We can blame ourselves for allowing our countries to be hijacked by neoliberals and neocons, intent on controlling the Middle East for fossil fuels, selling arms, and deal making of all sorts. The people of the MIddle East are not crazy. They are desperate. How can we ease their way? By getting out of there, that's how. Mind our own business!!, not theirs!
17
Want to know what is going on? Want to know what WILL go on?
Then read The Story of Mohammed Islam Unveiled or any summary like it. It's on Amazon.com.
You'll understand what's going on now, what will be going on in the future, and how this has grown SO quickly. It's all in the orthodox texts, not apocrypha; it is right there in the orthodox texts. READ. LEARN. PREPARE.
Then read The Story of Mohammed Islam Unveiled or any summary like it. It's on Amazon.com.
You'll understand what's going on now, what will be going on in the future, and how this has grown SO quickly. It's all in the orthodox texts, not apocrypha; it is right there in the orthodox texts. READ. LEARN. PREPARE.
18
The Obama Administration would call this just another incident of workplace violence.
21
What is wrong with these people?
What more must we do in the Muslim world (now into our 14th consecutive year) beyond indiscriminate aerial bombardment by jets, drones and cruise missiles, torture, assassinations by JSOC hit squads, military occupation, wholesale acts of violence against innocent Muslim civilians and the complete destruction of vital services and non-military infrastructure that makes life barely tolerable for them before they finally realize the true benevolence of U.S. intentions; that all our actions are rooted in selfless and righteous motives for their own good; to establish order and a lasting peace because we care about them and sincerely want to provide them, their children and future generations a better quality of life as we did for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. If we remain resolute in our cause and continue our current actions, these people will eventually come to appreciate all we have done to improve their lives; provided the means to achieve in some measure their own small piece of the pursuit of happiness and so renounce and repudiate for all time, all acts of terrorist reprisals against the U.S.
Thank you and God bless the United States of America.
What more must we do in the Muslim world (now into our 14th consecutive year) beyond indiscriminate aerial bombardment by jets, drones and cruise missiles, torture, assassinations by JSOC hit squads, military occupation, wholesale acts of violence against innocent Muslim civilians and the complete destruction of vital services and non-military infrastructure that makes life barely tolerable for them before they finally realize the true benevolence of U.S. intentions; that all our actions are rooted in selfless and righteous motives for their own good; to establish order and a lasting peace because we care about them and sincerely want to provide them, their children and future generations a better quality of life as we did for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. If we remain resolute in our cause and continue our current actions, these people will eventually come to appreciate all we have done to improve their lives; provided the means to achieve in some measure their own small piece of the pursuit of happiness and so renounce and repudiate for all time, all acts of terrorist reprisals against the U.S.
Thank you and God bless the United States of America.
10
Why France? France has been the main power financing and arming ISIS at its creation and it has become an Islamic state.
5
The U.S. government and their allies were warned about the backlash before we went into Iraq. That escaladed the whole thing out of control. The West and it's desire to manipulate and control the Middle East and its resources, has brought this on. If we had left them alone decades and decades ago, we would not be embroiled in a mess causing untold harm to innocents in the Middle East and the U.S. and Europe. War profiteers, banking and fossil fuel interests are to blame, squarely. Do like Scotland is doing…50% of their energy is supplied by renewables, mostly wind, hydro power and some solar. They intend to be 100% as fast as they can. If they can do it, why not the rest of the world?
15
Enough about Iraq. Attacks on the WTC predate Iraq. Why not blame Libya. Why not Afghanistan. How about Syria, Yemen, etc. Get real.
17
If Iraq didn't invade Kuwait a lot of this may never have happened.
8
Marvin..read your history. It goes way back before Kuwait.
7
It think if you go to fight for the Islamic State, your current citizenship should be revoked, and you lose your right to come home. The consequence of your decision is having to live over there forever.
56
Someone please explain to me why a person who has gone to Syria or Iraq to fight for ISIS, is allowed to return home. I don't understand this.
55
Because international law has it that each State is responsible for its citizens. Whatever they do abroad they don't come from another country than the one they are citizens of.
1°- Not allowing them to return would be a breach of the law, how disgusting they may be (like many sick minds and criminals you have in your jails)
2°- Not one single inch of the earth doesn't belong to one country or another. Not letting back one of these persons would be like leaving it at the disposal of another country which already has its own share of criminals. No, thank you, would be the answer.
Life isn't a cake walk indeed.
1°- Not allowing them to return would be a breach of the law, how disgusting they may be (like many sick minds and criminals you have in your jails)
2°- Not one single inch of the earth doesn't belong to one country or another. Not letting back one of these persons would be like leaving it at the disposal of another country which already has its own share of criminals. No, thank you, would be the answer.
Life isn't a cake walk indeed.
Jews,Christians and Arabs were living in peace before 1947
Carter cites 'Palestinian problem' as one of the main causes of Paris-style terror and the Islamic radicalization.
Carter cites 'Palestinian problem' as one of the main causes of Paris-style terror and the Islamic radicalization.
5
This blanket assertion is steeped in historical ignorance.
19
Yes, there is quite a lot of ignorance in the statement that the situation in Palestine in 1947 was peaceful. The tensions between Jews and non-Jews in Palestine had been growing since the beginning of the century, with violent riots well before 1947. However, the decision to renege on promises of partition, with equal rights to statehood in territories devoted to Jews on one hand and Palestinian non-Jews on the other, is without a doubt the root of a large part of the violence carried out against Israel and the Western nations by some elements of the Muslim population. The colonial powers that wanted a big foot in this part of the world and then bungled COMPLETELY their exit have very dirty hands indeed. They know who they are.
8
@vpm. The ignorance in your statement is that the Palestinians, kicked out of Jordan, refused a state of their own in 1948 and since then has been used as pawns to destroy the state of Israel.
10
Churchill once said "The Germans are either at your throat or at your feet."
Today wouldn't this apply to Islam?
Today wouldn't this apply to Islam?
12
Dear Lloydmi,
I think it does apply to the jihadists, the terrorists themselves. It doesn't apply to about 99% of Muslims, or Islam itself, which generally doesn't act badly toward anyone really.
I think it does apply to the jihadists, the terrorists themselves. It doesn't apply to about 99% of Muslims, or Islam itself, which generally doesn't act badly toward anyone really.
7
Why in the world do we continue to allow immigration from Muslim countries into the U.S? Europe has made a decision to ruin their countries. Why do we not learn? Why do we want anti gay, anti female, anti freedom people when there are so many people who want to immigrate here that do not share these Islamic beliefs?
49
I could not agree with you more, Robert.
17
Any accurate historical account of Islam must deal with the violent militancy of its beginnings & beyond, within its very ranks as well as against the two other Abrahamic religions. Such a burden for decent Muslims to bear all the while jihadists can confidently reclaim a "tradition."
19
What do you mean by your statement, "as well as against the other two Abrahamic religions"?
1
That means that not only have Muslims been killing each other for over a thousand years, but they have also been killing Jews and Christians, with not only no signs of stopping, but as more and more Muslims are allowed to emigrate to the civilized world, the violence has been increasing.
19
The first part of NM's comment below is indeed what is meant ...
2
How is this different from Ebola? We blocked all Liberians coming to America even though most were just fine.
We should block muslims because of the problems associated with those beliefs and practices. Islam is a lot more deadly than Ebola.
We should block muslims because of the problems associated with those beliefs and practices. Islam is a lot more deadly than Ebola.
41
All the factors that contribute to Islamic terrorism: religious, political, economic, environmental are all getting worse over time. Our leaders need to start thinking of the next level strategy for containing or eliminating these threats. They need a new perspective. As a very ardent promoter of the concept of freedom I know that there is too much freedom in the free world. We will inevitably have to trade off some of our freedom to achieve a level of security we and our children can live with. I am willing to do that.
5
We only need to uphold our existing laws and stop making excuses for criminal behavior and the ideology that encourages it. We do not need to reduce our liberty but strengthen it. Allowing those who openly profess to want
to destroy your life and act on their beliefs to do so is just plain idiotic. Stop making excuses for criminals and psychopaths
to destroy your life and act on their beliefs to do so is just plain idiotic. Stop making excuses for criminals and psychopaths
10
With the FBI now conducting ISIS-related terrorism investigations in all states --mostly against recent immigrants--and with at least one US=based beheading already thwarted, when will our immigration policy change. It is nearly impossible to vet folks from collapsing and dysfunctional counties (important story for NYT to cover) and, predictably, we are just a short time time away from these events on our shores. Demand sane and accountable immigration policy that errs on the side of excluding extremists.
24
Horse hockey. Overwhelmed. How is it that immigrants and visitors that came to this country at the turn of the last century were absolutely scrutinized for everything from infectious diseases to origins. If they didn't pass muster the were sent back. They needed sponsors as well. And to add the icing on the cake, enforcement officials were able to locate them in a moments notice
from manual and very detailed records.
We are just LAZY today, and $$ trumps everything. Dare to hold up a disembarking airplane or ship.................................
from manual and very detailed records.
We are just LAZY today, and $$ trumps everything. Dare to hold up a disembarking airplane or ship.................................
10
It's impossible to detect what a sociopath actually feels and thinks from the outside because they don't have any feelings about their intentions towards those around them. So, until they do something to reveal themselves one cannot know what they are inclined to do. In this case there was adequate behavioral evidence to be concerned about this man but the authorities have been overwhelmed by the numbers of similarly acting people to investigate them all. It points out a big problem with the way we address terrorism, especially since September 11, 2001. We consider Islamist terrorists to be an enemy without a state which can be held accountable for their acts, instead of criminals who commit crimes whose proximate causes are political. It leads governments to treat the populations from which the emerge to be benign enemies only awaiting some trigger to make them malignant actors in these atrocities. The way to address the size of the problem of confronting the terrorists it to reduce their number to something that is limited enough by circumstances to allow reasonable guesses of who are most likely to act. Doing that means enjoying the trust of and alliance with those populations from which these terrorists emerge, because they will have contact and interactions with everyone and those who are inclined towards violence will reveal themselves to those with who they identify.
3
Britain and France opened immigration to their former colonies after WWII, Socialist governments in both countries avoided confronting Islamic extremism setting the stage for their medieval violence.
17
Unfortunately all things indicating that Muslim world has degenerated and only renaissance type of reformism can wash this filth.
These people are killing praying Muslims in Mosques, this is considered to be ultimate sacred thing which should never violated.
