They tolerate all but intolerance.
Allowing pockets within a civilized society to promote intolerance and hatred can just lead to a less civil society.
How did France imagine that allowing pockets of uncivil society would not eventually prey on its own civil society?
Free speech is essential to a civil society. but if civil society can't manage free speech without tolerating the promotion of hatred and intolerance, then it endangers itself. No society can survive a freedom of speech that allows the promotion of the degradation of women, mutilation of women, how to make a bomb in your garage or the characterization of non believers as the enemy.
7
Waaaay too late. Too bad France is so touchy-feely socialist and has no stomache for war. They COULD actually help.
4
Good that the French premier is declaring "war" on jihadists and radical Islam. But the warning signs have been around for years. The Jewish community has been on edge for quite a while; the attack on the kosher supermarket is only the latest of many, albeit lesser, attacks on Jews and on Jewish businesses and cultural centers. The Rue de Rossiers had its share of mayhem well over a dozen years ago, and since then we have had many reports -- perhaps not reported in the Times -- of anti-Semitic attacks.
The line in this article, "Jewish quarters across the country are on high alert after an attack at a kosher market Friday that President François Hollande described as a 'terrifying act of anti-Semitism,'" is ironic given the frightening reality Jews have been for some time now facing in France.
The Jews themselves have been on high alert for years, and that is why many have been leaving France.
The line in this article, "Jewish quarters across the country are on high alert after an attack at a kosher market Friday that President François Hollande described as a 'terrifying act of anti-Semitism,'" is ironic given the frightening reality Jews have been for some time now facing in France.
The Jews themselves have been on high alert for years, and that is why many have been leaving France.
4
You will know when the world leaders take this seriously and that's when bombs are landing on a daily bases on radical training camps and so called capitals.
5
If you want something you detest to succeed, just declare a war on it. The smartest thing France could do is keep their mouths shut about "war" and quietly go after them. The "wars" on drugs, terrorism and poverty have yet to be a proven method of success.
1
Eric Holder is going to attend the meetings? As what... a doorstop?
1
Now is the time for governments and the press to aggressively expose the States that fund these fanatics. It is time for governments and the press to expose the far too many schools throughout the Muslim world that imbue their curriculum with the in the guise of theology.
3
I am against all kind of extremism. While it is Islamic,Christian or jewish.
1
And how long before they set up torture camps, bankrupt their economy to chase down every wayward thinker and surveil their people into a police state?
Did they learn anything from their Battle of Algiers.
Did they learn anything from their Battle of Algiers.
1
and more than 2 million of Algerians were murdered by the peace loving French occupier power.
The West occupied the whole Arab World,destroyed their cities, killed millions of innocent people under the False Flag of WMD, and still the West insists to be loved by them!
The West occupied the whole Arab World,destroyed their cities, killed millions of innocent people under the False Flag of WMD, and still the West insists to be loved by them!
1
Last I checked, the West did not occupy the "whole Arab World" and did not kill millions under the false flag of WMD. Please check your facts. I don't believe Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, etc...were occupied under WMD pretenses. Shame on the Time for permitting such an incorrect and distorted comment.
1
Didn't the US go through a "War on…" during the Bush Administration? You can wage war or a person or a country; but, how do you attack a thing? Something that is not really there? Sort of a spirit, an idea?
Now, I am not trying to make light of the deaths and injuries to the French citizens and officials, nor to those in Australia, Canada, Israel, etc. I have followed many of these hostage situations on TV, and I applaud the police and intelligence agencies' actions that have contributed to fighting Terrorism.
But, we do have to ease up on the rhetoric, the fist-pounding, the shouting, act. Emotion will only get in the way and, sometimes, it may further divide the overall Muslim community from the Civilized World--pushing it even closer to the dissidents. That would only cause the Jihadist cause--both in the West and elsewhere--to grow and become that much more passionate about its "cause".
Such Terrorism is not Islam. The terrorists are generally groups of insecure people who need a "windmill" to chase after. The cause particular cause may not even matter to them: oftentimes, they just need to latch onto something. And, in the midst of it all, they end-up--and wrapping themselves in a Religion or a Flag, merely to cover up their true goals--wealth, power and even false self-respect.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Now, I am not trying to make light of the deaths and injuries to the French citizens and officials, nor to those in Australia, Canada, Israel, etc. I have followed many of these hostage situations on TV, and I applaud the police and intelligence agencies' actions that have contributed to fighting Terrorism.
But, we do have to ease up on the rhetoric, the fist-pounding, the shouting, act. Emotion will only get in the way and, sometimes, it may further divide the overall Muslim community from the Civilized World--pushing it even closer to the dissidents. That would only cause the Jihadist cause--both in the West and elsewhere--to grow and become that much more passionate about its "cause".
Such Terrorism is not Islam. The terrorists are generally groups of insecure people who need a "windmill" to chase after. The cause particular cause may not even matter to them: oftentimes, they just need to latch onto something. And, in the midst of it all, they end-up--and wrapping themselves in a Religion or a Flag, merely to cover up their true goals--wealth, power and even false self-respect.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
1
speeches and marches won't do it.
they have to be hunted down and killed wherever they are.
obama clearly doesn't have the will.
wonder why.
they have to be hunted down and killed wherever they are.
obama clearly doesn't have the will.
wonder why.
3
Matt, who has taken down more extremists the president or other world leaders?
QUOTE: Prime Minister Manuel Valls declared Saturday that France was at war with radical Islam END OF QUOTE.
It is a joke. How is 'radical' Islam going to be identified? The real issues facing the all nations are quite different from anything that is being discussed. Yet, everyone avoids mentioning what needs to be mentioned. For nonsensical academic teachings have more or less created a hopeless situation for all civilised nations.
It is a joke. How is 'radical' Islam going to be identified? The real issues facing the all nations are quite different from anything that is being discussed. Yet, everyone avoids mentioning what needs to be mentioned. For nonsensical academic teachings have more or less created a hopeless situation for all civilised nations.
So what will be next? It seems the immediate problem are the 200 or so French citizens that have had terrorism training in Yemen and Syria. And the security services have already argued that they don't have the resources to monitor all of them (would need 3x more people for that). The next step will probably be to strip those individuals of citizenship so that there are less people to monitor. This would have prevented the current attacks by leaving these radicals in Yemen.
2
It's collective madness. Declaring “war” on Radical, not on causes of terrorism will get us to more terrorism. Politicians are dumb.
So, which President Bush made this statement? "We fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them here." Two decades of "over there" brought "them" to New York, Boston, and now Paris.
2
Congratulations to France on their new "war." The fear mongering benefits the terrorists of course, as well as, the entrenched politicians, the military, and the military industrial complex. French citizens are the losers. They bear the cost, the fear, and the loss of their civil liberties. The French made a better choice when they copied America in the 1700's.
1
World needs wake up to truth these terrorist are not what they appear to be . We can put sign on them ISIS or what ever but real truth is these people Mentally sick people. 74 million an rising face every day with crushing mental pain suffering most which will try or wil commit suscide . World must not turn blind eye to truth an lable them only sending wrong message an wont solve anything .
There is a lot lost in translation...by the NYTimes headline:
French Premier Declares 'War' on Radical Islam...
War...the word war is not 'War': the word War is physically inciting/and
physically now happening in Iraq and Syria between ISIS and those who
are at war with ISIS..however
the psychologically impact of 'war' against radical islam has been very
ill-defined ....irresponsibly so by these editors...
Please put the meaning ,,,,,editors of the NYTimes...into its correct context
because more inciting to riot might result....FIT TO PRINT is your mantra
so stick to your ethos...editors...please...these are times which need
dedication to your vows to your mantra...as the cordon bleu of The
Fourth Estate...!!!!
French Premier Declares 'War' on Radical Islam...
War...the word war is not 'War': the word War is physically inciting/and
physically now happening in Iraq and Syria between ISIS and those who
are at war with ISIS..however
the psychologically impact of 'war' against radical islam has been very
ill-defined ....irresponsibly so by these editors...
Please put the meaning ,,,,,editors of the NYTimes...into its correct context
because more inciting to riot might result....FIT TO PRINT is your mantra
so stick to your ethos...editors...please...these are times which need
dedication to your vows to your mantra...as the cordon bleu of The
Fourth Estate...!!!!
2
Seriously, why announce ( tell them ) that you are declaring war.? Don't tell them...just DO IT. !!
Such banner broad statements firstly let the enemy know you're coming. secondly it gives them a rallying call.
Just quietly go about the business of wiping them out.
You know they are in Northern Syria.? Go there and kill them. Fact is coalitions such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Israel, the Euro democracies all know where their enemies hide. Put your intelligence and military might together and destroy these misguided, murdering, demonic terrorists. Don't tell them your doing it, don't tell them where your going. who your going to hit.
Just DO IT !.
Such banner broad statements firstly let the enemy know you're coming. secondly it gives them a rallying call.
Just quietly go about the business of wiping them out.
You know they are in Northern Syria.? Go there and kill them. Fact is coalitions such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Israel, the Euro democracies all know where their enemies hide. Put your intelligence and military might together and destroy these misguided, murdering, demonic terrorists. Don't tell them your doing it, don't tell them where your going. who your going to hit.
Just DO IT !.
1
Until war is declared on the underlying causes of terrorism (social, familial, developmental and so on) any other attempts to alter its path is whistling in the dark. It must be kept in mind that each and every terrorist was once an innocent baby. Thus the factors that over time turned that potential for good into a " human weapon of mass destruction," must be focused on understood and fixed as much as is humanly possible. Underneath it all it simply isn't a religious issue, it's a human issue, an emotional/psychological issue--an "as a twig is bent, so shall it grow," issue.
12
The people of Boston are still healing from the horrible attack that took place at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013 motivated by Islamic extremists views of the US as an enemy of Islam because or our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are horrific atrocities taking place elsewhere, but those are power grabs as opposed to terrorism for terrors sake.
Once again in Paris as in Boston, we are seeing the results of our ill advised policy of going into Iraq and Afghanistan.
The right will immediately blame the President for his weakness and claim his supposed dithering has created an atmosphere for these things to happen, but it was Bush, Cheney and Co. that got us into this mess and we are reaping the grim harvest of their hubris.
There are horrific atrocities taking place elsewhere, but those are power grabs as opposed to terrorism for terrors sake.
Once again in Paris as in Boston, we are seeing the results of our ill advised policy of going into Iraq and Afghanistan.
The right will immediately blame the President for his weakness and claim his supposed dithering has created an atmosphere for these things to happen, but it was Bush, Cheney and Co. that got us into this mess and we are reaping the grim harvest of their hubris.
4
DemocracyNow.org has excellent coverage on this. One of the basic problems is the French Colonialism that has not been addressed in France, similar to how the US history of slavery and racism has not been addressed in the US.
1
About time someone said it. The radical factions of Islam have declared war on the West and we need to respond with eradication not response to every incident.
3
Nice to have a leader that recognizes radical Islamic terrorism when he sees it - and isn't too cowardly to say so.
3
Unfortunately it may be too late for France due to their far left immigration policy.
4
I she in Syria there is not much they can do. As far as war concerned empty Rhetoric isn't much good either.
Radical Islam? Who radicalize Islam? US and Western ?
By Bombing,terrorize,marginalize Islamic society or states.
By Bombing,terrorize,marginalize Islamic society or states.
Yup, what a fabulous apology for terrorists who murder innocents!
4
We should approach the horrors that took place in France not as a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew or an atheist, but as human beings whose humanity has been violated by those barbaric acts. These events by a small number of deranged, ignorant terrorists have nothing to do with Islam anymore than the massacre by Anders Breivik in Norway had to do with Christianity. The answer to these atrocities is not more segregation and estrangement, but more unity, solidarity and moderation.
America has done a better job of integrating its minorities, including Muslims, than Europe especially France have done. While clearly condemning the attack on freedom of expression let us not fall into the trap of condoning tasteless and deliberate offensive satire that aims to provoke and infuriate others with different beliefs.
The language of "war on radical Islam" is as wrong and counterproductive as President George Bush's "war on terror" was after 9/11 atrocities. We know what that did and still continues to do in the Middle East. We should not forget that hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been killed in the past decade as the result of illegal wars waged by the West. It is as unreasonable to expect that some extreme Muslims would not be affected by that as it is to expect that we should not be affected by the events of 9/11 and the past few days in France. The world needs more tolerance and moderation rather than more fanaticism and extremism.
America has done a better job of integrating its minorities, including Muslims, than Europe especially France have done. While clearly condemning the attack on freedom of expression let us not fall into the trap of condoning tasteless and deliberate offensive satire that aims to provoke and infuriate others with different beliefs.
