It is important to keep our powers of analysis safe from the roar for vengeance, keep civilization going, stiffupperlip through this as best as we can. An attack on the human shields around ISIS (which is all we would get) would be quite as barbaric as these attacks and leave many more women and children dead. What civilization do we want to protect? Is it still worth protecting if we kill thousands of innocents in the process? There are questions to be asked, answers to which we might not be able to face without the power of this blood bath. Why is the Middle East so unstable? Is it just because they are Muslims or might that have other reasons? Does ISIS really want us to attack them with boots on the ground and if that's the case why don't they just directly attack Turkey, triggering the Nato defense treaty? Why is ISIS the most successful army in the ME if they're just a bunch of headcutting terrorists? In my opinion, ISIS came about because a dictator was removed (by Bush II) that kept a lid on tensions between Shia and Sunni in a country whose borders were engineered to be unstable by France, England and Russia (Sykes-Picot). The Baathist army remnants were let go by Maliki and the Sunni subjugated by the Shiite majority, found some religious nut to serve as their spokesman and are the only ones currently capable of getting rid of them. Why not talk with the Generals and give the Arab Sunnis their own country? They'd have something to lose.
3
The real victim here is democracy! Please don't qualify the word 'democracy' as Western-style, as the West is the bastion to the world of funtional democracy! France stands for liberté, égalité et fraternité ! May it always be and remain so, God willing!
5
The heading is accurate, and precise. Terror. But I see lots of reaction demanding that we call it terrorism. That may be accurate, for these attacks may have been designed to use terror in furtherance of political and ideological agenda. However, we know from elsewhere (Ireland, for example) that thugs and criminals sometimes use the pretense of ideology to justify their criminal business ventures.
To give official designation of "terrorism" to any specific act means recognizing OFFICIALLY that the perpetrators actually do have ideology as well as political aspirations. The brutal and criminal acts of any and every gang of malcontents don’t rise even to that low level.
Yes, ISIS is a reality, and deserves to be eliminated, no matter what they say they want. Apart from blood-lust, rape, and self-enrichment, I don’t really know their aims. Not everyone who shouts God is Great is really religious, no more than everyone who shouts God Bless America is truly patriotic.
To give official designation of "terrorism" to any specific act means recognizing OFFICIALLY that the perpetrators actually do have ideology as well as political aspirations. The brutal and criminal acts of any and every gang of malcontents don’t rise even to that low level.
Yes, ISIS is a reality, and deserves to be eliminated, no matter what they say they want. Apart from blood-lust, rape, and self-enrichment, I don’t really know their aims. Not everyone who shouts God is Great is really religious, no more than everyone who shouts God Bless America is truly patriotic.
5
Don Rumsfeld stated back in 2004 that even with deploying our entire military and intelligence it is relatively impossible to stop someone who is willing to commit suicide in order to carry out their mission. ISIS and whatever comes after ISIS cannot be defeated militarily. Or as Don Rumsfeld was fond of saying - we cannot kill our way out of this. To all the Republican candidates and Hillary Clinton I would ask that question - Can we kill our way to the eradication of Islamic Jihadism? If not, then what exactly are we accomplishing by trying to do so?
6
A number of commenters to this editorial and other news and commentary regarding the terrorist attacks in Paris blame Bush. Of all the knee jerk and incorrect responses to these attacks, blaming Bush wins the prize.
A little history. The harsh terms imposed on Germany in the treaty of Versailles contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany and the horrors of WW 2. The US thwarting of Japan's imperial ambitions contributed to Japan's decision to attack Pearl Harbor. However Germany's and Japan's ambitions existed independently of such events and in any event, whatever led to the rise of imperial Japan and Nazi Germany was and is irrelevant. Both evils had to be destroyed.
Anyone who blames Bush for these attacks is simply trying to repeat their political point that the Iraq War was wrong and Bush was bad. But the truth is, terrorist attacks were committed against the west and the US long before Bush took office and the immediate cause of the invasion of Iraq was the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
You may disagree with the Iraq war and you may think Bush was a bad president. But don't be silly. The roots of ISIS existed long before Bush took office. If any president is to blame for ISIS's growth it is Obama for leaving Iraq and essentially abandoning the Middle East.