If they are thinking that simply massacring a Muslim while praying is Okay, this is degeneration beyond any level.
These people are killing praying Muslims in Mosques, this is considered to be ultimate sacred thing which should never violated.
If they are thinking that simply massacring a Muslim while praying is Okay, this is degeneration beyond any level.
23
Kind of like the church slayings in Charleston, no?
9
The sad thing in such cases, always, is that random people are attacked or killed and they (if alive) and their families suffer. The perpetrator knows nothing about these people, their beliefs, their hopes and dreams, their sorrows and hardships, their political and religious beliefs -nothing except that they showed up for work that day. People are reduced to symbols, objects, something which is against every religion today.
15
Radical Islam is at war with civilization. Until we take effective steps to defeat Isis in Syria and Iraq, thus depriving it of a territorial base, we can expect terrorists attacks to continue to increase. The US is uniquely qualified to lead this fight and win this fight; and other countries can join in, but now is the time to fight - not at some later date after we are attacked here in our homes, our schools, our shopping malls, our jobs and our churches. The war is here and the longer we wait, the more will needlessly die. This evil must be eliminated.
12
How can anyone bring themselves to believe that any set of religious ideas that include beheading your fellow citizens who happen to believe in a different religion is a peaceful set of beliefs? And how can so many civil authorities quit keeping an eye on murderous fanatics who perpetrate these criminal beheadings? It seems evident that too many of our watchdogs are lulled into going to sleep instead of actively investigating and arresting insane and dangerous individuals. Witness the Boston bombers who the Russian's tipped us off to; or this latest murderer in France who was allowed to slip into non observance; or the seemingly insane South Carolinian who worshipped the old Confederancy and was allowed to work his insanities without restraint by local watchdogs. It is time to quit glossing over the warnings signs in plain view and start reigning in the gun and bomb and beheading freaks before they act on their lunacies. We don't need a new bomber for the military. We need that money to be spent on infrastructure maintenance and on identifying the lunatics in our midst before they allowed a free hand to act out their delusions.
17
Who stands to gain in dividing the peoples more and more? One can only tremble at that thought of the snowballing effect of such an atrocity in French society if radical-inspired violence continues and spreads. Look at what happened to post-Tito Yugoslavia : unimaginable explosions of violence and barbarity on all sides to which NO ethnic group or religion is immune, unfortunately, regardless of French pride in the solidity of the Republic or the naive angelic poses of the Muslim masses who refuse to acknowledge the presence of pathological killers in their midst.
14
All through history it has been this way. Civilization gets attacked by violent, illogical barbarians. That's what these jihadists are, make no mistake: a barbarian scourge, impossible to negotiate or reason with, impossible to make peace with in any way.
In every case, civilization has had to beat back the barbarians or be defeated by them. Likewise here, I don't think jihadists have any chance of taking over civilized countries, but in ones decimated by holy war, they are now a major power. They must be annihilated, sorry to say, there is nothing we can do besides jail them or kill them, and jailing them seems a bit pointless as we could never let them go again.
It's unfortunate, but what must be done is investigation of mosques and Islamic websites, in order to find the jihadists, who are only found in Islam these days. If Muslims will not help single out and deal with these monsters, then their complaints should not be heeded, it is far past time for them to choose sides. Most of the Muslims I know would definitely be on the side of civilization, so it's time for them to make that clear, not just by statements but action. When someone's espousing radical ideas like behead all infidels, report it to the authorities.
This is a global war, and if we insist on being all PC and merciful about it, we will lose. If this comment gets blocked I'll try to tone it down and resubmit, but really I cannot see any option other than eliminate the barbarians.
In every case, civilization has had to beat back the barbarians or be defeated by them. Likewise here, I don't think jihadists have any chance of taking over civilized countries, but in ones decimated by holy war, they are now a major power. They must be annihilated, sorry to say, there is nothing we can do besides jail them or kill them, and jailing them seems a bit pointless as we could never let them go again.
It's unfortunate, but what must be done is investigation of mosques and Islamic websites, in order to find the jihadists, who are only found in Islam these days. If Muslims will not help single out and deal with these monsters, then their complaints should not be heeded, it is far past time for them to choose sides. Most of the Muslims I know would definitely be on the side of civilization, so it's time for them to make that clear, not just by statements but action. When someone's espousing radical ideas like behead all infidels, report it to the authorities.
This is a global war, and if we insist on being all PC and merciful about it, we will lose. If this comment gets blocked I'll try to tone it down and resubmit, but really I cannot see any option other than eliminate the barbarians.
44
You seem to have already forgotten the SC shooting. Yes, the jihadists are a problem, especially in muslim countries, but in the USA, more incidents and deaths have resulted from non-muslim hate-nuts. All violent extremists/terrorists need to be dealt with.
5
PS: my fury here was engendered by the attacks in many places today, all seeming only to want to kill for the sake of killing. Not attacking people who were causing harm, or people who deserved to die, but just killing people at random. So this comment is coming from a place of extreme anger, and I apologize for that.
Also wanted to correct myself: I said "Most of the Muslims I know would definitely be on the side of civilization", but the actual case is, it's ALL of the Muslims I know. I don't know anybody who supports these insane jihadists, they are very much separate from mainstream Islam, and we are going to need Islam's help to defeat them. But still, even having calmed down a bit, I can't see any solution to violent jihadists asides from finding and terminating them. If there's a workable alternative I'd love to hear about it.
Also wanted to correct myself: I said "Most of the Muslims I know would definitely be on the side of civilization", but the actual case is, it's ALL of the Muslims I know. I don't know anybody who supports these insane jihadists, they are very much separate from mainstream Islam, and we are going to need Islam's help to defeat them. But still, even having calmed down a bit, I can't see any solution to violent jihadists asides from finding and terminating them. If there's a workable alternative I'd love to hear about it.
1
I'll be happy to add white supremacists to the list of barbarians to investigate as well as any intolerant, militant religious factions.
16
The Middle East is the epicenter of terrorism and should be contained. To take sides is to fuel a dispute we have no real knowledge about. However, if it is to end, Muslims have to come to the plate and say enough is enough. Until that happens, the western world will experience an overflow of insanity against our people, fueled by hate, bigotry and religious discrimination.
25
Maybe one of the causes of religion inspired or religiously justified violence is that many religions do not stress or teach the importance of questioning one's motives for anger, bigotry, and violence, self-analysis, and the doubting of leaders who are advocate decisions that are destructive.
In addition, if religions or even patriotic/radical nationalists take credit for all the positives for their group's actions and histories, then such people who hang onto an ego-tistical group identity should also take responsibility for its members' negative actions and failings.
In addition, if religions or even patriotic/radical nationalists take credit for all the positives for their group's actions and histories, then such people who hang onto an ego-tistical group identity should also take responsibility for its members' negative actions and failings.
22
I guess 'Religion of Peace' keeps showing up on Prayer days (Friday) in the Holy month of Ramadan!!
Way to go "Religion of Peace".
Way to go "Religion of Peace".
53
The word "Islam" has varied translations into English. From looking at several Muslim-oriented Websites, its definition or perhaps concept as "peace" comes from an initial definition of "surrender" to Allah's will from which peace and security is derived for adherents.
But what is God's will? And since when do children define their parents?
But what is God's will? And since when do children define their parents?
1
May 5th NY Times "Lawmakers in France Move to Vastly Expand Surveillance"
When does our governments start to learn that it is not more but better surveillance that is needed. Instead of keeping an eye on this Mr. Salhi the French government decides to dragnet all citizens - and a lot of good that has done.
When does our governments start to learn that it is not more but better surveillance that is needed. Instead of keeping an eye on this Mr. Salhi the French government decides to dragnet all citizens - and a lot of good that has done.
5
Yes. There is a false equivalence between increased surveillance and increased security. However, a lot of retired intelligence professionals have pointed out the problem isn't gathering information, but useful information. The government is bulk-hauling surveillance data and trying to make sense of it, but neglecting human intelligence where an asset might actually tell you "so and so is planning an attack where and when."
1
A common thread between non-Muslim country terrorist acts seems to be the perpetrators had been on a "watch list" but not at this time. Looks like security forces have to go back in their records and take another look at these guys.
10
Those who are asking Muslim leaders to condemn the violence of radical Islam should know that it's the Muslims who are fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq on the ground.
More than tens of thousands of Muslims died fighting ISIS. Do you think ISIS is accepted within the mainstream Muslims ? If you believe so, why are all the factions In Syria, including both Islamists and secularists, are fighting them ?
You should really read the statements that are published continuously about ISIS and hundreds of fatwas from Muslim clerics declaring them as Kharjites and that ISIS should be fought and eliminated. Maybe you should ask your Muslim friend, if you have one, about his opinion of ISIS. Maybe you should watch a Muslim TV channel. ALL media outlets in Muslim nations label ISIS as "terrorists". ALL Muslim governments designate them and Al-Qaida as terrorist ( Whereas both US media and government still can't even dare to label Charleston massacre as a terrorist attack )
This typical "Now Muslims should condemn radical Islam" response that I read every time after an attack is starting to sound like a veiled statement to show that mainstream Muslims as if they approve this kind of violence. They do NOT, they have been and are still fighting radical Islam in their countries.
More than tens of thousands of Muslims died fighting ISIS. Do you think ISIS is accepted within the mainstream Muslims ? If you believe so, why are all the factions In Syria, including both Islamists and secularists, are fighting them ?
You should really read the statements that are published continuously about ISIS and hundreds of fatwas from Muslim clerics declaring them as Kharjites and that ISIS should be fought and eliminated. Maybe you should ask your Muslim friend, if you have one, about his opinion of ISIS. Maybe you should watch a Muslim TV channel. ALL media outlets in Muslim nations label ISIS as "terrorists". ALL Muslim governments designate them and Al-Qaida as terrorist ( Whereas both US media and government still can't even dare to label Charleston massacre as a terrorist attack )
This typical "Now Muslims should condemn radical Islam" response that I read every time after an attack is starting to sound like a veiled statement to show that mainstream Muslims as if they approve this kind of violence. They do NOT, they have been and are still fighting radical Islam in their countries.
13
I agree in general, but the Saudis (as individuals, supposedly, not as government) and others who are now fighting jihadists have funded various extremist and terror groups or the foundations of such groups in the past.