The language of "war on radical Islam" is as wrong and counterproductive as President George Bush's "war on terror" was after 9/11 atrocities. We know what that did and still continues to do in the Middle East. We should not forget that hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been killed in the past decade as the result of illegal wars waged by the West. It is as unreasonable to expect that some extreme Muslims would not be affected by that as it is to expect that we should not be affected by the events of 9/11 and the past few days in France. The world needs more tolerance and moderation rather than more fanaticism and extremism.
6
Tell that to the radical Muslims.
It's a losing cause.
ISIS is leading seven-year-olds in beheading captured Syrian soldiers.
I wonder what they will be doing when they are grown up.
If all nations do not join together (say 200,000 soldiers) then they will have to fight millions of radicalized Muslims in the future.
Our choice.
It's a losing cause.
ISIS is leading seven-year-olds in beheading captured Syrian soldiers.
I wonder what they will be doing when they are grown up.
If all nations do not join together (say 200,000 soldiers) then they will have to fight millions of radicalized Muslims in the future.
Our choice.
4
So it takes only three troops to launch a country to war?
2
Valls is repeating the words of one of France's well known philosophers, the right wing Bernard Henry Levy.Who said on BFM tv Saturday night january 10 that France had to go to war in Syria and Yemen together with the Americans and wipe out radical islam. This type of emtional war mongering is what will not result in anything else but increased polarization and violence. The western powers France included have been acting in the muslem world with total impunity and immense violence which does not ,of course, justify terror in Paris. But some sort of statesmanship and readyness to reflect would be far more in place for the lucid France of Voltaire, than the gut feeling France of Levy.
2
BREAKING - Police Chief Helric Fredou Investigating Chalie Hebdo DIES MYSTERIOUSLY!
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=855_1420931893
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=855_1420931893
1
What is this "believed to be one of the gunmen?" Have the lawyers so cowed us that a DEAD terrorist is still a "suspect?" A guy they KNOW did this, and the two brothers, too? "Suspect" Sure.
2
proud of you paris!
5
Radical Islam Terrorism is a world wide affair.
We should not live alone France fighting terrorists.
Soon will held an European special meeting on this, with the USA participation.
I think that after that should be held a world wide meeting on how to fight terrorism.
Obviously that should not be under the UNO umbrella, since it showed so many time its inefficiency and paralyzing effect.
Moreover, also Israel should be excluded from the meeting, because its politics based on gratuitous violence and segregation; they have their own methods and ideas to fight terrorists, which really are Partisans, so they don't need to be coordinated.
We should not live alone France fighting terrorists.
Soon will held an European special meeting on this, with the USA participation.
I think that after that should be held a world wide meeting on how to fight terrorism.
Obviously that should not be under the UNO umbrella, since it showed so many time its inefficiency and paralyzing effect.
Moreover, also Israel should be excluded from the meeting, because its politics based on gratuitous violence and segregation; they have their own methods and ideas to fight terrorists, which really are Partisans, so they don't need to be coordinated.
1
@Carlo 47
Could it be you share some of the anti semitism that is an integral part of the belief system of the Radical Islamic terrorists you say should be addressed as a world wide problem? Are you aware of how many terrorist attacks have been mounted on French Jews by such terrorists in the past decade? Or are you ignoring the link between the attack on Charlie Hebdo and a kosher market in Paris?
Why exclude Israel from the worldwide effort? They could teach the world a thing or two about how a democracy can and must combat Islamic terrorism, since they have been the principle object of such terrorist attacks for almost 70 years.
Could it be you share some of the anti semitism that is an integral part of the belief system of the Radical Islamic terrorists you say should be addressed as a world wide problem? Are you aware of how many terrorist attacks have been mounted on French Jews by such terrorists in the past decade? Or are you ignoring the link between the attack on Charlie Hebdo and a kosher market in Paris?
Why exclude Israel from the worldwide effort? They could teach the world a thing or two about how a democracy can and must combat Islamic terrorism, since they have been the principle object of such terrorist attacks for almost 70 years.
The "Declarations " and "Rallies" only provide short term emotive relief and will not show any long term effects. What is required are tough laws including death penalty against terrorism and their enforcement. It is time for the Free nations to cut out the liberal motherhood and wake up to the threat these radicals pose.
I'm glad to see that the French Premier had the good sense at least to not declare this horrific act "Workplace Violence".
Perhaps there is a silver lining to all of this terror, heartache, & needless tragedy. France, & hopefully the rest of Europe, is finally waking up to the existential threat to their societies that has been allowed to fester and grow right under their noses. A recognition of the true nature of the enemy within the gates is a good 1st start.
However, the real test will come when the people of France reject this multi=cultural propaganda that has been shoved down their throats and they retake their heritage, their culture, & their Country before it is too late.
Maybe we should be doing the same thing here instead of deluding ourselves with phony expectations while cowering in fear that we might utter something Politically Incorrect.
Perhaps there is a silver lining to all of this terror, heartache, & needless tragedy. France, & hopefully the rest of Europe, is finally waking up to the existential threat to their societies that has been allowed to fester and grow right under their noses. A recognition of the true nature of the enemy within the gates is a good 1st start.
However, the real test will come when the people of France reject this multi=cultural propaganda that has been shoved down their throats and they retake their heritage, their culture, & their Country before it is too late.
Maybe we should be doing the same thing here instead of deluding ourselves with phony expectations while cowering in fear that we might utter something Politically Incorrect.
4
It is not called terrorism simply because it is deadly or heinous or frightening. It is called terrorism because it uses terror to achieve goals. France experiences about 700 murders per year, far more than are committed by terrorists. In the United States more than 15,000 people are murdered annually. More than 150.000 people die daily in the world. Terrorism is a miniscule cause of death in most countries, and it depends not on its real impact but rather on our reaction to it to be effective.
Terrorists should be pursued and punished. The organizations that sponsor and train them should be attacked and dismantled. Even more importantly, we should put terrorists and their real impact in perspective and not let them achieve their goal of disrupting or altering our lifestyles, our individual rights, and our forms of government.
Terrorists should be pursued and punished. The organizations that sponsor and train them should be attacked and dismantled. Even more importantly, we should put terrorists and their real impact in perspective and not let them achieve their goal of disrupting or altering our lifestyles, our individual rights, and our forms of government.
1
No leader's presence at a French unity demonstration would be more important and more courageous than that of Dalil Boubakeur, the head of the French Muslim Council and imam of the Paris mosque.
1
All empty words, "war on radical Islam." Does this mean the elites, the apologists (Racism-SOS) and the government will take their collective heads out of the ground and call a spade a spade? It is NOT racist or bigotry 2 want 2 protect one's culture and way of life in the homeland. When someone comes to your home, these new guests or inhabitants MUST cease applying their own norms and mores and accept completely those of their hosts. Why move to France if you are not in love with the French lifestyle and worldview? We do not want to live in an Islamic society. If someone does, she should move to Saudi Arabia, etc.
No France, Germany, Holland, et al must not show any accommodation 2 any immigrant. All immigrants must accommodate and adapt themselves to their new home/host countries. There is no room for argument. This is the only correct, polite and legitimate approach.
I'm an immigrant and I learned French within 4 months still improving. I never say, "Oh that's how we do it back where I came from!" Who cares how it was done, it is done this way here. Accept it. This also means no Sharia law, no face veils, no blocking traffic to pray and speaking the local language.
So this "war," what is it going to look like? Forced education for immigrants? Deportation en mass? Psychological and PR war won't work since the tiger was let out of the cage in the 1970s. Two generations who clung onto being Algerian, Tunisian or just simply Muslim won't come around so easily.
No France, Germany, Holland, et al must not show any accommodation 2 any immigrant. All immigrants must accommodate and adapt themselves to their new home/host countries. There is no room for argument. This is the only correct, polite and legitimate approach.
I'm an immigrant and I learned French within 4 months still improving. I never say, "Oh that's how we do it back where I came from!" Who cares how it was done, it is done this way here. Accept it. This also means no Sharia law, no face veils, no blocking traffic to pray and speaking the local language.
So this "war," what is it going to look like? Forced education for immigrants? Deportation en mass? Psychological and PR war won't work since the tiger was let out of the cage in the 1970s. Two generations who clung onto being Algerian, Tunisian or just simply Muslim won't come around so easily.
4
This "war" talk is plain stupid and inflammatory. Three men out of six million Muslims in France commit multiple murders. Dreadful and sickening. But war? This is a terrible situation for French Muslims and needs to be managed carefully and for the good of all.
If my math is correct we're talking about 0.00005% of the Muslim population that were involved. Why then is this perceived to be a Muslim or Islamic problem? Borrowing American language and the propensity to call every struggle a war is not the solution. Dealing with the problem is a matter of urgency and requires resources and diligence. But no more than that. Let's stop using the word "war". It's simply inappropriate and misleading.
If my math is correct we're talking about 0.00005% of the Muslim population that were involved. Why then is this perceived to be a Muslim or Islamic problem? Borrowing American language and the propensity to call every struggle a war is not the solution. Dealing with the problem is a matter of urgency and requires resources and diligence. But no more than that. Let's stop using the word "war". It's simply inappropriate and misleading.
2
The word "war" is the appropriate word. Those three men are supported and their acts are defended by many people in the muslim community in France. Read the articles on Le Monde about what people say about the attacks in the high schools of Seine-Saint-Denis or in Toulouse, and keep in mind that Le Monde is like you an opponent to the idea of a "war on radical islam" and try its best to minimize this support for islamic terrorism in the arabic immigrant community in France.
So how many of the french muslims do support the terrorism ? Is it 5%, or 50%, or 95%? This is not clear yet, and we all hope that a large majority of muslims will be on our side - after all, this is the interest of anyone for which freedom means something. This is why the phrase "war on RADICAL islam" is perfectly apt. We are talking about a RADICALIZED fraction of the muslim world
who has given itself the aim to impose its religion and its political domination on a large part of the world (including France), and even if this fraction is a minority, it is certainly more than those three men, as shown by daily acts of violence in France. In the large world, this fraction in France is part of a large
group of people who kill, rape, and oppress not only in Europe and the West, but also in Africa (e.g. Boko Haram), in Syria and Irak, in Pakistan, in south Russia, and in many other places.
So how many of the french muslims do support the terrorism ? Is it 5%, or 50%, or 95%? This is not clear yet, and we all hope that a large majority of muslims will be on our side - after all, this is the interest of anyone for which freedom means something. This is why the phrase "war on RADICAL islam" is perfectly apt. We are talking about a RADICALIZED fraction of the muslim world
who has given itself the aim to impose its religion and its political domination on a large part of the world (including France), and even if this fraction is a minority, it is certainly more than those three men, as shown by daily acts of violence in France. In the large world, this fraction in France is part of a large
group of people who kill, rape, and oppress not only in Europe and the West, but also in Africa (e.g. Boko Haram), in Syria and Irak, in Pakistan, in south Russia, and in many other places.
3
It is about time Frances joined the world war against "terrorism, jihadism and radical Islam." Those barbaric distorters of the Islamic faith have long ago declared war on anyone who does not share their religion or values or in any way criticizes it. According to a study by the BBC and Kings College, radical Islamic forces killed more than 5,000 people--mostly Muslim civilians--in the month of November 2014 alone http://www.bbc.com/news/world-30080914 . They repress their own women and impose horrific sharia law, kidnap and behead civilian journalists and aid workers, execute captured troops by the thousands, blow up market places and buses and trains, and recently slaughtered more than 150 students and teachers in a school in Pakistan. The civilized world must come together to share intelligence, unites as allies, declare war, and defeat this evil threat to all humanity.
3
Either pay now.
Or pay later.
The time will come if we delay dealing with those countries that support and back radical Islam.
Or pay later.
The time will come if we delay dealing with those countries that support and back radical Islam.
3
It is well known within the Jewish community that in recent times there has been numerous and often violent anti-Semitic acts in France. French Jews are leaving for Israel in increasing numbers. It is estimated that nearly 75% of all French Jews are considering emigrating to Israel, and its not because they don't love France. The attacks have been violent and numerous. Its incredible to me that there hasn't already been a much more forceful declaration by the French government and French public against this trend of increasing anti-Semitism. Shame on them. While it is noble and right that so many are marching in solidarity with the victims of this recent attack against Charlie Hebdo, where was the outrage, where is the outrage, that there is such a high incidence of violent anti-Semitic acts in France?
8
Vive la France!
5
"French Premier Declares ‘War’ on Radical Islam"
Translation:
French Premier forced to help accomplish terrorist objective.