A little history. The harsh terms imposed on Germany in the treaty of Versailles contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany and the horrors of WW 2. The US thwarting of Japan's imperial ambitions contributed to Japan's decision to attack Pearl Harbor. However Germany's and Japan's ambitions existed independently of such events and in any event, whatever led to the rise of imperial Japan and Nazi Germany was and is irrelevant. Both evils had to be destroyed.
Anyone who blames Bush for these attacks is simply trying to repeat their political point that the Iraq War was wrong and Bush was bad. But the truth is, terrorist attacks were committed against the west and the US long before Bush took office and the immediate cause of the invasion of Iraq was the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
You may disagree with the Iraq war and you may think Bush was a bad president. But don't be silly. The roots of ISIS existed long before Bush took office. If any president is to blame for ISIS's growth it is Obama for leaving Iraq and essentially abandoning the Middle East.
3
ISIS is a problem to be solved. Infiltrate them and take down the leadership. We can't live like this.
4
Le coeur brisé en mille fragments
Ivre de douleur, Douce France on pleure
Des larmes amères comme le sang
Ivre de douleur, Douce France on pleure
Des larmes amères comme le sang
1
Does an "act of war" by the Islamic State mean that France, and therefore NATO and the US have "declared war" against the Islamic State? It is probably only a matter of days before this declaration is clear and that we realize that war "light" will quickly turn into the real and ugly thing. Where does fault lie? The Sykes Picot agreement from 1916, Bush's disastrous war in Iraq, or only with the monstrous ideology of the Islamic State? At this point it no longer matters. We and our allies are under attack.
2
The Times editors predict that the Parisian attacks "will harden the resolve" of France and the world against ISIS. It should. But hopefully not more of the suicidal Bush Doctrine of "fire, ready, aim" forever, until it breaks your military and economy.
Why not follow the lead of senior Bush?
Leave the cheese of revenge and stay out of the trap.
Limited use of the military might be needed, but as much as possible, let's leave the problems of the Middle East to the "cruel and evil" dictators who mostly kept the lid on Pandora's Box, until the Neocons thought they knew better.
Why not follow the lead of senior Bush?
Leave the cheese of revenge and stay out of the trap.
Limited use of the military might be needed, but as much as possible, let's leave the problems of the Middle East to the "cruel and evil" dictators who mostly kept the lid on Pandora's Box, until the Neocons thought they knew better.
4
All the responses here calling for some kind of all out war are absurd. Guerrilla wars, which is what this is, are not ended using armies and navies. Look at the guerrilla war in Columbia for the last 50 years. In fact, even using the language of "war making" gives these sorry ass thugs a glorification they don't deserve.
It doesn't take much sophistication or even that many people to inflict a lot of damage on large organized societies. Moreover, the nature of these small operations make them difficult to discover beforehand because they don't require a whole lot of planning or large numbers of people. Cell phones and watches to coordinate timing is not sophistication. Pretending to be ordinary doesn't take great acting either. All this takes is access to a moderate amount of explosives and/or weaponry and a lot of braggadocio afterward. The nature of this "war" is such that it can go on for centuries if so desired. That it does so won't make these poor misguided young men into heroes. They remain those used by others who are too cowardly to do it themselves.
The loss of life is exceptionally sad and the young men who carry out this mayhem remain little boys used by others to carry out acts of anger. God has nothing to do with any of this except in the unhinged minds of religious fanatics. It is necessary to counter this phony religious thinking but making these pathetic angry little twerps with guns into some kind of huge fearful force solves nothing.
It doesn't take much sophistication or even that many people to inflict a lot of damage on large organized societies. Moreover, the nature of these small operations make them difficult to discover beforehand because they don't require a whole lot of planning or large numbers of people. Cell phones and watches to coordinate timing is not sophistication. Pretending to be ordinary doesn't take great acting either. All this takes is access to a moderate amount of explosives and/or weaponry and a lot of braggadocio afterward. The nature of this "war" is such that it can go on for centuries if so desired. That it does so won't make these poor misguided young men into heroes. They remain those used by others who are too cowardly to do it themselves.