2
I'm not completely sympathetic to your remarks. These "jihadists", both those with labels like Al Qaeda, ISIS and the Taliban and those who are less well defined, have been allowed by other Muslims to grow within their midst. They have been protected by Governments around the world while citizens in those countries looked the other way. Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, you name it. Yes, Muslims are now fighting the new scourge Caliphate but they have no choice. Their families are being terrorized if they don't support ISIS' brand of Islam. I'm sorry. There are certain teachings of the prophet that encourage violence and too many Muslims willing to gather around those teachings. No other religion in modern times spawns these daily tragedies, the decimation of ancient artifacts, the submission of women of its own faith. I have great difficulty trying to rationalize that there are many good Muslims as opposed to concluding the religion is too easily hijacked and therefore has no place of prominence in my world. The outcry of peaceful Muslims you speak of is ineffective. It isn't getting the job done. Too many Muslims apparently can't hear it and they are instead joining the holy war everyday. The religion lacks unity.
3
Please, may all spokespeople spare us the refrain that this is not about religion. It is, in large part.
49
Neither Southern, white, Christian, Nazi terrorists like Dylan Roof in Charleston nor Sunni or Shiite terrorists in the middle east have any monopoly on violence, or terrorism, or perverting religion toward their own ends. However much they may hate each other (as well as the rest of us), they emulate each other. It is up to all of us who are civilized to transcend our own differences and unite in opposing these uncivilized barbarians.
15
Best article about this was in NYT a couple weeks ago - first I saw about it:
“This is painful for us,” Dr. Asmal said. Islam, he said, must find a way to “excommunicate” extremists. If it doesn’t take a drastic stance against terrorism,” Dr. Asmal added, “its credibility as a force for good will be lost.”
There is no provision for extremists to be tossed out of Islam. I hope a change can be made.
“This is painful for us,” Dr. Asmal said. Islam, he said, must find a way to “excommunicate” extremists. If it doesn’t take a drastic stance against terrorism,” Dr. Asmal added, “its credibility as a force for good will be lost.”
There is no provision for extremists to be tossed out of Islam. I hope a change can be made.
13
insanity has reached global epidemic proportions. it's time we treat it as such and go all out to eliminate it.
24
Exactly, we should invade and occupy counties, impose the rule of law on them, and o wait, we just tried that and it didn't work. This is a terrible incident but solving this problem is not easy and it is likely it can't be done in totality. The global police and security capacity has never been larger or more capable, it has seemingly endless budget and technological resources. While this is horrible just remember car crashes will kill more people than terrorists today, priorities are important.
2
Fully agree. Need to form an alliance of countries bound together in one, all consuming, goal.
2
Bad analogy. The number of car crash fatalities is relatively stable and there is no reason for it to increase. The number of terrorist fatalities would instantly increase by many orders of magnitude if they got real WMD.
1
These "things" ( for surely they are not human) are not doing anything different than what they have threatened to do. It is the responsibility of civil societies to condemn and actively work on destroying them. Their stated aim to to take over the world. If everyone goes, "how terrible" and then turns back to their computer then they will continue to win. A person or a group that is driven by ideology is dangerous. They can only be stopped when we are just as driven. Nothing less will suffice.
8
The Nature of Murder
What's the difference between a "terror attack" and an "ordinary crime"? What would you call it when a tiny, nuclear-armed state supported by the U.S. drops a laser-guided bomb on a house filled with women and children, in order to kill "terrorists"? there was not such terrorism before the invention of the zionist entity in the heart of the Arab World.
What's the difference between a "terror attack" and an "ordinary crime"? What would you call it when a tiny, nuclear-armed state supported by the U.S. drops a laser-guided bomb on a house filled with women and children, in order to kill "terrorists"? there was not such terrorism before the invention of the zionist entity in the heart of the Arab World.
1
I guess that depends on whose point of view - Jews have faced terrorism during the holocaust, in pogroms before that going back for centuries or even millenia. Is Israel guilty of atrocities and arrogance that works against peace? Yes. Was the world listening to the Palestinians before the PLO at Munich? Seems mostly not. Is it time for both sides to negotiate and find a solution? Yes. Do Hamas and Hezbollah make that difficult along with the Jewish settlers? Yes. Would ISIS have happened without the existence of Israel? Sooner or later, yes - retaking Andalus, and regaining power, has been a goal of muslims/Arabs since they lost it in the 1400s.
1
"Dozens are killed in terrorist attacks on 3 continents!" Really NYTs. Are these routine and gruesome attacks worthy of such ink? Why give the terrorists breathless headlines and NYTs news alert status? A recruiting bonanza thanks to the world's most prestigious newspaper. Sheesh.
8
I wish this sentiment would turn up in the public discourse more often.
If the basic motivation of a terrorist act is to draw attention to one cause or another, why must the international press act in dutiful compliance? Very often the reporting of these idiotic acts of violence contains detailed descriptions of the major players in the various conflicts, their aims, their "accomplishments", their bogus threats and lots of pictures of men with guns, faces covered, trying to look scary. Fearsome headlines, videos of executions, front page/lead story status. In other words, the response that the "terrorists" (the word should be banned - "murderers" will do) wish for, effectively rewarding their pathetic efforts to get their names in the papers and validating terrorism as an effective means to an end.
What if the world press were to convene a conference, led by the Times and including all the major news outlets, to hammer out a strict set of mutually agreed upon guidelines to deal with reporting activities of the violent political fringe? Something which honors the responsibility of the press to inform but avoids turning that obligation into an ISIS/Radical Islam/fill-in-group-name-here infomercial. Something similar to what the press now does in withholding the names of victims of rape, or underage crime. Maybe this could help break the vicious cycle we find ourselves in now. Without killing anyone.
If the basic motivation of a terrorist act is to draw attention to one cause or another, why must the international press act in dutiful compliance? Very often the reporting of these idiotic acts of violence contains detailed descriptions of the major players in the various conflicts, their aims, their "accomplishments", their bogus threats and lots of pictures of men with guns, faces covered, trying to look scary. Fearsome headlines, videos of executions, front page/lead story status. In other words, the response that the "terrorists" (the word should be banned - "murderers" will do) wish for, effectively rewarding their pathetic efforts to get their names in the papers and validating terrorism as an effective means to an end.
What if the world press were to convene a conference, led by the Times and including all the major news outlets, to hammer out a strict set of mutually agreed upon guidelines to deal with reporting activities of the violent political fringe? Something which honors the responsibility of the press to inform but avoids turning that obligation into an ISIS/Radical Islam/fill-in-group-name-here infomercial. Something similar to what the press now does in withholding the names of victims of rape, or underage crime. Maybe this could help break the vicious cycle we find ourselves in now. Without killing anyone.
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail. Think of it--always"--Mahatma Gandhi
23
Um. Stalin and Mao died in office. Gandhi was assassinated, and the Indian partition hasn't lead to any kind of stability in the region. It would seem the Lost Cause is withering after 150 years, but recent events make clear that it's far from dead. Despots in the Middle East keep being replaced with increasingly worse alternatives. I wish I could share your optimism.
1
Le Monde reports that the beheaded victim was the employer of the suspect.
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/live/2015/06/26/attentat-en-isere-suivez-l...
Suggests that it might not be a terror attack but an employee-employer conflict.
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/live/2015/06/26/attentat-en-isere-suivez-l...
Suggests that it might not be a terror attack but an employee-employer conflict.
5
Then why the ISIS flags?
15
Thanks, Clouseau.
6
As a French resident I really worry about what this will do to political discourse in France. Marine LePen will take every opportunity to leverage this event and amp up her "us" vs "them" agenda. Hollande and his government will use it to create homeland security-style tactics against us, tactics which we Americans know don't work. I am deeply concerned that surveillance, spying on citizens, racial profiling and the like will now become the norm. I am saddened for the employees of the plant and their families.
38
Marine Le Pen is now the presumptive next President of France. It's a shame.
2
I'm a french and European citizen. I totally agree with you.
1
Unfortunately, it is an 'us vs them' problem, created and funded by the 'us' in the equation.
While it is unfair to consider all Muslims to be potential terrorists, it is not illogical.
While it is unfair to consider all Muslims to be potential terrorists, it is not illogical.
2
Reading all of the justifiable condemnations of violence as a means of getting what a group wants raises the question--Where are the same voices opposing violence when we are the group perpetrating violence around the world to get what we want? Where are the calls for our leaders to condemn their own violence around the World?
We lead by example and until we condemn our own violence with the same passion we condemn violence perpetrated by others, we will have no moral authority in the World to tell others what to do.
We lead by example and until we condemn our own violence with the same passion we condemn violence perpetrated by others, we will have no moral authority in the World to tell others what to do.
41
Great point ScottW. As Mahatma Gandhi once said "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
3
Please don't try to equate the U.S. military with terrorist organizations like ISIS or Al Qaeda. If we were really as callous as so many people say, we would pursue our enemies through a policy of total warfare. If you think we are already doing that, you've woefully underestimated the kind of destruction we could cause if we shared even a fraction of the brutality exhibited by our enemies on a daily basis. Let's say you snapped your fingers and gave ISIS the military resources of the U.S. for just 24 hours (and left us undefended). What do you think the world would look like when the sun rose the next day? We would all be dead. Civilians wouldn't be collateral damage to them, they would be targets. You wouldn't see any members of ISIS on chat boards questioning whether they should exercise restraint. They would proceed to kill everyone they could, as fast as they could, for as long as they could because that's how they think. Can you honestly say that you believe whatever violence your referencing on the part of the U.S. rises to that level? Ironically, if we really were just as bad as our enemies, we would have wiped them and most of the land underneath them right off the map by now. Fortunately, for everyone concerned... we are NOT that bad.
1
After 9/11, the unelected Bush/Cheney administration took the US to war to fight for Saudi Arabia's need to control Iraq. Now, the US needs to get Saudi Arabia to fight for the world's need to not die due to radical Islamic extremism. That's the only way to defeat all this reckless hatred - Muslims must stop the anti-human, anti-God and anti-religion violence caused by other Muslims. Bernie Saudners put this well on the Bill Maher show last week - the Saudis must do their duty now and go to war to save the world, and themselves.
24
If Bush and Cheney were "unelected," why did the House and Senate let them run the show? Why did Senator Hillary, and Senator Obama, enable them? One can only infer that an election preceded their ascension.
2
For Saudi Arabia to do something to stop Muslim terrorists, they would have to break down the 1400 year old Sunni-Shiite "Us vs. Them" feud... Saudi Arabia is unlikely to attack Sunni terrorists which comprise the majority of these miscreants. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan both showed their priorities when the Saudis released bin Laden on the world instead of locking him up, and some Pakistanis sheltered him. This old feud has to be changed to "Good vs. Evil".