Translation:
French Premier forced to help accomplish terrorist objective.
Both of Mr. Obama's fathers were Islamic
He was raised a Muslim
He could recite the entire Koran in Arabic
He went to Muslim school in Jakarta
This is why he cannot bring himself to say those words" The United States is at War with radical Islam".
He was raised a Muslim
He could recite the entire Koran in Arabic
He went to Muslim school in Jakarta
This is why he cannot bring himself to say those words" The United States is at War with radical Islam".
2
The only effective long term plan for management of this problem - proscription - will not be implemented because of the intransigence of liberals in accepting that islam is inherently evil. While Islam's ideology is evil, most muslims are of course, not. The point is there is nothing less evil about Islam's totalitarianism than there was with Nazism. But because Islam is conflated with the notion of it being a religion, the fascist basis of the cult is not drawn into focus for rational debate. A religion is a faith or belief system. Fundamentally how can Islam possibly be a belief when a muslim is considered defaulted to 'belief' at birth and any free will that leads to a change in that 'belief' is considered apostasy. The sentence for apostasy in Islam is death. Islam is not a religion, it is a fascist death cult. Until it's called-out as such then the process of de-cultifying its adherents cannot begin and the problem will not go away.
6
But Obama is not declaring war on Islamic terrorism. He is not even attending the funeral. No media outlet remarks on the elephant that is not in the room. After starting the airstrike against Isis and forcing Europe into it, he does not even go to the unity march. This is not a unity march.
2
Feeling still very shocked and cast down by this massacre. I know there have been many before and will be many more, but something about this one has struck home. It seems impossible to defend ourselves - physically or emotionally - against the fanaticism of these Death Worshippers. The worst of it is, we let these people settle here, in vast numbers. And now they are killing us, for the joy of it
13
A few remarks to the apologists of people behaving badly:
Radical Islam is the issue that needs to be addressed now. To bring up atrocities committed previously is disingenuous and is not an excuse for bad behavior now.
Immigrants who integrate into their adopted societies are more successful.
Radical Islam's self-imposed isolation from the modern world (except when it comes to modern communication technology and weaponry) and its stance against education and acceptance of religious and gender diversity is the problem.
The Boston bombers were granted more privileges than most of the native-born population.
The Silent Muslim Majority needs to wake up and act more courageous!
Radical Islam is the issue that needs to be addressed now. To bring up atrocities committed previously is disingenuous and is not an excuse for bad behavior now.
Immigrants who integrate into their adopted societies are more successful.
Radical Islam's self-imposed isolation from the modern world (except when it comes to modern communication technology and weaponry) and its stance against education and acceptance of religious and gender diversity is the problem.
The Boston bombers were granted more privileges than most of the native-born population.
The Silent Muslim Majority needs to wake up and act more courageous!
9
@Wolfy's Mom Bridgton
Unfortunately, except in liberal Western democracies, like France, the "Silent Muslim Majority" risks severe punishment, even death, for apostasy if it "wakes up and acts more courageous," since there is no freedom of expression in most majority Muslim countries.
We in the West need to wake up to the fact that without mass revolution in places like Saudi Arabia (whose extreme brand of Wahabism and vast financial resources have fed the Beast of radical Islamic terrorism) the "Silent Muslim Majority" will for the most part remain silent rather than risk the severe consequences of speaking out.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raif-badawi-saudi-ar...
Unfortunately, except in liberal Western democracies, like France, the "Silent Muslim Majority" risks severe punishment, even death, for apostasy if it "wakes up and acts more courageous," since there is no freedom of expression in most majority Muslim countries.
We in the West need to wake up to the fact that without mass revolution in places like Saudi Arabia (whose extreme brand of Wahabism and vast financial resources have fed the Beast of radical Islamic terrorism) the "Silent Muslim Majority" will for the most part remain silent rather than risk the severe consequences of speaking out.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raif-badawi-saudi-ar...
2
It will be most unfortunate if this time too the response is another outright war in a Middle-Eastern country. It is only a minority sect in Islam
that is radicalized beyond repair and it is only that sect which needs to be neutralized by any and every means. In doing so, the support of the Moderates is crucial.
that is radicalized beyond repair and it is only that sect which needs to be neutralized by any and every means. In doing so, the support of the Moderates is crucial.
2
When the leaders of muslin nations must wake up and understand that they cannot tolerate the teachings of jihad and radical Islamic tenets in their countries.
1
Looking at the enormous effort that went into catching the two brothers I feel governments all over the world need to interact very closely in weeding out the potential trouble makers in the initial stage rather than catching them after they have done a lot of damage.We have to make sure that there are no more massacres like Mumbai-26/11 or Paris-Charlie Hedbo type.Enough is Enough
3
We declared war on radical Islam in 2001, and we are worse off than ever. We are losing the war, because we have something to lose.
The world of Islam has already lost hundreds of thousands of innocents people, from our bombs, drones, night raids, dislocation, malnutrition and disease.
Unlike the Vietnamese, they will not be happy to forget and hope the U.S. never returns. Unlike the Vietnamese, the middle eastern victims of Western shock and awe and morbidity. They will not forget their dead friends and relatives.
They will be coming after us vengeance for many decades.
The world of Islam has already lost hundreds of thousands of innocents people, from our bombs, drones, night raids, dislocation, malnutrition and disease.
Unlike the Vietnamese, they will not be happy to forget and hope the U.S. never returns. Unlike the Vietnamese, the middle eastern victims of Western shock and awe and morbidity. They will not forget their dead friends and relatives.
They will be coming after us vengeance for many decades.
5
It has little to do with our being in Iraq etc..
do u remember something that happened on 9/11 or at The World Trade Center 8 yrs. Prior. Way before our entry into what we know was the wrong place at the wrong time.
These r all victim style excuses ( let's not leave out Israel while we r at it).
The only solution now is something called Borders and saying Enough. Maybe this small but secular event will put an end to political correctness so the real issues can be discussed. Including in University classrooms.
do u remember something that happened on 9/11 or at The World Trade Center 8 yrs. Prior. Way before our entry into what we know was the wrong place at the wrong time.
These r all victim style excuses ( let's not leave out Israel while we r at it).
The only solution now is something called Borders and saying Enough. Maybe this small but secular event will put an end to political correctness so the real issues can be discussed. Including in University classrooms.
2
"They will be coming after us in vengeance for many decades."
for centuries likely,
or not, if environmental catastrophe supersedes tribalism as our main concern
we worry about a dozen shot in Paris for vengeance while we destroy the planet itself. which is worse or more worrisome?
mere distraction, a blip on the screen of important on goings
for centuries likely,
or not, if environmental catastrophe supersedes tribalism as our main concern
we worry about a dozen shot in Paris for vengeance while we destroy the planet itself. which is worse or more worrisome?
mere distraction, a blip on the screen of important on goings
1
The French declare war yet "were slow to provide information" to the Turks, according to a Turkish official, regarding Ms. Boumeddiene, who fled to Turkey and then slipped into Syria.
Ms. Benzaquen of the American Jewish Committee in Paris wonders whether "it is the beginning of a series of further attacks or if it is the end, or a wake-up call that will help the country understand that Islamic radicalism is".
She should certainly know that it is not the "beginning" of anything, certainly not of anti-Semitic attacks by Islamic radicalism in France, and will unfortunately probably not be the end. The French have chosen up until now to ignore wake-up calls. Will this change? Maybe in the short-run.
Ms. Benzaquen of the American Jewish Committee in Paris wonders whether "it is the beginning of a series of further attacks or if it is the end, or a wake-up call that will help the country understand that Islamic radicalism is".
She should certainly know that it is not the "beginning" of anything, certainly not of anti-Semitic attacks by Islamic radicalism in France, and will unfortunately probably not be the end. The French have chosen up until now to ignore wake-up calls. Will this change? Maybe in the short-run.
7
I sincerely hope their war on terrorism is more successful than ours, without the loss of personal rights, liberty, and privacy.
2
Please tell exactly how the war on terrorism has caused you to suffer from the "loss of personal rights, liberty and privacy" in the US. and how you might enjoy greater such rights, say under the enlightened governments of radical Islam...
3
It is illegal to view certain types of pornography on the internet on the theory that the viewer is participating remotely in the abuse of the victim. Likewise, it should be illegal to view certain types of incendiary Islamist websites used to recruit and communicate with potential terrorists. The ideology spread by such websites is deadly. Obviously, we need to stop the easy communication through the Internet in order to contain and destroy Islamic terrorism in Europe, the US and other parts of the world that are accustomed to peace on the streets instead of terror.
8
Furthermore, our government should be able to shut down Islamist terrorist websites. This is not infringing on freedom of speech. Rather, it is stopping someone from shouting fire in a crowded theater, as Oliver Wendell Holmes once said.
3
Don't hold your breath. But their r Hackers trying to do so in support of Charlie Hebdo
This kind of terrorism is a crime, not an act of war.
Horrible as they are, these acts seem tame compared to the horrors committed in other criminal killings & intimidations in the drug and gang wars we see in Mexico and other narcostates.
But if this is the sort of violence that some silly cartoons elicit, what sort of retribution is on tap for the cities of nations that actually did participate in the false-flag/red-herring invasion & occupations of Iraq & Afghanistan?
I wouldn't say I'm terrified of terrorists, just glad not to be living in a major target city right now. I don't want to be on hand when the sitting ducks face the chickens coming home to roost. And I'm afraid these kids and their killings aren't even a blip on the radar in this epic war with Islam.
The 'radical Islamists' have endless money connected to their cabal, and undoubtedly dirty bombs, etc. All that fancy real estate in midtown will not be worth much if it's radioactive. No declarations of war on terror will protect anyone if they continue to support invasions & occupations, bombings & slaughter.
Blame this on Bush, both of them (and the 3rd one coming), and the USA since at least 1954 and their meddling in the politics of Iran on behalf of BP.
Colonialist, empire governments need to just leave Islam alone, including their oil. France isn't exactly innocent, ever since Napoleon tried to annex Egypt.
Horrible as they are, these acts seem tame compared to the horrors committed in other criminal killings & intimidations in the drug and gang wars we see in Mexico and other narcostates.
But if this is the sort of violence that some silly cartoons elicit, what sort of retribution is on tap for the cities of nations that actually did participate in the false-flag/red-herring invasion & occupations of Iraq & Afghanistan?
I wouldn't say I'm terrified of terrorists, just glad not to be living in a major target city right now. I don't want to be on hand when the sitting ducks face the chickens coming home to roost. And I'm afraid these kids and their killings aren't even a blip on the radar in this epic war with Islam.
The 'radical Islamists' have endless money connected to their cabal, and undoubtedly dirty bombs, etc. All that fancy real estate in midtown will not be worth much if it's radioactive. No declarations of war on terror will protect anyone if they continue to support invasions & occupations, bombings & slaughter.
Blame this on Bush, both of them (and the 3rd one coming), and the USA since at least 1954 and their meddling in the politics of Iran on behalf of BP.
Colonialist, empire governments need to just leave Islam alone, including their oil. France isn't exactly innocent, ever since Napoleon tried to annex Egypt.
5
And we are with you! We have defeated Smallpox,polio etc.and We can defeat radical Islam!
3
War on Radical Islam??
Seems like Hollande didn't get the memo from Washington - it's "Violent Extremism," not the religion of peace.
Seems like Hollande didn't get the memo from Washington - it's "Violent Extremism," not the religion of peace.
1
Maybe he should rule out false gal operation first...
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/01/08/charlie-hebdo-tsarnaevs-trial...
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/01/08/charlie-hebdo-tsarnaevs-trial...
This assault is new, because it's a naked attack on Freedom of Expression. It was designed that way.
It is designed to make everybody terrified to say, or draw anything against, or about Islam. Or about anything that some feudal regimes in Arabia call Islam.
Islam was a small target within Charlie Hebdo's satire; and some of the drawings were totally innocuous, not offensive at all, just amusing. The Catholic Church, over the years, was more of a target for amusement.
Interviewed by TV during their rampage, the two Charlie Hebdo terrorists calmly said that they had been trained and sent by Al Qaeda in Yemen, specifically to kill Charlie Hebdo, an attack long prepared.
The real counter-offensive, the real protection of democracy, and civilization, is to tell the truth, and educate people about what really happened. What's called "Islam" is actually just one variant among one hundred, or so, interpretations of the events which led to "Islam". However it is the one that the Saudi dictatorship uses to its own profit.