The loss of life is exceptionally sad and the young men who carry out this mayhem remain little boys used by others to carry out acts of anger. God has nothing to do with any of this except in the unhinged minds of religious fanatics. It is necessary to counter this phony religious thinking but making these pathetic angry little twerps with guns into some kind of huge fearful force solves nothing.
3
Why did it take so long for police to get inside the Bataclan theater? In the USA SWAT teams have learned you have to move quickly to attack killers. No one seems to report why several hours elapsed. Big mistake and likely one that increased the death toll. Also, apparently there was no security personnel at the concert hall. This would not be the case here.
4
What happened can in Paris can happen in London and even in the US. Open carry laws will not stop terrorist, merely reenact the OK Coral.
France is part of Nato and as a victim of an attack we must join in retaliation.
How we are to so is the problem?
ISIS is a product of the Shia/SUNNI divide, we the so called infidels, are collateral victims .
Unless the Sunni nations join us in fighting these terrorists, we will not come close to solving this problem.
France is part of Nato and as a victim of an attack we must join in retaliation.
How we are to so is the problem?
ISIS is a product of the Shia/SUNNI divide, we the so called infidels, are collateral victims .
Unless the Sunni nations join us in fighting these terrorists, we will not come close to solving this problem.
1
Yes, ISIS has to be exterminated but how to accomplish this without heavy innocent collateral damage is the excruciating dilemma. ISIS weaves itself into general populations and it is impossible to isolate them. That is the vexing question: Are we prepared to kill the innocent in order to exterminate the guilty?
2
These attacks targeted Parisians in the moment. But the real intended victims are the hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing the war in Syria. ISIS has admitted that it will kill all muslims who do not pledge allegiance to the "Islamic caliphate".
If ISIS can knock European countries off balance so that Syrian refugees can no longer flee to safety then ISIS can kill them all. Those fleeing are "apostates" and are the real targets.
I hope the refugees will have the grace to realize this and to realize that they have at this moment become Europeans. All peace loving people have become Europeans and we all have a duty to stop ISIS. The refugees should volunteer for the armies of Europe to fight their real enemies. Only unity can bring peace.
WW II was remarkable for the unity of so many nations and peoples in fighting against NAZI terror. We can do it again. BUT carefully!
If ISIS can knock European countries off balance so that Syrian refugees can no longer flee to safety then ISIS can kill them all. Those fleeing are "apostates" and are the real targets.
I hope the refugees will have the grace to realize this and to realize that they have at this moment become Europeans. All peace loving people have become Europeans and we all have a duty to stop ISIS. The refugees should volunteer for the armies of Europe to fight their real enemies. Only unity can bring peace.
WW II was remarkable for the unity of so many nations and peoples in fighting against NAZI terror. We can do it again. BUT carefully!
2
In 1993 Professor Samuel Huntington wrote about the coming "Clash of Civilizations" . It is now here , and it has actually been here for some time .
To understand Paris - and just abut everything else around us - read this paper .
The bottom line is that those who wish to sustain their values , lifestyle and beliefs should cease seeking excuses , explanations and causes . No more words .
Time for concerted , determined and smart action .
To understand Paris - and just abut everything else around us - read this paper .
The bottom line is that those who wish to sustain their values , lifestyle and beliefs should cease seeking excuses , explanations and causes . No more words .
Time for concerted , determined and smart action .
4
Time to get tough with ISIS. There has been no war won with our current approach of avoiding targets that may have civilian casualties. We need to inform all residents of the ISIS controlled areas that there are no sanctuaries. Then we need to level their operations and defeat their military forces. That is how we won WWII in case people don't remember. The only way we defeated Nazi Germany was by leveling their cities that produced the materiel needed by their Army. It is ridiculous for us to allow ISIS to have an advantage because they play by different rules.
4
ISIS, the Nazis of our time, made a huge PR blunder in attacking the visceral heart of what is good and beloved im an enlightened culture: the freedom of people of all ages to mingle in a magnificent city, enjoying its food and culture, on a weekend evening. To slaughter such innocence, such assertion of the right to be a human being partaking of God's shalom kingdom, is indefensible, hateful, low.
5
Paris last Friday....what city next? Isis has no regard for human life. We have a potential strong threat here in the U.S.