4
Go back and look at history. Bush/Cheney lost the 2000 election, so they are unelected for the 2000-2004 period. They were imposed on this country by one vote on the Supreme Court - which should have ordered that the people's votes be counted, as per the law, but instead took it upon themselves to decide who would be president. Al Gore won the popular vote, and the election.
3
France is following the US policy consisting in : generating "hyperchaos" in the ME (Syria, Irak, Lebanon, "Sunnistan", etc.); getting allied with the Saouds who funds the salafist movement all over the world; supporting the Pakistan ISI, who exports islamism all over Asia; building the narrative of an imperialist and expansionist Russia (our natural and historical ally when its comes to fight fascism with "boots on the ground"); getting hysterical with Iran, a 3000-year civilisation who never invaded its neighbors. European as well as American peoples have a lot to loose with the pursuit of such policy, whose only benefit goes to the 1% and warmongers.
7
Well, if we are going back 3000 years, it's a bit difficult to forget Thermopolae, Salamis, and Marathon. Whom were the Greeks fighting?
On the point in question, however, the following countries in Iran's vicinity have nuclear weapons AND the missiles to deliver them to Iran:Russia, Pakistan, India, and, of course, Israel. The USA can deliver its nukes anywhere it chooses. Certain US politicos and Israeli ones have been threatening to attack Iran, and not just because of its nuclear program. In the circumstances, having nukes might seem to be required for deterrence--local MAD. I'm against such thinking, but if I were in the Iranian government, I think I would be asking what kind of airtight guarantees against attack, nuclear or otherwise, are being offered to Iran. Is the US offering a defensive alliance? Not that I have heard.
On the point in question, however, the following countries in Iran's vicinity have nuclear weapons AND the missiles to deliver them to Iran:Russia, Pakistan, India, and, of course, Israel. The USA can deliver its nukes anywhere it chooses. Certain US politicos and Israeli ones have been threatening to attack Iran, and not just because of its nuclear program. In the circumstances, having nukes might seem to be required for deterrence--local MAD. I'm against such thinking, but if I were in the Iranian government, I think I would be asking what kind of airtight guarantees against attack, nuclear or otherwise, are being offered to Iran. Is the US offering a defensive alliance? Not that I have heard.
Thank you Neville Chamberlin.
5
i would like to know why my preceding comment was published and then supressed.
18
The world needs to show these evil, mass murdering terrorist that WE are not afraid of them and wipe them off the face of the earth. A few "haters" can only keep us in fear if we let them. It is good to see that the Good People of Tunisia overcame their fear and attacked the attackers. This is what is needed to restore and maintain civility in the world.
13
Europe is in trouble. How many terrorists are on these boats loaded with fleeing Middle Easters from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya now landing in Greece and Italy. How many more next year. Europe's population density is almost 5 times that of the US - they have their work cut for them.
54
Country like France have to refuse all immigration for Muslims. Islam doesn't mix with democratie.
15
I may be wrong, but most if not all of the attacks/attackers are home grown.
Lyon is an industrial city with terrible air quality and many other pollution problems. An American-owned industrial chemical plant would be a typical target for eco-terrorists who are active in France. It is an unusual target for jihadists. If I were an eco-terrorist who sought to disguise my involvement in a terrorist attack, I might behead my intended victim. This is probably poppy cock. But the police seem to have concluded that the attack was the responsibility of Muslim terrorists before doing any investigative work.
4
lyon is located near the alps, has a pristine countryside and enjoys some of the best air quality in the world.
no ecoterrorism there.
the police have concluded the only things they COULD have concluded
no ecoterrorism there.
the police have concluded the only things they COULD have concluded
7
Um, a flag like that of ISIS with Arabic writing, a beheading, who do you think is responsible?
21
Did it not occur to yoy that a gas plant would make a fabulous terrorist target if they could manage to make it explode? What a spectacle! And that's exactly what they tried and failed to do. Maybe next time....
7
The world has to thank G. W and Blair for their War on Terror. How much safer the world has become thanks to these two selfless and far-sighted politicians.
However, the terror could have stopped a long time ago by carpet bombing Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Langley.
However, the terror could have stopped a long time ago by carpet bombing Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Langley.
7
So we can ban the confederate flag as a symbol of evil ( and in some cases, it is)
but when we talk about the Muslim "religion " and its symbols it is hands off.
The " Muslin religion " was and is the the invention of one man who spoke to God (with no else around) and of course God told hime to kill all non believers, conquer territories, marry 13 year old girls etc... the Koran is not a religious document even in the most liberal reading it is a political doctrine not unlike the Nazi doctrines and should be labeled such.
but when we talk about the Muslim "religion " and its symbols it is hands off.
The " Muslin religion " was and is the the invention of one man who spoke to God (with no else around) and of course God told hime to kill all non believers, conquer territories, marry 13 year old girls etc... the Koran is not a religious document even in the most liberal reading it is a political doctrine not unlike the Nazi doctrines and should be labeled such.
75
The same could be said about most religions. Paul, not Jesus, created Christianity.
2
The European Community is not a failed state, it is a failed community of states. Faced with the threat of the Russia bear in the northeast and east, the collapse of the Ukraine into anarchy encouraged by the EU, the threat of ISIS terrorism in Libya and Tunisia and along the border of NATO member Turkey, and the crushing tide of refugees pouring into the EU from Libya, what is the EU’s priority? Developing a punishing policy of austerity for Greece, the NATO member that defends the EU’s southeastern border with the Islamic world…in order to increase the profits of the EU’s bankers. Typical of the EU mentality is the belief that banks are too big to fail…but that countries are not. Meanwhile most Europeans support the punishing sanctions against Greece primarily because they were punished by the banks and they resent the idea that Greeks might escape punishment.
“The struggle for recognition, the willingness to risk one's life for a purely abstract goal, the worldwide ideological struggle that called forth daring, courage, imagination, and idealism, will be replaced by economic calculation…” (Fukuyama, p. 17).
Fukuyama, Francis. “The End of History?” The National Interest (1989): 1-19.
“The struggle for recognition, the willingness to risk one's life for a purely abstract goal, the worldwide ideological struggle that called forth daring, courage, imagination, and idealism, will be replaced by economic calculation…” (Fukuyama, p. 17).
Fukuyama, Francis. “The End of History?” The National Interest (1989): 1-19.
3
As a practicing Muslim who is fasting for Ramadan at this very moment, I am sickened by this madness. Especially during the month of Ramadan. This is a time to sacrifice your own desires and draw closer to The Creator.
This is NOT jihad. A real Muslim's true jihad is against himself. We are fasting to learn discipline and restraint. Conquering our desires (lust, anger, overindulgence, etc) is our real jihad.
This violence is inexcusable and un-Islamic. May God have mercy on us all.
This is NOT jihad. A real Muslim's true jihad is against himself. We are fasting to learn discipline and restraint. Conquering our desires (lust, anger, overindulgence, etc) is our real jihad.
This violence is inexcusable and un-Islamic. May God have mercy on us all.
142
So, it's worse to kill people during Ramadan than at other times? Is it OK later on? As for jihad, you can define it as you want but the reality is, a lot of people believe this is exactly the meaning of jihad and they are as free as you to define that as they wish (and that includes me). As for violence being un-Islamic, you need to go back and read the Koran a little more. It's quite supportive of violence.
40
In the Quran and Sunnah, you will discover that your definition os Jihad is incomplete, and that killing and otherwise terrorizing people are actions that round out the definition. Sorry, but the word Jihad can't mean what we want it to mean. It is what it is.
48
It is NEVER okay to kill. The Qur'an states that killing one person is like killing all of humanity.
As for advocating violence, both the Bible and Qur'an should be read and understood in the context and times during which they were written.
As for advocating violence, both the Bible and Qur'an should be read and understood in the context and times during which they were written.
9
Lot of scare-mongering here. People need to relax. Although any death is tragic, the fact that the terrorists can only kill one or two people in any given incident means we are winning. It is much harder for them to conduct a large scale operation than it was 10 years ago. Another 9/11 for example is practically impossible given the changes to airline security.
7
Airline security is a myth. Besides, all one has to do is look at the container ships at our ports to know where they next 9/11 will be.
1
Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, in an audio message released this week. “O mujahedeen everywhere, rush and go to make Ramadan a month of disasters for the infidels.”
I really wonder when how he describes infidels. If you read all news what happened last 48 hours and related to ISIS, disaster for Muslims, what infidel he is talking about. I abhor to kill anybody but I am trying to explore the concept of infidel. ISIS actions and pictures taken from the scenes is not showing infidels are crying, maimed or their blood splashed the mosque walls, why an infidel goes to mosque in holy Ramadan.
I wish I would like to say this guy Abu Mohammed al-Adnani one word, you are the Abu Lahab of 21st century and Koran has a Surah for you :El Mesed.
I believe that ISIS needs to exterminated by any means, a person who is Muslim reading or watching ISIS propaganda and acting should know that You are denouncing everything you came from, humanity, religion, civilization and family. You are accepting to be an excommunicated, In Islam there is no forgiveness for who kill Innocent people , particularly Innocent Muslims. That is the end of the discussion.
I really wonder when how he describes infidels. If you read all news what happened last 48 hours and related to ISIS, disaster for Muslims, what infidel he is talking about. I abhor to kill anybody but I am trying to explore the concept of infidel. ISIS actions and pictures taken from the scenes is not showing infidels are crying, maimed or their blood splashed the mosque walls, why an infidel goes to mosque in holy Ramadan.
I wish I would like to say this guy Abu Mohammed al-Adnani one word, you are the Abu Lahab of 21st century and Koran has a Surah for you :El Mesed.
I believe that ISIS needs to exterminated by any means, a person who is Muslim reading or watching ISIS propaganda and acting should know that You are denouncing everything you came from, humanity, religion, civilization and family. You are accepting to be an excommunicated, In Islam there is no forgiveness for who kill Innocent people , particularly Innocent Muslims. That is the end of the discussion.
17
Let's get real here. As long as the "Denier in Chief" continues to occupy the White House, no American action will be forthcoming. I would, however, call upon various religious/charitable groups in the United States to immediately cease their sponsorship of Muslim immigrants and would point to Minneapolis as a prime example of the harm done. These charitable groups do not offer continued support to these immigrants, but merely dump them on the already beleagured taxpayers in this country.