It is vital for the Saudis to use their oil money to foster a version of Islam which was basically found only in Arabia fifty years ago. The truth shall not just make us free, but make us safe.
https://patriceayme.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/je-suis-charlie/
It is designed to make everybody terrified to say, or draw anything against, or about Islam. Or about anything that some feudal regimes in Arabia call Islam.
Islam was a small target within Charlie Hebdo's satire; and some of the drawings were totally innocuous, not offensive at all, just amusing. The Catholic Church, over the years, was more of a target for amusement.
Interviewed by TV during their rampage, the two Charlie Hebdo terrorists calmly said that they had been trained and sent by Al Qaeda in Yemen, specifically to kill Charlie Hebdo, an attack long prepared.
The real counter-offensive, the real protection of democracy, and civilization, is to tell the truth, and educate people about what really happened. What's called "Islam" is actually just one variant among one hundred, or so, interpretations of the events which led to "Islam". However it is the one that the Saudi dictatorship uses to its own profit.
It is vital for the Saudis to use their oil money to foster a version of Islam which was basically found only in Arabia fifty years ago. The truth shall not just make us free, but make us safe.
https://patriceayme.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/je-suis-charlie/
6
Too often religion has been given a pass by politicians, journalists and others who shape and influence society’s thinking and behavior for fear of offending religious sensibilities. But what is going on in the Middle East and Pakistan today is not merely a “clash of civilizations”. I fear it may be war between Western civilization and Islam, which is a religion, not a civilization. I also fear this war will end with the defeat and collapse of Islam, because of its inability to reform itself by opening up to and embracing the values that history teaches every society needs in order to progress: freedom of thought and expression and political, religious and social tolerance.
People like Reza Aslan believe Islam will reform itself as Christianity had to do when confronted by the Protestant movement and thereafter the Enlightenment hundreds of years ago. It may be too late for Sunni and even Shiite Islam, though Sufis will weather any storm. The barbarism of al Qaeda, Isis and Boca Haram may well represent the death throes of Islam. They and political Islam will become spent and/or defeated forces as Muslims come to realize that Islam has failed its believers and brought them nothing but poverty, backwardness, intolerance, corruption, death, misery, oppression and failure. That Islam gave and passed on so much knowledge and wisdom to the West, but saved and used so little of it for the benefit of its own believers may become one of human history's greatest tragedies.
People like Reza Aslan believe Islam will reform itself as Christianity had to do when confronted by the Protestant movement and thereafter the Enlightenment hundreds of years ago. It may be too late for Sunni and even Shiite Islam, though Sufis will weather any storm. The barbarism of al Qaeda, Isis and Boca Haram may well represent the death throes of Islam. They and political Islam will become spent and/or defeated forces as Muslims come to realize that Islam has failed its believers and brought them nothing but poverty, backwardness, intolerance, corruption, death, misery, oppression and failure. That Islam gave and passed on so much knowledge and wisdom to the West, but saved and used so little of it for the benefit of its own believers may become one of human history's greatest tragedies.
4
Netanyahu coming to France after asking for French Jews to leave France is more gasoline on the fire. The ethnic conflicts of interests, in this situation, is enough to make one leave for Jamaica and ever look back.
Good. I personally think that it is well past the time that we see militant Islam as the cancer that it is and summon the willingness to eradicate ts adherents.
4
I am Proud of France, This needs to happen everywhere, America who usually leads the Charge, was busy with an inept President, that desperately does not want to be at War with Islam, Obama is afraid to offend anyone, and sides with the Muslims, and not with our long time Allie Israel, whom he treats like our enemy, The Day he is out of Office will be a Great wondrous Sunny Day for all Americans.
6
Our most sincere condolences to the innocent shoppers murdered by Islamic hard-liners this week, and to the heroic police officers who each day stand up to defend most of us from harm.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls is the most courageous European leader on record.
Still it is one thing to state a quite apparent fact, and it is quite another matter to win a war.
America and Europe have no chance of victory against Islamic hard liners, if they bind their hands with current legal opinions and judicial restraint. If France or America remotely desires to protect their respective citizens from terrorism, we must honestly look what President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin were compelled to do in the same situation: Widespread deportations of Islamic males and females, who participate in hate filled mosques, ISIS summer camps, or North African or Afghanistan Al-Quida military training.
Rather than continue to be divided nations, Prime Minister Manuel Valls might wish to unite several nations' intelligence agencies to tract high risk individuals and share their data with their allies.
Too often has it been said this week that there are too many high risk individuals to tract. OK. Keep it simple: put lots of high risk individuals on a really nice 747 airline and fly them to Saudi Arabia, where they can purify the home of Wahhabi Islam, and pray for all of us who practice inferior religions.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls is the most courageous European leader on record.
Still it is one thing to state a quite apparent fact, and it is quite another matter to win a war.
America and Europe have no chance of victory against Islamic hard liners, if they bind their hands with current legal opinions and judicial restraint. If France or America remotely desires to protect their respective citizens from terrorism, we must honestly look what President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin were compelled to do in the same situation: Widespread deportations of Islamic males and females, who participate in hate filled mosques, ISIS summer camps, or North African or Afghanistan Al-Quida military training.
Rather than continue to be divided nations, Prime Minister Manuel Valls might wish to unite several nations' intelligence agencies to tract high risk individuals and share their data with their allies.
Too often has it been said this week that there are too many high risk individuals to tract. OK. Keep it simple: put lots of high risk individuals on a really nice 747 airline and fly them to Saudi Arabia, where they can purify the home of Wahhabi Islam, and pray for all of us who practice inferior religions.
9
Politicians like FM Valls keep saying this is a "war," but then they render this word meaningless by their refusal to follow through and wage war against radical Islamic extremists.
Instead, Western nations continue to pursue terrorism as a law enforcement problem, a strategy which is doomed to failure. The combat is asymmetric, because terrorists are waging unconventional warfare while states respond with police.
The French premier should not use the word "war" unless he has thought through the implications and really is committed to all-out war against not just the individuals who commit terrorist acts but their vast network of support.
Is Valls prepared, for example, to target noncombatant Muslims or Muslim holy sites in order to dissuade radical Muslims and deter terrorist attacks?
Or does Valls just mean this is "war" in some figurative sense, as with our "War on Drugs" or "War on Poverty?"
Instead, Western nations continue to pursue terrorism as a law enforcement problem, a strategy which is doomed to failure. The combat is asymmetric, because terrorists are waging unconventional warfare while states respond with police.
The French premier should not use the word "war" unless he has thought through the implications and really is committed to all-out war against not just the individuals who commit terrorist acts but their vast network of support.
Is Valls prepared, for example, to target noncombatant Muslims or Muslim holy sites in order to dissuade radical Muslims and deter terrorist attacks?
Or does Valls just mean this is "war" in some figurative sense, as with our "War on Drugs" or "War on Poverty?"
6
The western world needs to grow up. Luckily it appears the people in most of it are waking up, even if their governments continue to deny reality they are refusing to do so.
Its time we address reality not wishes..
-We do not get a war the way we wish we get the war we have.
-Peoples/races/religions prefer to be separate and equal. There is nothing inherently wrong in wanting to preserve your nations cultural, religious, racial makeup.
-This war will not end by not fighting it.
People are tired of it. They want solutions, not words.
Its time we address reality not wishes..
-We do not get a war the way we wish we get the war we have.
-Peoples/races/religions prefer to be separate and equal. There is nothing inherently wrong in wanting to preserve your nations cultural, religious, racial makeup.
-This war will not end by not fighting it.
People are tired of it. They want solutions, not words.
4
The French Premier is fighting mad, as he should be. But how is he going to prosecute this war? France stands for liberty, freedom and equality but is he prepared to violate the liberty, freedom and equality of the radical Islamists? Or is he going to violate the liberty, freedom and equality of everyone in his pursuit of the terrorists?
Unless he is willing to bend the rules (as we have over here) and scan everyone constantly (as we do over here), his war will be ineffective. Unless he restricts travel to and from the such vacation of hotspots of the world like Syria, South Yemen, Algeria and Pakistan, the Jihadists will be able to keep recruiting and training killers. Unless he is willing to seize bank accounts, he won't be able to stop the flow of money from France to the terrorists.
The real battle must be fought within the French Islamic community. It's going to be up to the locals to report radicalists to the government. People talk. People have friends. People know but they keep their mouths shut. The Islamic community must treat Jihad like it was the black plague instead of glorifying it as martyrdom. Until the vast majority of peaceful Muslims turn on the radicals, root them out and report them, this war will not be won. Until the "peaceful" Islamic world stops financing terrorists, giving aid and shelter to the Jihadists, this war cannot be won. Tough, painful decisions lie ahead, for all.
Unless he is willing to bend the rules (as we have over here) and scan everyone constantly (as we do over here), his war will be ineffective. Unless he restricts travel to and from the such vacation of hotspots of the world like Syria, South Yemen, Algeria and Pakistan, the Jihadists will be able to keep recruiting and training killers. Unless he is willing to seize bank accounts, he won't be able to stop the flow of money from France to the terrorists.
The real battle must be fought within the French Islamic community. It's going to be up to the locals to report radicalists to the government. People talk. People have friends. People know but they keep their mouths shut. The Islamic community must treat Jihad like it was the black plague instead of glorifying it as martyrdom. Until the vast majority of peaceful Muslims turn on the radicals, root them out and report them, this war will not be won. Until the "peaceful" Islamic world stops financing terrorists, giving aid and shelter to the Jihadists, this war cannot be won. Tough, painful decisions lie ahead, for all.
12
Who can blame them? They were attacked by Radical Islam. The theories about down trodden, angry youth, disenfranchised from civil society is nice but ignores history. People have been that way since one person earned more than the other. That gives no one the right to attack anyone else. Yet such is the only excuse being proffered for mass slaughter by all those who are now racing to the bottom of civilization.
11
The photo caption: "...where a gunman and four of his hostages were killed."
Paragraph 1: "harrowing sieges that led to the deaths of three gunmen and four hostages"
Why are the deaths of the hostages and the terrorists treated as equivalent, or if anything, giving the terrorists' death more weight by being placed first, with the victims almost as an afterthought?
This is depraved.
Paragraph 1: "harrowing sieges that led to the deaths of three gunmen and four hostages"
Why are the deaths of the hostages and the terrorists treated as equivalent, or if anything, giving the terrorists' death more weight by being placed first, with the victims almost as an afterthought?
This is depraved.
7
Declaring 'War' on Radical Islam will only polarize the French people further. For that is a declaration of war on a good part of your own people. It is worse than the American Civil War, since in that conflict, the opponents were geographically separated and you knew where your enemy was.
In this case, your enemy is everywhere--down the street, across the way, in your own apartment bloc.
Instead, the French government and leaders of civil society should mount an outreach program to Muslim youth. It should focus on education, job training, and apprenticeship programs. It must try to break the cycle heightening mutual suspicion and tit for tat.
In this case, your enemy is everywhere--down the street, across the way, in your own apartment bloc.
Instead, the French government and leaders of civil society should mount an outreach program to Muslim youth. It should focus on education, job training, and apprenticeship programs. It must try to break the cycle heightening mutual suspicion and tit for tat.
9
We should do that, outreach, but I believe that such measures alone are insufficient. Increasing education and social economic status will likely empower many to become more radical. The idea that evils arise almost exclusively from poverty etc is wrong, I believe, and related to naive belief systems found frequently in the United States of America.
1
You may be right, but if so, it leads to pessimistic implications: that evil may inhere in humans generally or in Muslims in particular. I am not sure whether you believe that. I would rather believe that human behavior depends on environment and circumstances than some "bad seed" that is inherited.
All of these French citizens, the terrorists who committed or abetted in these crimes, were previously under surveillance, wiretapped or watched apparently by government agents. Yet they were somehow deemed by these officials as not really being national security threats and allowed to slip under the radar. One of the brothers, Cherif Kouachi, had already served time in prison for a terrorist-related crime. But he served only eighteen months though he was sentenced to three years. Even if Cherif was let out early for "good behavior," one would think it would have been a somewhat prudent decision to watch his behavior, whom he associates with and track his movements? This is just another grand failure in intelligence as we all experienced before the 9/11 attacks.
And how does one actually prosecute a war on radical Islam? Is there a laser-guided bomb or perhaps a missile fired from a drone that can surgically and precisely remove radical words and ideologies From the French language? This Hollande seems to be as clueless as Bush was when he declared a war on terror afterr we were attacked. Is this any way to run a French restaurant yet alone French intelligence? I want to speak to the manager about the service! Toute suite!