4
We need more drones, and we should collaborate closely with Russia, Iran, and all of Syria's neighbors in the fight against ISIL.
2
Call them Killers in Iraq and Syria: KIS. Why call them a "state?" Just because they says so?
2
Hopefully we have learned from the botched response to 9/11 by Bush and will not engage in emotional knee jerk reactions. Bush created a ten year nightmare and no one wants a repeat. We will NOT give up our human rights, our civil rights or our sense of decency. We will treat the enemy BETTER than they treat us because we are BETTER. We WILL defeat ISIS (and lets start calling them Daesh as that is a bit of an insult to them) but we will do it with a stiff upper lip, by carrying on as NORMAL as possible, by acting BETTER than Daesh. Terrible as this latest Daesh atrocity is, lets put it in perspective and not be AFRAID!! Keep calm and carry on.
3
Can we stop all the hyperventilating? As horrifying as this attack was, let's be honest.
It's NOT a siege. A siege is an ongoing attack with thousands of troops and artillery who attempt to blockade a town and bring the citizens and the government to their knees. There's not 125 dead--there's thousands.
This was a fairly coordinated attack by a group of Islamic THUGS. Can I use that word?
And can we stop calling it the Islamic STATE? Will someone point to the spot on a map where this state is? What are its borders? Where is its capital? Who is its President/Premier/Prime Minister/Dictator? Where is its governing body, Congress, House of Commons?
SO when you all want to bomb the bejezus out of this "state" what will your target be? All of Syria? Which parts of Iraq? Turkey? Aren't some of these folks in Turkey?
This ain't World War II folks. This is something different and we're going to need leaders with brains and self-control who aren't motivated by a macho, shoot-em-up cowboy mentality that are going to send MY MARINE CORPS SON into a Vietnam-like quagmire to get chewed up and spit out.
Wake up!! The firebombing of Dresden isn't the answer to this.
It's NOT a siege. A siege is an ongoing attack with thousands of troops and artillery who attempt to blockade a town and bring the citizens and the government to their knees. There's not 125 dead--there's thousands.
This was a fairly coordinated attack by a group of Islamic THUGS. Can I use that word?
And can we stop calling it the Islamic STATE? Will someone point to the spot on a map where this state is? What are its borders? Where is its capital? Who is its President/Premier/Prime Minister/Dictator? Where is its governing body, Congress, House of Commons?
SO when you all want to bomb the bejezus out of this "state" what will your target be? All of Syria? Which parts of Iraq? Turkey? Aren't some of these folks in Turkey?
This ain't World War II folks. This is something different and we're going to need leaders with brains and self-control who aren't motivated by a macho, shoot-em-up cowboy mentality that are going to send MY MARINE CORPS SON into a Vietnam-like quagmire to get chewed up and spit out.
Wake up!! The firebombing of Dresden isn't the answer to this.
10
You have Obama giving an interview to Clintonian disciple Stephanopolous on Thursday--- in which the president claimed that ISIL was "contained" --- to be broadcast on Good Morning America on Friday morning. You have the announcement The Grand Decapitator was vaporized in a strike in Syria on Friday morning just after Obama's interview is broadcast. Saturday, you have the so-called leader of ISIL in Libya vaporized in a drone attack in Libya.
Sounds like a major public relations offensive was underway engineered by the Obama administration to give the candidates in the Democrat debate Saturday night something to crow about.
But then the plan was rudely interrupted by the atrocity in Paris.
Forgive me for my cynicism. I just can't help it.
Sounds like a major public relations offensive was underway engineered by the Obama administration to give the candidates in the Democrat debate Saturday night something to crow about.
But then the plan was rudely interrupted by the atrocity in Paris.
Forgive me for my cynicism. I just can't help it.
2
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently acknowledged to Fareed Zakaria that there are "elements of truth" in the view that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was the principal cause of the rise of ISIS."
Of course, none of the war criminals which include Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and other architects of the Iraq war of genocide has ever had to answer for their crimes against humanity.
Three-star General William Boykin said, "I knew my God was a real god and his was an idol." That's the kind of incendiary language you expect from Screech Radio clown Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and people like Mark Levin.
But, when you send in your top generals who espouse their hatred of a foreign country's religion you end up with the huge problems we have today.