16
'...In Islam there is no forgiveness for who kill Innocent people , particularly Innocent Muslims...'
Why the disclaimer?
Are Muslim lives more valuable that others?
Why the disclaimer?
Are Muslim lives more valuable that others?
4
In the 9 days since the beginning of Ramadan, in the name of Islam, 672 people have been killed, and 695 wounded in 87 terror attacks, of which 18 were suicide bombings. Obama's designation of the Ft. Hood terror attack as "workplace violence" and his administrations edict that government pronouncements and documents not pair the word "Islamic" with terrorism; and his inability to grasp that the actions of ISIS are derived from Islamic sharia law, the Quran, the Sunnah and Hadith (the holy book and Mohammad's life and sayings), prevents honest discussion of the issues involved in acts such as this one in France, and those which will happen here with increasing frequency. The JayVee team has consistently outsmarted the Varsity Coach, and will continue to do so until the coach is honest enough to admit that the rules of the game have changed.
66
I hear this all the time. What is "the honest discussion of the issues involved in acts such as this one?" What is it you want to say or, or believe that we should say, that Obama is preventing us from saying?
1
The world, Islamic and Western are sleep walking into ever greater peril. Daesh, even as it comes under some pressure from the Kurds in Syria are widening their targets to include Sunni, Shiite, non Muslims in the Middle East to areas of murderous opportunity for them in North Africa, Afghanistan and Europe. How long will if be for Daesh to try and pull off an atrocity in London, New York and Washington? It seems that since the rise of Daesh, the West in particular has been repeatedly caught flat footed and looking weak. This has continued to embolden Daesh and leave allies and potential allies disheartened. It is time, and hopefully not too late for the West to act boldly and seize the initiative back. If not, the consequences could be felt in London, Paris, Rome Berlin and New York as well as in Tel Aviv, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Tehran and Tripoli
6
ISIS and its sympathizers are clearly showing that their cause is just for one thing, Exploit the religion as a shield and indulge the killing instinct. At the same moment in different part of the world they do unspeakable things.
Let's just look this aspect, almost 2 weeks ago a right wing white supremacist killed Black people in Church in USA, reaction to incident was showed how disgusting and alienated the person from this society, as a result one symbol finally get where its belongs to.
But Muslim world chaos and ongoing misery , people cannot act all together against ISIS and its lone wolves or packs. Even worse Recently High Islamic Institute Al Azhar issued a decree and condemned Mohammed Cartoons. But the very same institute never step forward and issued a strong fatwa saying that killing Muslim during their worship in Mosques it is most unforgivable sin in Islamic theology. In Islam ,If one Muslim kills a innocent Muslim will never see salvation simply excommunicated, Who can be the more innocent muslim than Muslim worshipping in mosque in Holy Ramadan and massacred by an ISIS suicide bomber.
Islam world lost its direction, What is happening out there is not different then the 1920-30 American urban gangsters philosophy, which means who is brave to kill other one will get everything, money, women, influence and political power.
ISIS and all its predecessors degenerated the Islamic world.
Let's just look this aspect, almost 2 weeks ago a right wing white supremacist killed Black people in Church in USA, reaction to incident was showed how disgusting and alienated the person from this society, as a result one symbol finally get where its belongs to.
But Muslim world chaos and ongoing misery , people cannot act all together against ISIS and its lone wolves or packs. Even worse Recently High Islamic Institute Al Azhar issued a decree and condemned Mohammed Cartoons. But the very same institute never step forward and issued a strong fatwa saying that killing Muslim during their worship in Mosques it is most unforgivable sin in Islamic theology. In Islam ,If one Muslim kills a innocent Muslim will never see salvation simply excommunicated, Who can be the more innocent muslim than Muslim worshipping in mosque in Holy Ramadan and massacred by an ISIS suicide bomber.
Islam world lost its direction, What is happening out there is not different then the 1920-30 American urban gangsters philosophy, which means who is brave to kill other one will get everything, money, women, influence and political power.
ISIS and all its predecessors degenerated the Islamic world.
6
Why is an extreme Salafist living in a modern society? There are many places to immigrate that you can live a primitive lifestyle. Beheading? If your a Sunni fundamentalist fine but your actions give a bad name to decent Muslims everywhere. I suspect this loser is more mentally unstable than a true believer in any religion.
12
"At some point we will have to reckon with the fact that this sort of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries". Spoken by the President (who conveniently forgot about/ignored Charlie Hebdo) only a week ago. France has already banned bombs and guns, will it now ban cars and knives too?
11
False equivalence. Apologize for gun violence much?
Please can I humbly request all Muslims to condemn these violent acts immediately. Mere words are not enough, come on to the streets and protest against these evil creatures. Disown them completely. Please abhor conspiratorial theories that find Israel or the West or some other fictitious world movement as the reason behind these acts.
57
Good luck with that. I wouldn't hold your breath.
Lyon, Tunisia, Kuwait...and Europe is contemplating where to put thousands more refugees from Islamic countries. They will not assimilate and they will only spread the ability of militant Islam, to spread it's terror throughout the world. And again, where are the peaceful Islamic denunciations of these actions?
91
The most victims of the islamists are muslims,
and they are getting aware of that.
Among all the muslims moving to europe, we have some very few radicalized,
but the most internalize one message, the western society is peace and civilisation, the califat is barbarianism.
This terror is an act of wrath about the alienation of muslims, the islamists hate us because we are a more viable society even to muslims than they are.
and they are getting aware of that.
Among all the muslims moving to europe, we have some very few radicalized,
but the most internalize one message, the western society is peace and civilisation, the califat is barbarianism.
This terror is an act of wrath about the alienation of muslims, the islamists hate us because we are a more viable society even to muslims than they are.
10
Today is probably one of the most tragic days ever. Folks who went to work to put food on the table for their families are dead (France), people trying to enjoy their vacation have been killed (Tunisia) and the last Kuwaitis trying to pray during their Holy Month have been decapitated. How tragic and mindless can this be? To call these incidents the 'Randomness of Life' is an understatement in itself. This is beyond Random. Something must be done by all the High Priests in United Nations at a global scale to defeat these enemies of Humanity.
18
You want the ineffective and corrupt institution of the UN to handle injustice and worldwide slaughter? Please.
All the attacks you pointed to, as well as the overwhelming majority of the rest that occur daily, have one common thread. They are all being done in the name of a violent and virulent death cult masquerading as a religion. Until that mythical moderate Muslim majority speaks out and purges its ranks of the violent, respite from the bloodshed will be hard to come by.
All the attacks you pointed to, as well as the overwhelming majority of the rest that occur daily, have one common thread. They are all being done in the name of a violent and virulent death cult masquerading as a religion. Until that mythical moderate Muslim majority speaks out and purges its ranks of the violent, respite from the bloodshed will be hard to come by.
7
It may be beyond "random," but it is not beyond "Ramadan."
In my morning news read-a-thon (NY Times, LA Times, Economist, WaPo, The Nation, The Atlantic, The Intercept, BBC, etc) I read that the EU is letting another 40,000 illegals from the Muslim world in and will take on another 20,000 that have not landed unit's shores. Also read about this series of attacks and also the recent video report on Vice (HBO) regarding the violence against Jewish people in France.
I tend not away from alarmism, but Europe has done a really poor job of integrating most of the migrants from SW Asia and North Africa that are from Muslim cultures. Until they can figure out how to handle the mess they already have they might want to send those illegal migrants home.
I tend not away from alarmism, but Europe has done a really poor job of integrating most of the migrants from SW Asia and North Africa that are from Muslim cultures. Until they can figure out how to handle the mess they already have they might want to send those illegal migrants home.
54
Integration goes both ways; the newly-arrived should need to want to assimilate with the local people whose government had granted them a sanctuary, by respecting the customs, religions, language of the locals.
9
'...Europe has done a really poor job of integrating most of the migrants from SW Asia and North Africa that are from Muslim cultures...'
It is not the host country's responsibility to integrate the immigrants, but just the opposite.
That civilized countries have lost this basic understanding and instead have compromised their own values has only led to millions of Muslims immigrants demanding accommodation and financial support ad infinitum. It is seen as validation of their faith, which like all fundamentalist religions, is based on suppressing the rights of 50% of the population.
All cultures are not 'equal'. That there is no Muslim First World countries is, in fact, because fundamentalist religious beliefs are incapable with democracy and human rights.
To import that en masse into civilized countries is insane, as we will not bring them up, but they will destroy us from within.
It is not the host country's responsibility to integrate the immigrants, but just the opposite.
That civilized countries have lost this basic understanding and instead have compromised their own values has only led to millions of Muslims immigrants demanding accommodation and financial support ad infinitum. It is seen as validation of their faith, which like all fundamentalist religions, is based on suppressing the rights of 50% of the population.
All cultures are not 'equal'. That there is no Muslim First World countries is, in fact, because fundamentalist religious beliefs are incapable with democracy and human rights.
To import that en masse into civilized countries is insane, as we will not bring them up, but they will destroy us from within.
3
I have one quibble with your statement, David Gregory. You wrote, "Europe has done a poor job of integrating most of the migrants from SW Asia and North African that are from Muslim cultures."
It is NOT Europe's job, or the US's job, to assimilate those immigrants.
It is THEIR job.
When the Muslims refuse to assimilate, as many of them have refused, and every time I see a woman smothered and invisible in a black burka, I am reminded of this...We need to look at WHY we continue to allow them entry into western, free, democratic countries, who believe that men and women are equal.
There are millions of people in the world who want to immigrate who will embrace our lifestyle and society. Those people should be allowed entry. The ones that don't - that condemn our societies, that refuse to live in a modern and safe world, who refuse to recognize that everyone has a right to their own religion, who refuse to educate their children beyond memorizing the Koran which preaches violence against "infidels," they should not be allowed to come - or stay.
I can't help but think that if the Muslim immigrants thought that MEN were beneath women, and treated them with contempt, that they would not be allowed to immigrate. Would men allow other men to immigrate who wanted to shroud them in burkas, take away their rights, and attack them with genital mutilation?
I think not.
We must screen better in terms of immigration. It is acceptable, and needed, to protect our country.
It is NOT Europe's job, or the US's job, to assimilate those immigrants.
It is THEIR job.
When the Muslims refuse to assimilate, as many of them have refused, and every time I see a woman smothered and invisible in a black burka, I am reminded of this...We need to look at WHY we continue to allow them entry into western, free, democratic countries, who believe that men and women are equal.