And how does one actually prosecute a war on radical Islam? Is there a laser-guided bomb or perhaps a missile fired from a drone that can surgically and precisely remove radical words and ideologies From the French language? This Hollande seems to be as clueless as Bush was when he declared a war on terror afterr we were attacked. Is this any way to run a French restaurant yet alone French intelligence? I want to speak to the manager about the service! Toute suite!
15
That thought certainly crossed my mind as well ... that the French President simply paraphrased George Bush in declaring a war on 'radical Islam'. Good luck with that one. Ask the Americans how successful they have been in eradicating terrorists and terrorism in the years since the 9-1-1 attacks.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls has declared France is at war - at war with RADICAL ISLAM. Trust the French to draw a firm line between the moderates and the fanatics. France has rightly confirmed it's secular identity even in their moment of pain and crisis. More for us to learn from them besides their fabulous cuisine.
5
The Paris est Charlie lights on the Arc de Triumph would have been much effective with a large illuminated hanging banner of many of Charlie Hebdo's cartoons. I'm not talking about just the Muhammad ones but rather a collage of all of the religious figures that they have lampooned. The message would be clear - France supports freedom of speech no matter who it offends - if you're a radical fundamental religious nut and can't take it - go elsewhere.
5
As perverse it was, the murderers of the Charlie Hebdo staff had their 'justification': the staff had insulted their prophet.
But what was the justification for the murders of Jewish people at the kosher supermarket? The only one is that they were Jewish. Their Jewishness justified their murder.
This is a huge difference in 'rationale'. A terrifying difference.
But what was the justification for the murders of Jewish people at the kosher supermarket? The only one is that they were Jewish. Their Jewishness justified their murder.
This is a huge difference in 'rationale'. A terrifying difference.
2
There is absolutely NO justification, NO difference and NO rationale for the slaying of the Charlie Hebdo staff and the Jewish people at the kosher supermarket. One, they were all innocent, two they were all murdered and three, in the eyes of the islamic terrorists, they were all THE enemy. This, and this alone, is terrifying!
1
The cause of the problem, pure and simple is radical Islam.The jihadis export their violence so their problem becomes our problem. It is sick, deranged people who hijack a sector of Islam to meet their sick minds. I am so tired of hearing it is somehow or in some way our fault. Give me a break!! Last year Saudi Arabia beheaded ten people in the holy city of Mecca because they were gay.
6
"Radical Islam"?
There is only "Islam."
There is only "Islam."
3
The problem is that thge ruling class interests, in this case concerning massive immigration - legal or illegal and from countries where true assimilation, adoption of general set of values and culture of the new home is not statistically enough likely.
For the ruling class massive immigration means economic benefits (maximizing profits) through both getting new consumers to help take care of overproduction of almost everything (via taxation of middle class and other transfers) as well as having downward pressure on wages.
But the middle class and working class (or unemployed) in many ways experience negative burdens from it: Unlike the rich who live in exclusive locations, they have to live in or close to where struggling immigrants do. Unlike the rich whose kids to private schools, they kids have to attend public schools with kids of these immigrants who too often have all kinds of fundamental issues. Unlike the rich, who live off their investment, they have to toil, at the same place with these immigrants. When disgruntled immigrants, "radicalized islamist" do terrorist attack, it usually takes place at public place, not at luxurious private enclave.
But as in representative democracy politicians sand legislation, even media represent interests of those who pay them, middle class and working class has little chance to have their interests promoted.
It is increasingly and in huge cost (in lives, damages and security measures) obvious that "diversity" is not a plus.
For the ruling class massive immigration means economic benefits (maximizing profits) through both getting new consumers to help take care of overproduction of almost everything (via taxation of middle class and other transfers) as well as having downward pressure on wages.
But the middle class and working class (or unemployed) in many ways experience negative burdens from it: Unlike the rich who live in exclusive locations, they have to live in or close to where struggling immigrants do. Unlike the rich whose kids to private schools, they kids have to attend public schools with kids of these immigrants who too often have all kinds of fundamental issues. Unlike the rich, who live off their investment, they have to toil, at the same place with these immigrants. When disgruntled immigrants, "radicalized islamist" do terrorist attack, it usually takes place at public place, not at luxurious private enclave.
But as in representative democracy politicians sand legislation, even media represent interests of those who pay them, middle class and working class has little chance to have their interests promoted.
It is increasingly and in huge cost (in lives, damages and security measures) obvious that "diversity" is not a plus.
3
After his friends murder cartoonists, Coulibaly goes after another easy target, Jews in a grocery. A few years ago, a publication in an Arab nation ran a contest. Who could come up with the best joke about Jews? Needless to say, lots of Jews entered the contest. Unlike radical Muslims, Jews can take a joke about themselves. They tell those jokes themselves. The American media never ran a follow-up on that story.
7
I agree with Simon (Tampa). The root cause of this problem is and always has been the "devil deal" between the House of Saud and the Salafis. In case no one has noticed, the Saudis continue to pump oil at discount prices to squash the emerging oil shale industry that would make the US independent of Saudi Oil. We should call the bluff. Stop buying Saudi Oil unless they stop all support for the export of Sunni terrorism and repudiate the deal with the Salafis.
4
excuse me, but sacrificing more ecological health at home to hang on to our fossil fuel addiction does not sound very independent to me.
Here's a partial list of terrorist organizations. And the one thing they all have in common: Islam.
Boko Haram
Muslim Brotherhood
Al Queda,
ISIS
Abdullah Azzam Brigades
Abu Nidal Organization
Abu Sayyaf
Aden-Abyan Islamic Army
Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj
al-Aqsa Foundation
al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Al-Badr
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Al Ghurabaa
al-Haramain Foundation
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Al-Mourabitoun
al-nusra-front
al-Qaeda
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Al-Shabaab
Boko Haram
Muslim Brotherhood
Al Queda,
ISIS
Abdullah Azzam Brigades
Abu Nidal Organization
Abu Sayyaf
Aden-Abyan Islamic Army
Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj
al-Aqsa Foundation
al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Al-Badr
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Al Ghurabaa
al-Haramain Foundation
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Al-Mourabitoun
al-nusra-front
al-Qaeda
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Al-Shabaab
10
Isn't anyone disturbed by all the "war" talk we have been having over the past years that have nothing to do with actual war?
WAR on drugs. WAR on human trafficing. WAR on terrorism. WAR on drug cartels. WAR on crime and criminals. That is above and beyond the wars we actually do fight in either with boots on the ground or with drones in the air.
My lord! Is this never going to end?
WAR on drugs. WAR on human trafficing. WAR on terrorism. WAR on drug cartels. WAR on crime and criminals. That is above and beyond the wars we actually do fight in either with boots on the ground or with drones in the air.
My lord! Is this never going to end?
1
Ideological violence is certainly not new. But it is dishonest to lump all violence into a single pile and then bemoan human nature in general. It is an abdication of intellectual and moral responsibility. Political terrorism is not the same as street crime. A just war is not the same as a war of aggression. A crazy shooter is not the same as a religious martyr. A war of values between Western civilization and radical Islam is long overdue. Now we need clear voices of public intellectuals analyzing the ideology of radical Islam and explaining us what it is about this particular religion at the current stage of its development that has produced this poisonous offspring. Instead, unfortunaly, we hear apologists assuring us that Islam is a religion of peace, blaming colonialism, Zionism, the victims, or everything under the sun except the ideology that the terrorists themselves are absolutely clear, is the motivation for their actions. A sizable minority of Muslims across the world, in places as far away from Algiers as China and Checnya, support this ideology. I suggest reading a recent speech by Egyptian president al-Sisi that is more blunt about its dangers than many mealy-mouthed Western apologist would ever admit. As for Muslims killing other Muslims: every revolution begins with a self-purge and often ends this way as well.
5
Rupert Murdoch is spot on – until the world lets go of its political correctness and demands that Islamic leaders, governments and followers of Islam look to the true, root cause of the Radical Islamic Movement (namely the Jihadis following the Koran as a cookbook) and stare their own ideology down in the face….until that happens I don’t see the Radical Islamic Movement doing anything but metastasizing. The same holds true in Iraq where the focus has been entirely on military strategy and tactics and not one word has been said about the root motivations and beliefs of ISIS.
5
This article misses a central point-Mr. Coulibaly called a news station and told them he specifically chose the kosher supermarket in order to target and kill Jews. Not right to downplay the anti-Semitic core of fundamentalist/radical Islam, which is a major motivator from IS to Hezbollah and Hamas, etc.
This info. wasn't broadcasted until after the police killed Coulibaly, but nonetheless it is true.
This info. wasn't broadcasted until after the police killed Coulibaly, but nonetheless it is true.
7
Instead of a war on terrorists we should have a war against religion. That is been the cause of millions upon millions of deaths. why do people fight each other over "my invisible god is better than your invisible god". ? Keep religion out of politics. We need to put a ban on speaking about cults.
3
I don't like the sound of this. Reminds me of "bring it on". Better to make some impressive operations than to bloviate.
Why no body is talking about Muslim policeman who was killed in the line of duty, it seems racism at its height in France. JE SUS AHMED
3
They are. Even at conservative sites like Legal Insurrection
Because we are talking about the violent, unjustified murder of 16 people in the name of Islam. The jihadis are racists, killing satirical writers at work and innocent Jews shopping for the Sabbath.
1
Reports are that the female co conspirator is in Syria ands that this isn't the first time she has visited there. Why on earth are these individuals allowed to travel back and forth from terrorist trying camps? It is time to stop the revolving door.
8
This is very sad
2
There is a certain irony that nations and entities like Turkey and Palestine, that have no free press, are sending their leaders to march on Sunday. Stay home.
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/turkey#.VLHtgnuugUM
https://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/west-bank-and-gaz...
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/turkey#.VLHtgnuugUM
https://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/west-bank-and-gaz...
13
The way to wage war on Islam is to withdraw our forces and to withdraw aid from any government that maintains militant training grounds within their borders. The Saudis have plenty of money to back terrorism, let them back the economies of these countries instead. All radical Islamists who travel to other countries to fight foreign wars in the name of Islam get a one way ticket. Once they have done this, they become stateless, they do not have the option to come back. Their families should also be subject to deportation. Women's rights need to be enforced and protected. France is right to not allow face coverings, because this makes women invisible. If women understand that their families will be subject to punishment if they are found to be militant, maybe they will encourage a change. Finally, any Imam preaching hatred in a mosque or on the internet needs to be detained. I think once aid dries up, none of the following will need to be considered. No more war, no more democracy building and no more immigration from countries known to support terrorism. A serious effort needs to be made to integrate the immigrants already here, and that includes demanding that they conform to certain American norms i.e. no burkas or face coverings. I am saddened to think that my children will never know a world without terrorism. Today on the front page, France, a 10 year old blows herself up and Boka Haram kills 2000...that's all in the name of Islam. No more!
22
You make only a few good points. But saying that it is a "war on Islam" is like saying America"s past war on the Ku Klux Klan was a "war on Christianity." Although the Klan burned crosses and claimed that they were doing God's work, we never said that we were attacking Christianity.
And telling Muslim women how they are not allowed to dress is the same as telling nuns that they can no longer wear habits, or that orthodox Jewish women cannot cover their hair in public too. Why are you threatened by some women's attire but not by others? The attire causes you or no one else any harm.
Call it what it is: a war against certain individuals who terrorize others in the name of religion, just like the Klan and people throughout history have done. It's not the religion; it's certain screwed-up individuals hell-bent on havoc for their on wicked cause, and they do not represent their religion. Because they say something does not make it so. It's people who are already biased against Muslims who readily embrace such rhetoric as representative of all Muslims.
And telling Muslim women how they are not allowed to dress is the same as telling nuns that they can no longer wear habits, or that orthodox Jewish women cannot cover their hair in public too. Why are you threatened by some women's attire but not by others? The attire causes you or no one else any harm.
Call it what it is: a war against certain individuals who terrorize others in the name of religion, just like the Klan and people throughout history have done. It's not the religion; it's certain screwed-up individuals hell-bent on havoc for their on wicked cause, and they do not represent their religion. Because they say something does not make it so. It's people who are already biased against Muslims who readily embrace such rhetoric as representative of all Muslims.
The current headline (Premier Declares 'War') to this article is misleading, even though the NYT has now included 'war' in quotes. Valls has not declared war; he has made a declaration that there is a war. While the first sentence has it correct, the headline - which is what many people will take away - should be replaced.
35
Hayat Boumeddiene appears to have joined her death cult in Syria. One can only wish her the martyrdom she seeks; let us prey she doesn't take anyone with her.
22
Is this attack anything new? We have had attacks throughout the world and spent 100's of billions on counter terrorism. What more could we possibly do and still not be a total surveillance state (which we are close to already) ? This applies to France and other European nations also. It's not like it is something new that hasn't been dealt with before.