At the height of Bush's war Evangelicals like Franklin Graham chimed in with his own inflammatory words against Islam.
Now, because of all of the above characters, we are all paying the price of their criminal acts and a war which they sold on a pack of lies over the non-existent W.M.D..
I lay the entire blame for the terrorist acts against Paris and the western powers today solely at the doorstep of Bush-Cheney and their mole-visioned belief that the Iraq War would be a "cakewalk" and their deity-stamped, rotted ideology presumption that they could convert the Middle East to democracy at the end of a gun barrel.
Of course, none of the war criminals which include Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and other architects of the Iraq war of genocide has ever had to answer for their crimes against humanity.
Three-star General William Boykin said, "I knew my God was a real god and his was an idol." That's the kind of incendiary language you expect from Screech Radio clown Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and people like Mark Levin.
But, when you send in your top generals who espouse their hatred of a foreign country's religion you end up with the huge problems we have today.
At the height of Bush's war Evangelicals like Franklin Graham chimed in with his own inflammatory words against Islam.
Now, because of all of the above characters, we are all paying the price of their criminal acts and a war which they sold on a pack of lies over the non-existent W.M.D..
I lay the entire blame for the terrorist acts against Paris and the western powers today solely at the doorstep of Bush-Cheney and their mole-visioned belief that the Iraq War would be a "cakewalk" and their deity-stamped, rotted ideology presumption that they could convert the Middle East to democracy at the end of a gun barrel.
3
What good are "alliances" like NATO if they show themselves to be unable to actually function as they were designed to do? Allowing this attack to go unanswered will EMBOLDEN further attacks by these subhumans. They must be confronted and ERADICATED, just like any other pestilence. "Thoughts and prayers" will not keep us safe, ladies and gentlemen. France has (correctly) said that this attack was "an act of war". Our response to it will determine whether or not our leaders are fit to lead or whether they are as spineless as ISIS is aggressive. Crushing them in THEIR lands is the only way to keep us safe in our own.
1
"This attack will harden the resolve of the French against the savagery of the Islamic State, as it must the world’s." What exactly do these words mean in terms of action?
2
It's time to hold Saudi Arabia responsible for spreading Wahhabism and for financing ISIS.
9
Not sure if NYT mentioned this or not, but some 'expert' on PBS Newshour said a couple of days ago ISIS declared war on the west, angered by the bombing of the refineries, and the Kurdish/US assault. Now we know they have sleeper cells unknown to our intelligence, that can be put into action within 24-48 hours.
All the moneys spent on intelligence isn't yielding the desired results. They are telling us it's an eye for an eye, the eye there is going to cost us civilian eyes here.
Roger Cohen is asking for all out assault, but I'm worried about all out assault by them in our urban centers.
All the moneys spent on intelligence isn't yielding the desired results. They are telling us it's an eye for an eye, the eye there is going to cost us civilian eyes here.
Roger Cohen is asking for all out assault, but I'm worried about all out assault by them in our urban centers.
when the good man just jerks his head and say we need to fight evil through our conscience he is acquiescing his right to a peaceful life..and when the good man says its not me but my neighbour he does greater disservice to himself...as happened during the mumbai attacks when the western press had divided views.its better to call a spade a spade and go after those who are bent upon their satanic ways but better not paint a whole community or religion with the same brush
1
Already Republican presidential candidates are portraying the U.S. as a vulnerable homeland and blaming President Obama for contributing to this horror due to lack of leadership. Yet all the ISIS spokepersons have stated that the attacks on France were caused by their involvement of "U.S.-led" arial war in Syria.
Shame on these fear mongers; they're just as guilty for fermenting fear like their terrorist brethren did in Paris.
Shame on these fear mongers; they're just as guilty for fermenting fear like their terrorist brethren did in Paris.
4
It was a wakeup call for France and for all of Europe and the rest of the world: Laissez faire attitude is not going to do us any good. It is true that not all Muslims subscribe to the militant ideology of Jihadists but the kingdom of Saudia can no longer tolerate its citizens sending money to and supporting ISIS.
Europe must reassess its proclivity to offer sanctuary to all and sundry, no questions asked.