There are millions of people in the world who want to immigrate who will embrace our lifestyle and society. Those people should be allowed entry. The ones that don't - that condemn our societies, that refuse to live in a modern and safe world, who refuse to recognize that everyone has a right to their own religion, who refuse to educate their children beyond memorizing the Koran which preaches violence against "infidels," they should not be allowed to come - or stay.
I can't help but think that if the Muslim immigrants thought that MEN were beneath women, and treated them with contempt, that they would not be allowed to immigrate. Would men allow other men to immigrate who wanted to shroud them in burkas, take away their rights, and attack them with genital mutilation?
I think not.
We must screen better in terms of immigration. It is acceptable, and needed, to protect our country.
2
When is Obama going to get serious about the threat of ISIS? Until he does, the heads of the Euro nations will never move to protect themselves. it seems that Obama is unable to label Islamic extremism for what it is. meanwhile ISIS continues to commit murder, threaten peaceful Muslims, and expand its reach worldwide.
14
What makes you think the president doesn't take ISIS seriously? Are you not seeing enough flag draped coffins containing other people's children? Is that your yardstick of seriousness?
3
There are two years left in his term, highly doubtful he'll continue to do what he's been doing which is nothing.
3
I'd like to know who provoked this attack. Obviously, someone offended this gentle man from the religion of peace. Who is guilty of this provocation?
54
Perhaps not putting these events on the front page, blaring these horrendous actions seemingly every other day, will help. All we seem to do by giving such notoriety in encourage these actions, allowing these wretched excuses for human being to feel validated and powerful. Less media coverage of the explosions, killings, tortures, etc. would be a good start, don't you think? This is not to discourage coverage of who they are, but just of the destruction they propagate.
9
Yes! Ignore it, that will make it go away. Then we should ignore the S.C. shooting too! That's not what your opinion is I will bet. I bet you condemned the S.C. shooter, and maybe want to go after private gun ownership. But let's ignore the Muslims. That is exactly why they have a foothold all across this country now! We have ignored them way to long. And soon we will reap the whirlwind from allowing these "peaceful, loving, tolerant people" freedom to come and go at will.
14
The world has a real problem here. Terrorism is a type of asymmetrical warfare. Look at the damage one person can do. Even more significant is the fear such attacks can create. That's why terrorism is their choice of combat.
We see that this terrorist is a Salafist which is the type of Sunni Islam supported by Saudi Arabia. This is not two hundred years ago where societies were mostly homogeneous. Now, people of different cultures are everywhere.
With other cultures, the immigrants always tried very hard to blend in and assimilate. Islam opposes this blending and radical Islam absolutely rejects it.
With the connectivity of the Internet, there truly are no lone wolves. They are all united as a common force.
These attacks will not stop until Islam forcefully opposes Jihad and the violent expansion of a global caliphate. Like it or not, rightly or wrongly, these beliefs have become a part of modern Islam.
This battle must be fought within Islam. If wiser, non terrorist forces do not prevail, then all followers of Islam will be treated as potential terrorists. We have our laws and principles which we cherish, but human nature always wins in the end.
We see that this terrorist is a Salafist which is the type of Sunni Islam supported by Saudi Arabia. This is not two hundred years ago where societies were mostly homogeneous. Now, people of different cultures are everywhere.
With other cultures, the immigrants always tried very hard to blend in and assimilate. Islam opposes this blending and radical Islam absolutely rejects it.
With the connectivity of the Internet, there truly are no lone wolves. They are all united as a common force.
These attacks will not stop until Islam forcefully opposes Jihad and the violent expansion of a global caliphate. Like it or not, rightly or wrongly, these beliefs have become a part of modern Islam.
This battle must be fought within Islam. If wiser, non terrorist forces do not prevail, then all followers of Islam will be treated as potential terrorists. We have our laws and principles which we cherish, but human nature always wins in the end.
60
This is how it starts. First the middle east, now Europe. And if immigration and birthrates continue, who will have the majority vote?
60
A cogent comment. It's all about birth rates, which are decreasing among white Europeans and Americans and exploding in the Islamic world. Muslims emigrating to Europe and the U.S. are growing rapidly as a percentage of the population. Along with that growth comes the spread of Islam, and radical Islam. Remember, the Koran orders observant Muslims to convert others to their faith under penalty of death.
19
Immigration and birthrates are not the problem (and I always find it extremely unsettling when people mention birthrates in this way, it strikes me as xenophobic and racist in the worst way; after all, do you really believe you can predict a person's danger to you by what they were born as??). The vast majority of Muslims do not support this violence, and even the governments in Muslim countries are attempting to crack down on fundamentalists. Careful not to engage in unsupported dangerous generalizations about people. It certainly does nothing to help the situation.
3
Lets not be alarmist. Muslims make up about 2% of Europe's overall population. And only a tiny fraction of those are in any sympathetic to this sort of terrorism. Many are more European than the Europeans themselves.
Also, birthrates of all immigrant groups tend to converge on that of the host country over time. For example, the birthrate of the Turks in Germany is now below replacement level, just like for the ethnic Germans.
Also, birthrates of all immigrant groups tend to converge on that of the host country over time. For example, the birthrate of the Turks in Germany is now below replacement level, just like for the ethnic Germans.
3
I think that there is something more terrifying to the general public to have it linked to an international call for "jihad" or whatever as opposed to an isolated incident involving one individual. I guess we will need more facts to ascertain the motive of the individual who did this.
1
clearly an act of madness by a crazed individual!
2
Then how do you explain Tunisia and Kuwait? Is it only a coincidence that all three happened on the same day?
Islam harbors within itself a number of competing belief systems that understand violence but do not understand tolerance, mercy or dare I say love. The religion is sick and needs healing but where are the healers, the prophets the reformers? In the west there are too many acts of violence but they are few and far between when compared to the violence carried out in the Muslim world by state and non state perpetrators alike. Political Islam is a menace to all those it touches. Let us pray that it spreads no further and pray again that its bloody tide recedes.
12
No doubt there will be lots of comments comparing Charleston to this event.
First the obvious, Lyon is in France and not the United States. The other, many people, including this newspaper have referred to Charleston as a terrorist attack, as it should be. And to my knowledge, the guy in Charleston didn't attempt to blow up or burn down the church, as other terrorists have done here.
With the current waves of immigration into Europe (largely young men), these events will only increase. And keep in mind that there is both cultural and geographic immigration, and cultural immigration may very well not occur even if you are born in Europe.
First the obvious, Lyon is in France and not the United States. The other, many people, including this newspaper have referred to Charleston as a terrorist attack, as it should be. And to my knowledge, the guy in Charleston didn't attempt to blow up or burn down the church, as other terrorists have done here.
With the current waves of immigration into Europe (largely young men), these events will only increase. And keep in mind that there is both cultural and geographic immigration, and cultural immigration may very well not occur even if you are born in Europe.
12
France dropped the ball (read 'Raw Nerve') during Second World War and has become a symbol of timidness ever since. The current challenge being posed to France by Islamists is a Golden opportunity for it to redeem its courageous pride and reputation. Pick up the gauntlet France, show us you got it!
7
France made war with the US in the first Gulf war and in Afghanistan. Its air force is bombing ISIS positions in Iraq. Its special forces are maintaining peace in Mali and Central African Republic. It seems that we often pick up the gauntlet...
2
It is not practical to extirpate IS - too many followers spread over too much country. Unless you want to sterilize the Middle East, of course. What might be practical would be to come to a secret understanding with its leaders: e.g., do what you want to establish your caliphate in Iraq and Syria, but leave the West alone. Each terrorist attack linked to you will be met with a one month, full-court press air attack on your facilities (especially money making ones), your armies etc. Which action would need to be demonstrated once after another provocation. This would have the added advantage of keeping certain parties causing us problems in the Middle East fully occupied for the foreseeable future.
2
Until moderate Muslims all over the world step forward as one to denounce the sociopaths and lunatics that have arisen within their mosques and schools, and give them absolutely no quarter, no haven, and no sympathy, the rest of the world will always link Islam with bloodthirsty fanaticism, intolerance, cruelty and the nihilistic hatred that death cults everywhere are made up of. The fact that these attacks happened during Ramadan only adds viciousness to the cruelty.
This is ultimately a battle for the soul of Islam, and right now the devil is winning the fight. The West will defend itself from murderers, but the true struggle has to take place within Islam. We are all urgently waiting to hear Islam's response. The sanity of the whole world is at stake.
This is ultimately a battle for the soul of Islam, and right now the devil is winning the fight. The West will defend itself from murderers, but the true struggle has to take place within Islam. We are all urgently waiting to hear Islam's response. The sanity of the whole world is at stake.
140
It seems that the incidence of these attacks is highest during Ramadan. Anyone else notice this?
The weather's usually better for them, also they could be linked to low blood sugar.
Why is it that one person killed at an American-owned business an act of terrorism, and the attacker has been caught and arrested in France any different than an attack which killed nine people at Bible study "only" a hate crime, and he is labeled "alleged?" I simply don't understand.
9
A two-word explanation: American exceptionalism.
2
Because it is easier to prove a hate crime under our federal and presumably state laws.
9
The "alleged" is because you are innocent until proven guilty. Bill of Rights and all that other stuff, you know.
5
The terrorists' viciousness seems to know no bounds. They have discovered a soft, but lethal target - a chemical factory. Think of the ramifications of such an explosion.
The American-owned plant must be a guarded compound, but these terrorists rammed a car into the premises. This may no doubt heighten the security around chemical factories across Europe.
The American-owned plant must be a guarded compound, but these terrorists rammed a car into the premises. This may no doubt heighten the security around chemical factories across Europe.
46
I spent several years in the Army dealing with security. What I've observed, in instances such as this and the Charlie Hebdo killing, is that most "security" for both people and places is a joke (Hebdo's security was meaningless and the first police officers on the scene had to retreat because they were unarmed). People tasked with this duty are usually poorly trained, paid and armed. They provide security in name only. And whenever you walk into an area designated as "gun free" remember that all law abiding people will be unarmed and criminals will see this as a "soft" target with little likelihood of opposition.
1
Yes, I find this very upsetting, as my spouse is employed by a company domiciled in Europe and travels to its facilities in several European countries, including England, France, and Switzerland.