26
Dealt with before ... how?
1
Law enforcement learns by trial and error. Since the shoe bomber, we take off our shoes at the airport. Limitations on liquids date back to a liquid explosives plot. And after 9/11, all-around security was enhanced. If there is anything to be learned from this attack, law enforcement will want to incorporate it into security procedures. The fact that security is already onerous does not mean we should stop learning from experience. It means that security should better reflect the threats out there and be intelligently designed to maximize our safety while minimizing improper intrusions into our lives.
What more could we do? A lot. How about doing what we can to not buy oil from the middle east - that means drilling here as well as promoting renewables. We can also secure our borders and pay closer attention to who is entering our country. We can also deport imams (and their supporters) who reject the principles espoused in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights (like say - the First Amendment). There's lots we can do. But you're too afraid to stand up for yourself.
Hope this crime will be the lesson to all those who still believe they can build states exclusive for one specific religion. The today Middle East region conflicts is caused by a powerful minority of fundamentalist on all sides. Rabin
12
This all took place in France. Your point is irrelevant.
2
How to fight the war in France and in America? And all other countries that care about preserving and maybe even spreading a liberal, egalitarian, non-sexist, democratic, freedom-loving way of life? With mandatory public schooling and mandatory military service. These are the two great equalizers of any society, and the two best opportunities to impart a common set of democratic values to a population that may differ in race, religion, creed, national origin, and collective unconscious.
25
Sadly, you can't get there from here. Not even close.
1
Instead of declaring war against the terrorist, what about immigration reform ?
51
They were born in France.
Too late ... the terrorists are native born French citizens.
1
Those terrorists were French born. What do you propose to do with them currently.
Terrorism, the use of violence against civilians is not new and it is not unique to Islamic extremists. Though we are hyper-aware of this threat from groups that view themselves as the only true Muslims, let us not forget that assaults on civilians have been used widely throughout human existence and was a widespread occurrence in the last century. Dresden, The Holocaust, Biafra, Rwanda, Cambodia, Oklahoma City... None of these had anything to do with Islam. The problem is not that Islam harbors fanatics, that Europeans allow Muslim immigrants to dwell in impoverished ghettos, or that the Western Nations support despots to ensure access to the oil of the Middle East, though all are true. The problem is that people, and states,
are all too willing to use violence to advance their own self-interest. Until we eschew violence, it will always be a weapon easily adopted by the least among us to strike at the priviledged.
are all too willing to use violence to advance their own self-interest. Until we eschew violence, it will always be a weapon easily adopted by the least among us to strike at the priviledged.
15
I was not aware that terrorists from Rwanda or Cambodia hijacked airliners or had homicide bombers that walked into pizza parlors and got on buses throughout the world.
So, you blame Europeans for Muslims living in ghettos? Should Europeans give them better housing and move their sharia courts to the city hall?
While it is true that throughout history there has been terrorism used by different groups for different reasons, the primary source of terrorism today and for the past 40 years has been Islam. Funded and supported by Iran.
It sounds almost like a justification or an excuse the way you put your comment, and the claim of it being the fault of Europeans is rather absurd.
So, you blame Europeans for Muslims living in ghettos? Should Europeans give them better housing and move their sharia courts to the city hall?
While it is true that throughout history there has been terrorism used by different groups for different reasons, the primary source of terrorism today and for the past 40 years has been Islam. Funded and supported by Iran.
It sounds almost like a justification or an excuse the way you put your comment, and the claim of it being the fault of Europeans is rather absurd.
4
If we immediately eschew violence the terrorists will leave us alone?
not only people and states, but the whole nature is practicing violence (if they have enough strength), humans are just a (most violent) part of it. to my understanding, the difference occurs solely where a person has thinking ability, ability to see the situation from aside, to treat his/her urges as those of a stranger's while making judgements--this is what i call education. but i'm afraid a tiny minority of humans is on that level--if there is such a minority at all.
It's not likely that demonstrating some ahimsa will make violence go away.
It's not likely that demonstrating some ahimsa will make violence go away.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls stopped short of a state ban on private-party ransom payments to ISIS, al Qaeda, etc. for their release of French hostages.
But such a ban may yet be imposed if the dogged French news media discover such ransom payments ended up funding the terrorist attacks by Hayat Boumeddiene, Amedy Coulibaly, Said and Cherif Kouachi.
But such a ban may yet be imposed if the dogged French news media discover such ransom payments ended up funding the terrorist attacks by Hayat Boumeddiene, Amedy Coulibaly, Said and Cherif Kouachi.
17
I'm horrified by the rush to judgment against Ms. Boumeddiene and Islam in general. We don't know yet if either was involved.
3
Your ignorance is appalling but not surprising.
Islam was not involved? What planet are you residing on?
As for the woman- yes there is a 1,000,000 to :1 shot she wasn't involved- and just happened to be living with this thug for four years and happened to take a plane to Turkey and go overland to Syria a few days before the attack.
Maybe when she comes back you can have her over for dinner. Have her check her cross bow in your salon
Islam was not involved? What planet are you residing on?
As for the woman- yes there is a 1,000,000 to :1 shot she wasn't involved- and just happened to be living with this thug for four years and happened to take a plane to Turkey and go overland to Syria a few days before the attack.
Maybe when she comes back you can have her over for dinner. Have her check her cross bow in your salon
154
Whom else would you suggest we blame? There does not appear to be any information that suggests alternative perpetraters.
37
Willful blindness is one thing.
But aspiring to be the cause of blindness in others is worse.
But aspiring to be the cause of blindness in others is worse.
4
Nearly 2,000 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Nigeria this week . . .
. . . and Western media have barely noticed, having chosen instead to focus almost exclusively on the Paris attacks, in which a handful of Westerners were killed. I don't, for one moment, wish to detract from the horror of the attacks in Paris, but we shouldn't view a terrorist attack as being uniquely horrific merely because its targets were primarily Western Europeans or Americans. Our news media, in their very selective coverage of incidents such as this, feed a sense of unique victimization whenever it is Americans or Western Europeans who are the victims of terrorist attacks. They certainly did this in the wake of 9-11, and it contributed, I believe, to the apparently widespread belief among Americans that the U.S. is somehow uniquely exempt from moral constraint in its response to terrorist attacks.
http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/nigerians-hit-by-brutal-...
. . . and Western media have barely noticed, having chosen instead to focus almost exclusively on the Paris attacks, in which a handful of Westerners were killed. I don't, for one moment, wish to detract from the horror of the attacks in Paris, but we shouldn't view a terrorist attack as being uniquely horrific merely because its targets were primarily Western Europeans or Americans. Our news media, in their very selective coverage of incidents such as this, feed a sense of unique victimization whenever it is Americans or Western Europeans who are the victims of terrorist attacks. They certainly did this in the wake of 9-11, and it contributed, I believe, to the apparently widespread belief among Americans that the U.S. is somehow uniquely exempt from moral constraint in its response to terrorist attacks.
http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/nigerians-hit-by-brutal-...
73
please note, there were no americans in this attack.
6
How dare you berate western media, in this of all weeks!! The reason that many places are not covered is because it is simply too dangerous for journalists to go there. You can't tell a story if you aren't there. As we found this week, even journalists in Paris are subject to murder. James Foley and his colleagues were kidnapped and beheaded getting a story for you. As a journalist, it's not safe to embed with Boka Horam. Even the governments of these countries with US help can't find them and the kidnapped girls, Perhaps if you are concerned, you should go to these areas and write about them...I can guarantee you that if you got a story out...that is before they killed, raped or tortured you....someone would buy it. I am a journalist and at this point I wouldn't even go to Egypt. It is dangerous, expensive and most news organizations will not take the very real risks. Boka Horam is on the front page of this paper, as is the 10 year girl suicide bomber, as was the Turkish bomber. We are 10 days into 2015, and 10 journalists have already been killed. Your criticism shows your ignorance and bias, while journalists are out there, taking extreme risks to get the story for you, you have the nerve to criticize the brave journalists who die to do their job. Shame on you.
2
Sure, let's focus on both attacks--in Paris and in Nigeria. Let's also not forget that the perpetrators in both cases are Muslim fanatics.
2
If you are on no fly list in one country it should be shared with all countries. How did they manage to buy guns while being on no fly list?
21
You can't buy Kalishnikovs in France, whether or not you are on a terrorist list. They were probably given those guns or procured them overseas, in any case circumventing any possible identification.
16
Ever hear of the black market?
19
There have been war weapons in the French suburbs (read Muslim neighborhoods) since the war in Kosovo. They're available to anybody for the right price.
Headline: French Premier Declares ‘War’ on Radical Islam
Not a moment too soon.
64
Would that our leaders would make such a clear statement of what we are against.
59
President Bush did.
He, at least, understood immediately what we are up against.
And how to deal with it.
If only our nation had the fortitude to follow through...
He, at least, understood immediately what we are up against.
And how to deal with it.
If only our nation had the fortitude to follow through...
3
He has. He is against the Keystone pipeline. And double bogeys.
1
Please, how many ways can Obama say it. And who made the decision to kill Anwar al-Awlaki not to mention Bin Laden?
The knee jerk response to paint the President as asleep at the switch on this issue is as false as it is patently misleading.
The knee jerk response to paint the President as asleep at the switch on this issue is as false as it is patently misleading.
2
As citizens of this world, we are all with France at this important moment of history. Though I cannot participate in the Unity Rally physically, my heart and prayers will be present along with others.
The world is not against Islam. What we are against is extremists who kill innocents in the name of Islam. The participation of Turkish Prime Minister and Palestinian Prime Minister will send and clear and loud message that Europe is not against Islam.
As regards containing lone wolves, Islamic religious leaders should address the faithfuls every now and then, through all forms of media, and make a point that Islam does not advocate violence and killing people.
The world is not against Islam. What we are against is extremists who kill innocents in the name of Islam. The participation of Turkish Prime Minister and Palestinian Prime Minister will send and clear and loud message that Europe is not against Islam.
As regards containing lone wolves, Islamic religious leaders should address the faithfuls every now and then, through all forms of media, and make a point that Islam does not advocate violence and killing people.
67
Those are kind and generous thoughts. Unfortunately, Islamic ideology (i.e., the primitive religion plus barbaric Sharia law and an ugly political agenda) are very much "against Europe." It is indeed naïve not to recognize the struggle between enlightened Western values and primitive, misogynistic Islamic values. It is no coincidence that extremists kill innocents in the name of Islam because Islam is in fact extreme in its bizarre philosophy. Our failure to recognize the difference between our highly valued enlightened Western culture and Islam's primitive philosophy may be our undoing.
2
Sorry, but Islamic leaders need to do more than addressing faithfuls every now and then, through all forms of media, and make a point that Islam does not advocate violence and killing people. They need to take the lead in rooting out these radicalized members of their community, their mosques and even their own families, and turn them over to the police. They need to exommunicate the radical preachers who are hijacking their religion. Until they are willing to do this they will always be suspect and mistrusted, and Islam cannot be called a religion of peace.
3
The Turkish and Palestinian prime ministers will be shedding plenty of crocodile tears.
What about the parents of these brothers...what's their responsibility? Did they teach them to be radical? How about their religious leader? What is their culpability here?
Someone doesn't just wake up thinking this way...they, often times, are taught from a young age to hold certain beliefs and in this case, evil beliefs. Where did these ideas and beliefs for these two brothers come from? Let's find out and shut it down...and the same everywhere.
And the radicalized "religious" leaders in every Western country preaching kill the USA, Kill democracy, Kill Free speech, Kill the infidels need themselves deported or jailed!!!!!!
Lastly, why...WHY IS THERE NOT ANY CONSERTED EFFORT TO STOP THE VIRUS OF RADICAL ISLAM? Where's the plan? This is a war let's treat it as such!
Someone doesn't just wake up thinking this way...they, often times, are taught from a young age to hold certain beliefs and in this case, evil beliefs. Where did these ideas and beliefs for these two brothers come from? Let's find out and shut it down...and the same everywhere.
And the radicalized "religious" leaders in every Western country preaching kill the USA, Kill democracy, Kill Free speech, Kill the infidels need themselves deported or jailed!!!!!!
Lastly, why...WHY IS THERE NOT ANY CONSERTED EFFORT TO STOP THE VIRUS OF RADICAL ISLAM? Where's the plan? This is a war let's treat it as such!
41
I believe it's been reported that they were orphans raised in foster care.
13
Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword.
3
Ms. Boumeddiene was also raised in foster care. A sad life all the way through.