That radicalized individuals acting in consort, driven by the ideology of Jihad or at the direction of Jihadi-Central in Syria, could carry AK-47 and suicide vests to public events, one of which had the president of France attending, undetected is troubling. It would seem that the French did not learn anything from the Charlie Hebdo savagery inflicted on the city less than a year ago.
As for Obama, it is time he stopped dragging his feet and wanted to have his cake and eat it too. It is no longer enough to commit to the tokenism of training some rebel forces and the Kurds; we must go full tilt and take out the menace of ISIS. Anything less would be irresponsible.
Europe must reassess its proclivity to offer sanctuary to all and sundry, no questions asked.
That radicalized individuals acting in consort, driven by the ideology of Jihad or at the direction of Jihadi-Central in Syria, could carry AK-47 and suicide vests to public events, one of which had the president of France attending, undetected is troubling. It would seem that the French did not learn anything from the Charlie Hebdo savagery inflicted on the city less than a year ago.
As for Obama, it is time he stopped dragging his feet and wanted to have his cake and eat it too. It is no longer enough to commit to the tokenism of training some rebel forces and the Kurds; we must go full tilt and take out the menace of ISIS. Anything less would be irresponsible.
4
America needs to be on guard against unconventional terrorism, including cyberterrorism and electronic terrorism, Electronic terrorism involves the use of bugs and speakers to terrorize individuals and is quickly becoming a favorite technique of hacker groups and youth gangs as well as organized crime. It involves hardware, software and "social engineering" to destroy people's lives, and involves as a key element ongoing attempts to destroy the credibility of its victims. It is extremely dangerous, and the FBI needs to take complaints about it seriously.
1
The world is suddenly filled with tears and sorrows at the naked dance of death in France. Every time there is an attack, resolve to fight terrorism multiplies. Fighter jets fly over Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. They shower rains of bombs and smile over their target of destruction…yet the threats of terror wake up from deep slumber. The cycle of violence continues with no end in sight. The resources which have been spent in waging war, had fraction of them been spent in making peace…the world could really have been a better place to breathe free from mistrust and suspicion.
2
It is time to call this enemy by one name! I am pleased that the Times, in this editorial refers to it with one name, the Islamic State. I hope it a becomes uniform practice at the Times hereafter.
1
Is a warlord a State? All we have to go on is the word of the leaders of so-called IS. Do we always accede to our enemies wishes?
1
As deplorable as the carnage in Paris was it should be recognized for what it is "Blow Back" The allies have killed over 1 million Middle East Muslims and spent trillions of dollars in the process. True our killing has been much more surgical...by air or sanctions but the people are dead never the less.
We lack common sense if we don't expect retaliation. Bush and Cheney's decision to invade Iraq was catastrophic.
We lack common sense if we don't expect retaliation. Bush and Cheney's decision to invade Iraq was catastrophic.
2
It is unfortunate that multiple third party independent investigation, facts and data do not precede opinion, speculation, hysteria and of course, government actions. The central terror victim in these regards is the public. Paris wasn't exploited (as writer Bruni asserts); the public and private mind was.
2
It is time for a true plan, by the UN Security Council, to once and for all: encourage the regional--Middle Eastern and North African--neighbors to come together and, at least, create a framework to work together. The Sunni-Shia Schism most notably is behind all of the instability in the MENA Region--but, an acceptance of other regions should be addressed, as well. These grudges have been going on too long.
The major powers also contributed to the instability, when Britain and France divvied-up the region after World War I, merely with their own best interests at heart. And the U. S. certainly greatly expanded the problems when, after ousting Saddam Hussein, they helped establish a government, which was controlled by Shias, many of whom had returned from exile in Tehran.
The Administration of George W. Bush caused Iran to be the only dominant power in the Region, and they created the vacuum for various Sunni Jihadist groups, among them al-Quida in Iraq and its current outgrowth, ISIS.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
The major powers also contributed to the instability, when Britain and France divvied-up the region after World War I, merely with their own best interests at heart. And the U. S. certainly greatly expanded the problems when, after ousting Saddam Hussein, they helped establish a government, which was controlled by Shias, many of whom had returned from exile in Tehran.