These terrorists, most of whom claim to be Islamic, desecrate Islam and put other Muslims in danger of extreme prejudice and discrimination by their deranged actions. ISIS has ramped up its depraved actions in the past month or so, with other newspapers featuring ever more torturous method of executing infidels and other members of the opposition, such as putting people in cages that are then lowered into a body of water, ensuring agony for the condemned. They also reportedly commit routine sexual assault on girls as young as nine as the spoils of war and expose their own young children to viewings of public executions. They are pure evil and must be stopped.
These terrorists, most of whom claim to be Islamic, desecrate Islam and put other Muslims in danger of extreme prejudice and discrimination by their deranged actions. ISIS has ramped up its depraved actions in the past month or so, with other newspapers featuring ever more torturous method of executing infidels and other members of the opposition, such as putting people in cages that are then lowered into a body of water, ensuring agony for the condemned. They also reportedly commit routine sexual assault on girls as young as nine as the spoils of war and expose their own young children to viewings of public executions. They are pure evil and must be stopped.
1
Will all you people just ״Cool It"... What else is new ?
Actually, It's more important to concentrate on the impending Nuclear Agreement that Obama is doing with Iran... Once the Agreement is finalized... There will be " Peace in our Time"
Actually, It's more important to concentrate on the impending Nuclear Agreement that Obama is doing with Iran... Once the Agreement is finalized... There will be " Peace in our Time"
4
I wish that was true. I doubt highly that this will stop ISIS since they are "anti-Iran" anyway....
Exactly. Once the U.S. agrees to allow Iran to build a nuclear bomb there will be world peace... or is that swirled peas?
1
Househusband, Henry was making a historical reference. It was intended ironically. Neville Chamberlain and whatnot. I know, history. Boring.
We should have no doubts who their ultimate target is. Not to be a fear-monger, but we should be aware that the nexus of global extremist support for ISIS, along with the still unrealized ultimate prize of a major attack on American soil, together with this time of year is a reason for increased vigilance.
20
let's face it....the Syrian war has created more damage than anybody could have imagined. The Western world leaders totally screw up by not supporting the current Syrian regime.
By having a double speech, we enabled the formation of ISIS.
By having a double speech, we enabled the formation of ISIS.
11
I agree Paul, that together with releasing the hornets out of Iraq with that terribly wrongheaded invasion in 2003. All because those two nations "were not our allies, and were better be wiped of the map and destroyed by wars, blood and tears" in the minds of our own fools (and regional allies). Europe didnt do anything to avoid that, barely standing by (little or no real protest from European leaders of the Iraq invasion). Now they have it coming. Where are the refugee camps in SA, and Israel for Syria's war refugees?
THE Only way to end this Mayhem is "Regime Change" in Saudi Arabia as until the House of Saud is controlled by the Wahhabis, Sociopaths will find a home at the ISIS et al....
IRONICALLY France has joined the Chorus of countries courting the House of Saud not only for new Military and Commercial contracts but also ensuring that it Survives, Funds and Sponsors such Unimaginable Acts.
TODAY we have had news of more Barbaric Deaths and Destruction in France, Tunisia, Kuwait, Yemen and Syria et al and it is Time to get our Act Together and end this Misery for Good.
IRONICALLY France has joined the Chorus of countries courting the House of Saud not only for new Military and Commercial contracts but also ensuring that it Survives, Funds and Sponsors such Unimaginable Acts.
TODAY we have had news of more Barbaric Deaths and Destruction in France, Tunisia, Kuwait, Yemen and Syria et al and it is Time to get our Act Together and end this Misery for Good.
8
As for suspicions, given the resurgence of fascism in France, annd its role in the Algeria war, consideration at least should be given to the possibility of "action provocatrice."
“Muslims, embark and hasten toward jihad,” said the Islamic State’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, in an audio message released this week. “O mujahedeen everywhere, rush and go to make Ramadan a month of disasters for the infidels.”
These guys have a weird way of celebrating their holidays: what's wrong with hot dogs and fireworks?
These guys have a weird way of celebrating their holidays: what's wrong with hot dogs and fireworks?
90
Well, according to our President the Muslim morning call to prayer is the most beautiful thing he has heard. So, how can you criticize these peace loving people. As for "...disasters for the infidels.", we asked for it by not doing the right thing after Sept. 11th.
2
Look at it from the perspective of the poor pig or cow that suffered the horrors of our factory farming system and then died in pain and fear so that you can have your hot dog.
It's all relative, isn't it?
It's all relative, isn't it?
1
Wow, the whole article written without using the word "Muslim" or "Islam". But everyone knows by the nature of the crime what group is responsible. You're fooling no one.
122
"Wow, the whole article written without using the word "Muslim" or "Islam". But everyone knows by the nature of the crime what group is responsible."
If everyone knows then why bother stating it? Or, if all the evidence is not yet in should we just jump to whatever conclusion supports our ideology? That's usually a job for Fox News, like the recent War On Christians event you may have heard of in Charleston.
If everyone knows then why bother stating it? Or, if all the evidence is not yet in should we just jump to whatever conclusion supports our ideology? That's usually a job for Fox News, like the recent War On Christians event you may have heard of in Charleston.
1
"The assault follows the attacks this year on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and on a Jewish grocery store in Paris, and a number of other violent episodes in Europe involving people claiming adherence to radical Islamic groups."
The article also mentions the suspect's connections to "radical Salafists," who I believe are Muslim.
This is a news article, not an opinion piece, BTW. More information, I'm sure, will be forthcoming.
The article also mentions the suspect's connections to "radical Salafists," who I believe are Muslim.
This is a news article, not an opinion piece, BTW. More information, I'm sure, will be forthcoming.
1
One can not use words like Muslim and Islam in this context it would fly in the face of Political Correctness and since it is in another country the U.S. media and the Justice Dept. can't stir up riots so using such terms would be a waste.
2
So who is going to ask these guys to take down their flags?
28
Yet we see this constant drift of Muslims from the UK to ISIS and much vaster numbers of fence-sitters or those who have sympathetic inclinations. We don't really do religion that much here in the UK and we struggled for centuries to free ourselves from its dogma. We will just have to do it again if called upon to preserve those advances. Islamism will have to be extirpated.
35
Workplace killings like this are common enough in the US that they have acquired a shorthand name--"going postal"--from the rash of post office rampages over the last few decades.
That the killer waved a flag and killed by decapitation makes the deed seem more evil in a morally Romantic sort of way, but really the flourish accompanying a deed is far less important than the deed itself. Don't listen to what people say. Don't even listen to what they say about what they do. Just listen to what they do.
That the killer waved a flag and killed by decapitation makes the deed seem more evil in a morally Romantic sort of way, but really the flourish accompanying a deed is far less important than the deed itself. Don't listen to what people say. Don't even listen to what they say about what they do. Just listen to what they do.
4
Yes, it is true like people such as Amy Bishop that in America there is workplace violence (and a lot of violence in general), but I think that this is part of a larger movement....
1
Unless the attacker worked there, this was not a workplace killing.
10
According to your definition, was the Ft. Hood "incident" one of "workplace violence," (as the Obama administration has defined it) or was Hasan committing what he believed to be a terrorist act? Should we not pay attention to the many clues he gave of his intentions before committing the murders, and of his shouting "Alahu Akbar" as he fired? Or should we look beyond his stated intentions, and compare his behavior to that of a "Postal worker." To deny that a persons expressed motivation in committing an act of terrorism is to say that your predetermined interpretation trumps the actual facts in the case. Of course this is how many today excuse Islamic terrorism. Most of those same people vilify Israel in an entirely hypocritical mental inversion. When an ISIS member is busy raping a Yazidi girl, remember that he is following Mohammad's direct example of behavior. Please don't say he is doing it because he couldn't find a job in Dearborn.
4
European governments are crazy to take in all of the Muslim people fleeing the ruins of countries we've left behind in Syria, Iraq et al. They are not going to be grateful, and their kids will be radicals. If Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other oil rich Muslim nations don't step up, it is clearly more crazy than saintly for the non Muslim European countries to keep taking them.
108
And 27 tourists killed in Tunisia, 19 Shiites in Kuwait. Much ado about nothing: the New York Times has already explained that right-wing extremism is a much bigger threat.
32
Apparently US medias are missing one detail or not understanding it. The site of the attack is what we call a "seveso" site.
That is to say a site corresponding to the EU directives 96/82/EC and/or 2012/18/EU. In other words, a site with chemicals that could go very wrong like in the Seveso disaster of 1976.
That is to say a site corresponding to the EU directives 96/82/EC and/or 2012/18/EU. In other words, a site with chemicals that could go very wrong like in the Seveso disaster of 1976.
9
why is the headline always "terrorist" when it is a Muslim criminal killing one, but "alleged gunman" when it is a white Christian killing 9 in a house of worship?
3
John Stewart had a moving monologue about this.
"Useless divisions", Hollande utters an equivalent of Neville Chamberlain. The politicians in the West need a "call to arms". There are divisions and they are not useless.
7
"Now really is the time for Muslim leaders to strongly condemn the violence of radical Islam." Don't hold your breath, my friend. Some platitudes muttered in a few Western mosques is probably the extent of the condemnation you'll hear.
29
which muslim leaders would you want an apology from?
1
Even after French restrictions on civil liberties, preceding the previous terrorist attack in Paris, incidents of this magnitude have not been not contained. Instead of spying on their on people (passing reform to spy on its citizens worst than US espionage) the French gov't should attempt collaboration with other European nations to erode radical Islamic groups.
1
Can we please stop referring to the "Islamic State"? Don't give these murderous fanatics the satisfaction that their warped views are representative of Islam by any standard.
6
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't that organization name itself The Islamic State?
1
POTUS and the State Department are already preparing their apologetic speeches: this is a horrible crime; it has nothing to do with religion; Islam means peace; this is isolated event; Muslims have legitimate grievances; they are reacting to alienation, white racism and privilege; Muslims are the real victims of hurt feelings and stereotyping; and Christians are guilty of doing the same. This nonsense has been peddled by Obama, Clinton, Kerry and Holder, who have not only refused to say "Islamic Terrorist" but have accused those of using the term of racism and bigotry. Of course, the reaction was much different with the horrible, but rare mass shooting in Charleston, where the media identified the race of perpetrator immediately and the President used this to basically condemn America as inherently racist (in our DNA). Tens of thousands of bombings (13,500 according to the state department) have nothing to do with religion. One racial shooting, and America is guilty. Got it now?
79
Who says terrorists can't exist in different contexts, in different places? Only people who can't keep two different thoughts in their minds at the same time.
1
I'm glad someone else noticed that "racism is in your DNA" speech - a really appalling way to address the issue. Race is in one's DNA, racism is not.