France declares a War on radical Islam? Don't make me laugh. One of the terrorists has somehow managed to escape, reach Turkey and cross over to Syria in one short day. She obviously took a plane, which speaks volumes about security at French airports, and a preview of how this "war" is going to be conducted.
15
The news sources I have read indicate she departed France prior to the attack.
22
Actually, I've been quite impressed with the French police through all of this. Maybe not the intelligence services...
16
She left days before the attacks started and is yet to be proven an accomplice. Now for geography: you know you could drive to Turkey from France, right? No need to catch a plane, though it's certainly more convenient.
10
The girl is still seriously involved whether she was in town at the time or not if the news reports are even half true. How can any western country these days let any citizen back in when they travel to these Middle East countries that sponsor or support the radical's cause unless that citizen has a verifiable reason to do so. And visiting a relative is not a valid reason. Turkey should have detained her if there was any suspicion but they let people like this through all the time. These radicals in Paris were on the list to watch from past actions and travel. I'm usually liberal on most things but this..........
30
Rewriting the law may help. French citizens engaging in lethal combat abroad for any entity other than France, without Commission from France, should have their citizenship of France revoked.
121
Not sure there is a provision in US law to revoke citizenship, is there?
5
Native-born US citizens cannot have their citizenship revoked. They can renounce their citizenship, though.
Naturalized US citizens can have their citizenship revoked under certain defined circumstances. They can also renounce their citizenship.
http://www.newcitizen.us/losing.html
Naturalized US citizens can have their citizenship revoked under certain defined circumstances. They can also renounce their citizenship.
http://www.newcitizen.us/losing.html
1
How would this logic have applied to Americans who went to France, Spain, Burma, etc. to fight for the "right" side in WWI and WWII before the USA declared war?
We can start with: If you travel to Yemen, you don't come back. You lose your citizenship.
170
There are many Yemeni-Americans with relatives in Yemeni. Not all Yemenis are terrorists and many go back and forth all of the time to see their families.
Why, there is some interesting architecture that one might quite justifiably want to admire.
1
I just heard the bereft family of murdered police officer Ahmed Merabet speak powerfully about the need for calm and not to conflate terrorism with any group. This Muslim family feels the same pain from the senseless killings as all victims' loved ones.
48
I feel sorry for Ahmed but he was not the target. Islam has no right to dictate what we write or say. There seems to be something in Islam that many (not just a few) can interpret giving them the right to kill innocent people because they said or wrote something satirical about there prophet or religion. I can get angry and disagree but that act of violence should never be. How and where does this interpretation come from. Obviously it has become now not that radical within Islam and is growing at a rapid rate.
74
Hi Jonathan,
You're right that in this instance, Ahmed was an incidental, but Muslims are killed by each other daily, sometimes even in Mosques, especially in Pakistan and Iraq, though too many others qualify. Of course violence is never an acceptable outlet for offense or form of political discourse. For your observation that Islam-based violence is growing, I think that every time it happens, someone registers the violent act as an expression of fidelity, so we see the horrific snowball effect. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. Best regards.
You're right that in this instance, Ahmed was an incidental, but Muslims are killed by each other daily, sometimes even in Mosques, especially in Pakistan and Iraq, though too many others qualify. Of course violence is never an acceptable outlet for offense or form of political discourse. For your observation that Islam-based violence is growing, I think that every time it happens, someone registers the violent act as an expression of fidelity, so we see the horrific snowball effect. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. Best regards.
7
I am curious, where in Islam does it say that it's OK to kill someone for "insulting" prophet Muhammad? No where.
It is time to establish an international islamic court of justice, then find a way to capture these so-called Muslims alive and have them punished under Islamic law (death most likely).
It is time to establish an international islamic court of justice, then find a way to capture these so-called Muslims alive and have them punished under Islamic law (death most likely).
9
Hopefully the French will be smarter than the U.S. after 9/11. Endless war that only creates more and more terrorists. No end in sight. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians killed or injured by our Iraq invasion.
The U.S. has done nothing to stem the tide of extremism and has poured gasoline on the situation.
The U.S. has done nothing to stem the tide of extremism and has poured gasoline on the situation.
92
"Hopefully the French will be smarter than the U.S. after 9/11. Endless war that only creates more and more terrorists. No end in sight. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians killed or injured by our Iraq invasion.
The U.S. has done nothing to stem the tide of extremism and has poured gasoline on the situation."
It was endless war because our military had one arm tied behind it's back before ever setting foot in Afghanistan/Iraq. The majority of those innocent lives lost were due to the enemy we were fighting, who knew we would not shoot them if they hid behind women and children. And killed those who provided us with intel.
Pouring gasoline on the situation has obviously made a difference since 9/11. They can only rely on a very small group to do anything because we took the fight to them, and those small groups and individuals have not been successful, save for Boston. Which is a pretty good record.
What happens in Europe, while terrible, is not our fault. We cannot force Europe to adopt our methods, but we do try to give intel none the less.
The U.S. has done nothing to stem the tide of extremism and has poured gasoline on the situation."
It was endless war because our military had one arm tied behind it's back before ever setting foot in Afghanistan/Iraq. The majority of those innocent lives lost were due to the enemy we were fighting, who knew we would not shoot them if they hid behind women and children. And killed those who provided us with intel.
Pouring gasoline on the situation has obviously made a difference since 9/11. They can only rely on a very small group to do anything because we took the fight to them, and those small groups and individuals have not been successful, save for Boston. Which is a pretty good record.
What happens in Europe, while terrible, is not our fault. We cannot force Europe to adopt our methods, but we do try to give intel none the less.
12
Endless war is better than endless surrender.
2
Scott, I agree completely with what you have said.
I've been thinking all day about the idea of going to war with a thought. Truly private thought and discussions can skirt surveillance. Radicalization draws on ideas that people in nations that don't do thought policing are at liberty to have, which is an essential paradox to work with. But, people know where the high density neighborhoods are; I'd love to see public service announcements that say, "We don't know what happens when you die, but you don't get 79 virgins" or some humorous takes on the thoughts that infiltrate the mind that gets radicalized. Maybe messages drawing upon one's sense of ethics. Yes, propaganda - but propaganda that counters their propaganda. Likewise, jihadist websites should be flooded with counter messages that make people laugh and think, not to offend, but try to bring balance out the thoughts of young, disaffected, searching youth.
I know it's not much, but what do you do when people's thoughts turn so dark and they're not going to search out an alternative - you try to turn on a light for them.
I know it's not much, but what do you do when people's thoughts turn so dark and they're not going to search out an alternative - you try to turn on a light for them.
12
What do you do? Bring the force of technology to bear in monitoring your enemies.
3
All the technological monitoring in the world couldn't change my mind about something (like my belief in freedom of thought), if anything it would more deeply ingrain the thought and make me feel powerful to need to be monitored. This is a war of thoughts, stoking paranoia, fear, all that junk isn't going to eradicate the central and growing issue. There are a lot of angles which need to be covered.
3
I heartily agree that something should be done to offer an alternative to 'young disaffected, searching youth" to joining radical Islamic terrorist groups. However I doubt that humorous public messages such as you suggest would do the trick. They do not appear to share the same sense of humor as mainstream French intellectuals, given their reactions to the cartoons in CharlieHebdo, which I found genuinely funny. Something more substantive needs to be offered these young people, such as jobs. Instead of investing in more military action, how about investing in massive programs to help these kids find a way out of their substandard living situations.
Speaking of the offer of 79 virgins to young men, I was wondering what the young women are offered..
Speaking of the offer of 79 virgins to young men, I was wondering what the young women are offered..
5
I am tired of hearing people putting their faith before their country;
I am tired of watching minorities controlling the majority on the name of the political correctness;
I am tired of watching dead people on the street because of a god;
I am tired of war;
let's face it, our world can be sometimes exhausting.
I am tired of watching minorities controlling the majority on the name of the political correctness;
I am tired of watching dead people on the street because of a god;
I am tired of war;
let's face it, our world can be sometimes exhausting.
46
Thou shall not murder one of the ten commandments of which no-one seems to follow
11
Of course, the ten commandments do not apply to Muslims.
Ha, when Moses came down from the mountain and saw the Golden Calf he had his henchmen kill 3000.
This is rather like declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor. In this case, a NUMBER of Pearl Harbors. When the authorities finally begin going into the 'police no-go' areas in the projects and starting to root out the jihadis and seize the cash, weapons, computers and various other devices they've been stockpiling over the years - WITH the cooperation of those Muslims who really do consider themselves loyal French citizens - then seeing will be believing.
41
No, it is nothing like stopping the Japanese war machine stone cold. It would not be possible to be more wrong than you are about this.
6
Please explain how dealing with the situation before us has the slightest resemblance to the U.S. going to war after Pearl Harbour.
2
Congrats to the French Prime Minister, who has spoken the truth about a "war with radical Islam," unlike the American president who refuses to acknowledge the grim reality.
118
Stop blowing smoke! Obama understands the reality. You have a better solution? Let's hear it.
64
Seconded. What has been obvious to the civilized world for decades has to be verbalized by the French.
Vive la France!!
Vive la France!!
23
Could it be that Hollande is not taking campaign/hush money from Muslim sources? With no money masters to please, like Bush/Cheney did in 2001, Hollande can speak the truth.
2
I hope France realizes that this war must be fought in unconventional ways. The best way to fight radical Islam in France is to draw young French Arabs away from the mosques. How do you do that? The same way you draw them away from gangs and street crime: with sports leagues, libraries, after school programs, job placement....
.
If France is anything like the US, this will be a hard sell politically. But it has got to be done. Every young French Arab who joins a soccer league instead of a sketchy storefront Mosque, is a man who will never set off a bomb or shoot people on the street. This is how France's war on Radical Islam must be fought.
.
If France is anything like the US, this will be a hard sell politically. But it has got to be done. Every young French Arab who joins a soccer league instead of a sketchy storefront Mosque, is a man who will never set off a bomb or shoot people on the street. This is how France's war on Radical Islam must be fought.
47
I totally agree that something substantive should be offered to these young people. Sports is a good suggestion. Also training in the arts, such as theater, music, writing, or visual arts. France has a long history of artistic splendor. Why not give these kids some first rate training to give them an alternative to suicide missions.
6
Jobs, jobs, jobs - decent jobs and economic hope for a better life would end almost all terrorism.
2
I do hope there will be hundreds of thousands of persons marching in the streets tomorrow. Showing unity against mass destruction and terror will certainly not bring back people killed, whether in France or in Nigeria, but it just show these groups they will not shut democracy up.
63
I recall after 9/11 that a rally was planned, I think it was in Central Park - but then it was cancelled. Security concerns, they said. I wish we had done it anyway. Nothing was gained by not showing our solidarity for each other in NYC that terrible month.
2
Indeed, world leaders are converging on Paris to show their solidarity, too; thought not, as far as I know, Barack Obama.
How about a war on the things that make people susceptible to radical Islam? Alienation, disenfranchisement, lack of assimilation, breakdown of the family, grief, displacement, refugee status, lack of education and economic opportunity, emotional and physical abuse, the list goes on. Besides being Muslim, the two who murdered people at Charlie Hebdo were 'orphans raised in foster care.' Osama Bin Laden had little to no relationship with his father. The Boston marathon bombers, same kind of scenario. Not everyone raised with these challenges becomes a terrorist, but you're more likely to find people like this training in Yemen. Address the things that wound people and you'll have much less radical anything.
92
"Osama Bin Laden had little to no relationship with his father." Poor Osama. His dad did not love him and so he had to murder thousands. Not to mention his "lack of education and economic opportunity."
77
In other words, Islamic terrorism has nothing to do with Islam, it has to do with societal problems. That makes sense. That is why we see so many non-Muslim, poor Latin Americans, Africans and Indians resorting to terrorism as a means to vent their anger, right?
78
How about starting with eliminating the radical Muslim clerics and mosques that recruit these alienated, disenfranchised, uneducated, abused and poor refugees?
Why don't the other clerics in the Muslim 'no go zones' take charge and eliminate the conduit between the refugees and Syria and Yemen?
Why don't the other clerics in the Muslim 'no go zones' take charge and eliminate the conduit between the refugees and Syria and Yemen?
34
Radical Islam was already at War and France was oblivious to it until Charlie was attacked. How exactly France is going to respond remains to be seen How do they begin and where is another questions. Freeing the hostages and hunting down the gunmen was a good starting point but the future is uncertain Que sera sera. What ever will be will be the future is not ours to see. Que sera sera. What will be will be. Time to act is with the urgency of now.
11
this thing has to be about tolerance. Every one who wants peace must team up against the radicals who don't, of any religion, anywhere.
7
Is this war really on "radical islam" or on Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front? She is hated and feared by the European Union establishment since she is followed by many of the people whose lives have been unmade by European Union's policies of "utopia"
I fear that this war is false hope and I do wonder whether in the process of its prosecution it will be made very clear just how inimical the cultural ambitions of the European Union big cheeses are vis a vis the vast majority of Europeans.
And perhaps even more troublesome, it may come to light that the critical problem is in fact, that status quo of non-radical Islam.
I fear that this war is false hope and I do wonder whether in the process of its prosecution it will be made very clear just how inimical the cultural ambitions of the European Union big cheeses are vis a vis the vast majority of Europeans.
And perhaps even more troublesome, it may come to light that the critical problem is in fact, that status quo of non-radical Islam.
4
Whenever I heat "War on............." I despair. I remember Johnson's "War on Poverty" which didn't eliminate poverty. Then there was the "War on Drugs" Ha! How about a different approach than "War?"
12
Bravo! This is a political word to give the impression that something is being done. But the tone is wrong, and invites violent methods and actions instead of finding ways to address the root causes. The education, sports and arts initiatives listed in several comments above, and the call to address the "sources of alienation" are I think the only real way to make a difference.
France has been attacked. France is a NATO member nation. Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Charter "an attack on one is an attack on ALL".
All of NATO is now at war against Radical Islam under Artical 5 by definition and treaty obligation. Now let's wipe the scourge of islamic terrorism off the face of the earth for once and for all!
All of NATO is now at war against Radical Islam under Artical 5 by definition and treaty obligation. Now let's wipe the scourge of islamic terrorism off the face of the earth for once and for all!
53
Who are we to attack. The world has not learned. Abbas heads to France, to march against terrorism, and part of his reconciled government (Hamas) has praised the terrorists on Facebook. Many of the leaders show one face to the west and another to their population. Abbas should disavow Hamas and call the reconciliation off. The world has to start to demand that the leaders of the Islamic world start speaking with only one voice. We have to know as a people who stands with us and who stands against stop the double talk
43
Freedom has been attacked, USA, Australia, France, England, etc. it is all of us.
16
What are your specific recommendations for wiping it off the face of the earth? You make it sound like a straightforward action that merely awaits political will.
4
Anyone trying to understand the historical background to last week's carnage in Paris should read the article that appeared in the UK's The Independent. The terrorists were ethnic Algerians and it is not possible to understand this tragedy without knowing the history of French-Algerian relations.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/charlie-hebdo-paris-attack-b...
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/charlie-hebdo-paris-attack-b...
12
Thank you for the link. It's an excellent article and brings up a very important element in this situation which not many Americans are aware of. This is about a lot more than freedom of speech.
3
Stop trying to justify murder.
1
Hey, Neil. They moved to France for what? To get even or because they sought a better life?
The terrorists seize upon the profound sense of disappointment many in our society feel. This can complement and invigorate the religious rationales.
Reading Inspire, the radical Islamist magazine, much of the (literally) kindling for the fire rests upon indignation over the NSA, torture, and unjustified wars in the Middle East. They even referenced past atrocities in Vietnam and Japan.
It's tough, because we have to stand against radical Islamism while realizing that we have an absolutely atrocious human rights history. In either case, violence (by radical Islamists or by our military) isn't warranted. If we really value the pen over the sword, we will retaliate peacefully, with the force of our convictions and by an intentional commitment to universal human rights.
Reading Inspire, the radical Islamist magazine, much of the (literally) kindling for the fire rests upon indignation over the NSA, torture, and unjustified wars in the Middle East. They even referenced past atrocities in Vietnam and Japan.
It's tough, because we have to stand against radical Islamism while realizing that we have an absolutely atrocious human rights history. In either case, violence (by radical Islamists or by our military) isn't warranted. If we really value the pen over the sword, we will retaliate peacefully, with the force of our convictions and by an intentional commitment to universal human rights.
10
"we have an absolutely atrocious human rights history." - only when measured against Utopia. Compared to any other country on earth*, we have an extremely good one.
* Yes, some countries with small populations and receiving military protection from our forces, such as Canada, have better ones, but not having to rely on themselves for their own protection helps avoid icky situations.
* Yes, some countries with small populations and receiving military protection from our forces, such as Canada, have better ones, but not having to rely on themselves for their own protection helps avoid icky situations.
1
In other words: words, words, words.
Now France has had a taste of what Israel has endured for so long: radical Islamists on suicide missions. It has nothing to do with national politics or even insults to the prophet Mohammad, only a reign of terror perpetrated by extremists who terrorize for the sake of terrorizing. Added to that is a great deal of anti-semitism, just as it was in Mumbai.
121
Mumbai was anti-semitism? Last I read India was a primarily Hindu country and 170 of the 190 killed in the Mumbai attack were Indians, presumably mostly Hindus.
Mumbai 2008 was not even the worst terror attack in India in the last 10 years. Mumbai 2006 train bombings were worse.
Mumbai 2008 was not even the worst terror attack in India in the last 10 years. Mumbai 2006 train bombings were worse.
The terrorists specifically attacked a Chabad House in Mumbai. Chabad is worldwide Jewish organization of Hasidim known as Lubavitchers, named for the town where the movement began. Yes, the terrorists attacked a hotel first but then they also killed the Chabad Rabbi and his wife and several Jewish guests in their house. The Paris attack is similar because it started at the newspaper and then continued at a Kosher market. Aside from terrorism for the sake of terrorism there is a common theme of anti-semitism. This isn't a contest of the number or percentage who are killed by terrorists. It is a fact that both attacks had an antisemitic component.
1
The source of all "radical Islam" is Saudi Arabia. The violence and terrorism of all Sunni extremists around the world can be traced back to the Salafis in Saudi Arabia. It is no coincidence that fourteen of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis. Right now, the Saudis are flogging Raif Badawi with a whip because his blog, Free Saudi Liberal, offended their Salafi sensibilities and all our government could say is that it is "concerned." It is more than time for the New York Times to take on Saudi Arabia. Oil cannot be more than the lives of innocent people.
213
Sorry, probably not gonna happen. Our legislative and executive branches are puppets for Big Oil and the last thing they'd do is offend a supplier, however hostile they may be. Don't be surprised if our nation goes down while squeezing those last few pennies for BP (a British company) and Shell (a British-Dutch company).
Kind of amazing how no one talks about Saudi Arabia when they talk about 9/11. Methinks our political leaders have neutered that conversation.
Kind of amazing how no one talks about Saudi Arabia when they talk about 9/11. Methinks our political leaders have neutered that conversation.
62
Couldn't agree more. Reza Aslan made a similar point earlier today on NPR.
http://www.npr.org/2015/01/10/376381089/depictions-of-muhammad-arent-exp...
By the way, Saudi Arabia has Monarchy, which goes against the very essence of Islam.
http://www.npr.org/2015/01/10/376381089/depictions-of-muhammad-arent-exp...
By the way, Saudi Arabia has Monarchy, which goes against the very essence of Islam.
7
Not one associate ever has a clue that the hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis. When they find out they act like deer in headlights. Nothing to say.
3
I would love it if sympathetic unity rallies were held in England, Germany, the United States; every place with radicals in its midst, showing that Muslims stand as citizens against violence in the name of religion.
12
Won't happen. And all you need to see to understand why are the results of poll after poll showing the support for activities such as happened in Paris for perceived slights against the prophet.
20
Hi DeadGuy,
Sheikh Al-Azhar, the most prominent Muslim figure in Egypt, for one, has condemned the violence. Any voices equating with Islam and peace are important and should be encouraged. They're out there. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. Best regards.
Sheikh Al-Azhar, the most prominent Muslim figure in Egypt, for one, has condemned the violence. Any voices equating with Islam and peace are important and should be encouraged. They're out there. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. Best regards.
5
DeadGuy, what poll after poll showing support for the radicals in Paris? Where? Did I misread your comment?
7
I only hope this 'war' on Radical Islam is better thought out than 'the war on terror' - Ultimately, what we are dealing with is a clash of opposing ideologies, not combatants.
Islam needs to change and adapt to the modern world, it is in need of a reformation, but I cannot as yet see where this might come from? At present the voices of moderation are being drowned out by the voices of hatred. This has to change in order for any progress. There will be no quick fix, but we must be prepared for the long haul and remain vigilant without letting those who hate western life change us for the worse. It has taken centuries and much bloodshed to enjoy the freedoms we do today. We shouldn't let anyone no matter how vile take these from us.
Islam needs to change and adapt to the modern world, it is in need of a reformation, but I cannot as yet see where this might come from? At present the voices of moderation are being drowned out by the voices of hatred. This has to change in order for any progress. There will be no quick fix, but we must be prepared for the long haul and remain vigilant without letting those who hate western life change us for the worse. It has taken centuries and much bloodshed to enjoy the freedoms we do today. We shouldn't let anyone no matter how vile take these from us.
31
It appears that moderate, thinking Muslims are trying in their own way to counter this massive brainwashing effort by the extremists (e.g., quoting Quranic verses out of context, etc.). This is what a quick search turned up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GffWi5Dk01Q
"The Holy Quran is very clear on certain issues, which some of the Muslims choose to ignore. They practice what the culture and Imams have taught them and leave the understanding of Divine Guidance and Wisdom to others."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GffWi5Dk01Q
"The Holy Quran is very clear on certain issues, which some of the Muslims choose to ignore. They practice what the culture and Imams have taught them and leave the understanding of Divine Guidance and Wisdom to others."
AER, what you say is true but when countries try to force big changes in other countries there is always resistance, even if it's from a minority of people. Most western countries were significantly changed in WWII because of the resistance to Hitler. Countries almost always make significant changes from within unless an overwhelming force does it. It takes time without that. Sometimes it even takes a country civil war. Western countries and the Soviet Union should have left the middle east pretty much alone after WWII but we didn't. They were no threat. Then we tried to force change in Iraq and the whole world is dealing with it. Probably going to take an overwhelming force to stop the relatively smaller number of jihadists and people will have to pushed to their limits to support that. Then some respond completely inappropriately like we did after 9/11. So I don't really know the answer.
4
interesting, a clash of ideologies. Where one side of The Clash bombs the other side. Yep, that works for me.
Heartening to read that at least one prominent Muslim would be featured at the unity rally; I hope his presence encourages many other Muslims to attend as well. It is important for those inside and out of Islam to see that the killers do not identify a group.
17
Turkey jails more journalist than any other country.
18
I hope this "declaration of war" does not lead to further restrictions on privacy and freedom of speech, like it has in the US, and that it does not prevent France from continuing its support of a Palestinian state. Instead of making these kinds of declarations, which can lead to racist attitudes, why not focus on making changes that will actually keep people safer. If a French citizen goes to fight or Al-Quaeda or ISIS, take their citizenship away from them. Don't let them back in the country, simple as that. One of the terrorism experts commenting on tv mentioned how he went from Switzerland (non part of the EU) to France without anyone giving so much as a glance at his passport. At the airport in Frankfurt not long after the Pan Am plane was blown up, I got all the way in the cabin before a checker at the gate remembered he hadn't even checked to see my boarding pass. While I would hate to see this taken to ridiculous extremes, simply checking passports and boarding passes would be a start.
12
We have no freedom of speech restrictions, except the politically correct nonsense that the radical left imposes. When you live in a time of evil and in a society, you need to have some restrictions of your privacy and some restrictions ( operative word some) If we do not, then Sharia law will do it to you.
24
There is no "radical left" in the United States, get real.
18
@motown man: You are free to express your right wing opinions although you are not guaranteed a public platform for them (neither are leftists). Others are equally free to disagree with your opinions.
Also would like to know where the "radical left" is hiding out in the U.S., or do you consider Mr. Obama a radical leftist?
Also would like to know where the "radical left" is hiding out in the U.S., or do you consider Mr. Obama a radical leftist?
9
I'm wondering if hundreds of thousands of people will be mobilized to march on behalf of the 2000 murdered this week by Boko Haram.
127
its about time someone brought that up THANK YOU Also how about the christians and women and young females in iraq and i couls go on these attrocities should be talked about every day untill someone does something about them,
13
No, Paula, only "dozens" were killed per this newspaper today. No need to exagerate with the truth.
9
Most likely not. No one in the west cares about African victims of Islamic terrorism, or, for that matter, African victims of any violence unless they can pin the violence on the west. And in general, there are two conditions before people will get outraged over violence against civilians: either the victims are westerners, or there's a way to accuse Israel of being at fault (rightly or wrongly).
16