1
There is a whole lot of racism in America's DNA. Ironically, Islamofascists appear to be racially tolerant. The hatred in their DNA is aimed at "infidels." The body count they're racking up is higher, these days. We can abhor their actions as well as those of people like Dylan Roof, and the hate machine that spurred him on, and made him say that he "had to" shoot senseless people.
1
If this is a terrorist attack, when is the media going to call the Charleston shooting one as well? Or are they reserving the term terrorist attack for actions by Muslim extremists only?
4
As the fuller story emerges I think you can see that today's incidents appear to be a coordinated, systematic series of attacks by multiple people on multiple sites. That's very different than a mass murder conducted by a single deranged person.
4
It is based upon what the prosecutors include in their indictment. If there are no counts alleging terrorist acts, but only allegations of the commission of a hate crime, that is what it is and is also how the media should report it - based upon the facts as set forth in the government's complaint. Did you ever think that the prosecution might not have included allegations and counts of terrorism in the complaint because it may be very difficult to actually prove that beyond a reasonable doubt?
1
Perhaps the media will characterize the Charleston mass murder of 9 Black people as terrorism when it does so for Colin Ferguson's mass murder of 6 White people, and attempted murder of 19 more White people, on a train in New York.
As for Islamist terrorism, it's rather easy to characterize it as terrorism when they openly admit they are following ISIS dictates and are murdering people for their god.
As for Islamist terrorism, it's rather easy to characterize it as terrorism when they openly admit they are following ISIS dictates and are murdering people for their god.
8
Restoration of the Caliphate and jihad are expressions of a desire to restore a pre-industrial culture that was effectively destroyed by the Industrial Revolution and the empires that drove it with brutal efficiency.(something to think about when you next watch Lord of the Rings movies)
The disaffected of the modern world, from criminals to sons and daughters of prosperous immigrant families are persuaded by the romantic visions of the Caliphate and Paradise to follow.
The disorienting rapidity of social and economic change creates more recruits to this vision, as does foreign invasions of Muslim lands.
The demographics of the Middle East are not enouraging. Tens of millions of youth will reach adulthood in the next decade without good prospects for employment. Recent satellite mapping of collapsing water tables forecast trouble for agriculture and food supply, exacerbated by huge dislocated populations. Continued political turmoil seems highly likely.
In this context, demands in the US by some GOP leaders to re-invade the Middle East, kill off ISIS and establish a permanent occupation seem particularly foolish. The Obama Administration is wise to allow local political equilibrium to develop by supporting containment of ISIS.
The disaffected of the modern world, from criminals to sons and daughters of prosperous immigrant families are persuaded by the romantic visions of the Caliphate and Paradise to follow.
The disorienting rapidity of social and economic change creates more recruits to this vision, as does foreign invasions of Muslim lands.
The demographics of the Middle East are not enouraging. Tens of millions of youth will reach adulthood in the next decade without good prospects for employment. Recent satellite mapping of collapsing water tables forecast trouble for agriculture and food supply, exacerbated by huge dislocated populations. Continued political turmoil seems highly likely.
In this context, demands in the US by some GOP leaders to re-invade the Middle East, kill off ISIS and establish a permanent occupation seem particularly foolish. The Obama Administration is wise to allow local political equilibrium to develop by supporting containment of ISIS.
50
How is IS contained. They are freely operating around the world.
While operating a caliphate in our midst that is based on subjugation / control of women, enslavement and slaughter in most depraved manners of non Muslims and Shia Muslims, promoting and providing women as sex slaves, throwing homosexuals off roofs.
As some one who was not born during the Holocaust and wondered how it was allowed to happen witnessing this modern tragedy now I know.
While operating a caliphate in our midst that is based on subjugation / control of women, enslavement and slaughter in most depraved manners of non Muslims and Shia Muslims, promoting and providing women as sex slaves, throwing homosexuals off roofs.
As some one who was not born during the Holocaust and wondered how it was allowed to happen witnessing this modern tragedy now I know.
7
@ Look Ahead
"expressions of a desire to restore a pre-industrial culture that was effectively destroyed by the Industrial Revolution"
Your comment is more reflective of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and not the broader Caliphates before the Ottoman Caliphate.
More importantly, the Turks are not the leading forces of Wahabi jihadism.
Please check your facts.
"expressions of a desire to restore a pre-industrial culture that was effectively destroyed by the Industrial Revolution"
Your comment is more reflective of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and not the broader Caliphates before the Ottoman Caliphate.
More importantly, the Turks are not the leading forces of Wahabi jihadism.
Please check your facts.
Unfettered immigration combined with inadequate assimilation will only lead to more and more of these incidents, and just plain avoidable social frictions, in Europe and the U.S.. Not that they are totally avoidable, but they are somewhat predictable.
Maybe it's time for Western countries to slow down the flow of people from significantly different cultures until they/we come up with a better immigration/assimilation formula.
Maybe it's time for Western countries to slow down the flow of people from significantly different cultures until they/we come up with a better immigration/assimilation formula.
184
Well William that's just hate speech or something. Remember only a few jihadis want to kill you not all.
2
Although I agree, I think that it is rather too late, at least for Europe. There are millions of 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants who are now nationals of the country their parents came to.
9
It is obvious from your comment that you do not support our president's policy on immigration. That mean YOU are part of the problem. All immigrants should have the right to vote for our president or his party and should never assimilate. They have the right to change our native language to theirs, change our dress to theirs, change our culture to theirs and require all of us to embrace their religion. Anything less wouldn't be politically correct and therefore unacceptable.
1
Almost every religion has gone through a dark age from which it has emerged dented but refined within, and this as a result of large-scale reformation. It is obvious now that the once great Islamic culture and religion is now at an unprecedented nadir, made so undesirable today by forces from within. When the constant rhetoric is to blame the slightest fault of others while condoning the greatest faults of the self, these things are bounds to happen. I am not suggesting that the middle eastern conflict should be accommodated or condoned by anyone. What I mean is the issue of Sunni-Shia violence, human trafficking, indentured labor, situation of women in society, destruction of Muhajirs, rights of non-muslims and many more pressing issues should be the centerpiece of the Islamic dialog. It now acts like a diseased body that seeks no nourishment, but has an immune system that has gone wild. In spite of the advantage of hindsight, there seems to be no global calls for a grand reformation from islamic scholars and people of influence. And this to me is very disconcerting. I sincerely hope Islam will one day stand on the shoulders of what Akbar the Great had created once in India.
132
"the once great Islamic culture and religion..."
Whatever there was to this greatness sprang from Jews, Christians, Greeks, Armenians, who functioned under Arabic names.
These minorities have mostly now been or will soon be murdered or driven from Arab lands, so that Islamic 'culture' will soon lapse totally into desuetude....
Whatever there was to this greatness sprang from Jews, Christians, Greeks, Armenians, who functioned under Arabic names.
These minorities have mostly now been or will soon be murdered or driven from Arab lands, so that Islamic 'culture' will soon lapse totally into desuetude....
4
Why would a religion of peace want to change? You speak as if there is something wrong with Muslim beliefs and actions. The global war against each other and infidels is perfect.
1
Te Reformation in Christianity was an attempt to bring the religion back to its pure form as found in its early days. Whether it succeeded or not, that was the intention. ISIS is one of moslems' attempts to return to Islam's roots. ISIS is Islam's "reformation," according to the template of Christianity's Reformation. Read the Quran, the life of Muhammad (Bukhari), or the Hadith (Muhammad's sayings). Then read about the Islamic imperialist conquests of India and the Balkans. It's all there.
2
Now really is the time for Muslim leaders to strongly condemn the violence of radical Islam. A tepid response will not suffice.
198
I won't hold my breath for that to happen any time soon.
6
Still waiting for the southern leaders here to condemn the violence of the radical white supremacists in our land (22 major organizations and counting). But they feel no sense of responsibility for the outcomes of their dog-whistles and sub rosa support of racism. It's always a "lone gunman with mental health issues", so why should they change their ways? But it's easy enough to see, esp. when you live in the south. Just for one example, when Sarah Palin had heated the crowd she addressed at a rally and one of the audience yelled of Obama, "Kill him!" Palin just grinned and went on ginning up the hate. But there's never a moment that these people apologize; they'd lose the support of the racists who vote for them every time.
3
Don't hold your breath. They will condemn the corrupt society that forces these radical madmen to act in such a manner.
6
While the future of the European Union hangs in the balance over the Greek debt crisis, Francois Hollande rushes home from an EU summit because of an incident in which one person was killed and an Islamic message was displayed. No wonder this guy's capabilities as a national leader are constantly being questioned.
7
Faulting Hollande for taking action seems to be a narrow view of him in light of a decapitation on French soil and what may be a developing story of coordinated attacks.
6
Hearing of another terrorist attack makes me profoundly sad for those who are suffering a horrible loss, but it doesn't make me terrified. Sincere condolences for the life lost.
25
unfortunately another sign of the times.
10
Amazingly, a guy waves a flag with Arabic and it's a "terrorist" attack. A guy here waves the flag of our former enemy, the confederacy, while he kills a group that was saved by the union, and he is just "disallusioned". What it the difference?
247
My thoughts exactly. Either this is an "Islamic Supremacy" attack or the Charleston attack is just plain "terrorism" also. Let's stop using these non-equivalent and biased terms. This influences how people think and react.
24
The: For starters, the American was not waving a flag when he shot those poor souls, the flag just represented the alienation and anger he felt today as an American in an increasingly divided country. Both guys were mentally sick and filled with anger . They share no difference in that respect.
43
But that isn't true. Many referred to the church killings as domestic terrorism.
29
As the White House spokesperson like to say, nothing to see here, just another work place incident. The only problem is there are 1.5 Billion of people who it is said there are some 15 to 25% who are radicalized ,so I guess we can expect quite a lot more of this work place violence.
75
So you really think there are on the order of 300 million radical Islamists? They would already control the world if that were true.
Or to paraphrase President Obama's reaction to the targeted murders of Jews at a Paris kosher deli, what we have here is a fanatic (let's not identify the source of his fanaticism) who simply decapitated some random guy and left some scribblings in Arabic.
Guess it's time to ratchet up the pressure on Israel to divert everyone's attention from this unpleasantness ... until the next Islamist terrorist attack.
Guess it's time to ratchet up the pressure on Israel to divert everyone's attention from this unpleasantness ... until the next Islamist terrorist attack.
4