The Administration of George W. Bush caused Iran to be the only dominant power in the Region, and they created the vacuum for various Sunni Jihadist groups, among them al-Quida in Iraq and its current outgrowth, ISIS.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Questions I can't find answers to in the reports: How do men with assault rifles, grenades, and explosives get past security at concert halls and sports venues? What are the security routines at such places?
4
At the concert hall, they killed the guards, and shot their way in. At Stade de France they were stopped by security, and exploded their bombs much less effectively outside the stadium.
4
The outpouring of support for the people of France is only deafened by the silence of those leaders in the Muslim community. Like 911, it took many in that community three days to finally make a statement. We need immediate and united condemnation of these vicious butchers who chose to live in the 13th century. Only solidarity will defeat evil; collectively and swiftly.
7
Over the past decade it has never been a surprise to read about people in parts of the world outside Europe. There have been those killed while attending weddings. Massacres in places of worship and schools produced women and children victims referred to as collateral damage and other benign terms for death. Closer to home we have had killings in Twin Towers, prisons, schools, churches, College campuses and in the streets. These are often accompanied by organized recitations of excuses for the killers.
Many are unable to see any connection between brutality in Paris a couple days ago and events in Algeria and many places across the Globe and in Europe in prior and current decades. Sowing the wind has been long associated with reaping the whirlwind.
Many are unable to see any connection between brutality in Paris a couple days ago and events in Algeria and many places across the Globe and in Europe in prior and current decades. Sowing the wind has been long associated with reaping the whirlwind.
1
I grieve the loss of the people in Paris. I am struck by our surprise, however. We (US, France, Britain, etc.) are at war with ISIS...we bomb them, send drones to target individuals, and fund armies against them. They fight the war on our soil with AK47's and a willingness to die for their cause by blowing themselves up. Are we surprised we are at war? We citizens are responsible for the wars. Let's decide either to not wage war (leave the middle east) or "get 'er done".
1
First of all, let's tend to, and not forget, those who suffered losses of all kinds in this despicable attack. Then, let's keep our heads on our shoulders. Remember, security services, intelligence, judicial actions, military strikes (covert and open) can achieve a thousand small victories with no notice; all the extremists have to do is to score one awful success and it seems like the world is falling apart. This is asymmetrical warfare. People shouldn't rush to overestimate the power of these adversaries. Nine well-trained and disciplined persons, with heavy arms, can carry out mass murder -- we have had a series of mass murders carried out in our country by assorted nut cases, and we'll surely have more. Of course, we have to act, but calls for dramatic action respond more to an understandable sense of anger and frustration, than to any real plan for how to rid ourselves of these extremists. It will take time, and there will undoubtedly be more awful days, but we should be careful not to act in ways that will make matters worse. More direct western military involvement in the Middle East is not likely to work -- look at the history of western intervention, from Algeria to Iran, from Afghanistan to Iraq, and think about its consequences. Curbing immigration is foolish too. Remember our strengths: western societies have shown an enormous capacity for integration and that, over time, would be the extremists' undoing.
2
If this is war, how does the other side win. The Mongol hoards won with military and sense of duty. Hitler won with propaganda and military might. Britain won by better business. And the US by business and culture. Asymmetric war, might have worked in Northern Ireland, but only marginally until there was actual dialogue. Palestinians did themselves no good by killing Olympic athletes and I don't know what Al Quida accomplished in whatever their war was about. It seems that the Paris terror acts, like the Boston Marathon bombings and the Oklahoma City bombings, are some kind of pre-adolescent fantasies.
But who are they and what how would they win? I believe that Dignity and Security worry people all the time. We in the West have muted that with goods and stable governments with elections. In he Mideast and Western Asia, thwarted plans despite effort and suppression, either physical or spiritual along with the knowledge that you have no power to change things mean that Dignity is unobtainable. Security is elusive. We have a similar undertones bubbling up with African Americans in the US, .
So are these people the vanguard of a new "War" on the wealthy or elite suppressors or disgruntled adolescents with bombs? I think there is evidence for either theory. We had better figure that out.
But who are they and what how would they win? I believe that Dignity and Security worry people all the time. We in the West have muted that with goods and stable governments with elections. In he Mideast and Western Asia, thwarted plans despite effort and suppression, either physical or spiritual along with the knowledge that you have no power to change things mean that Dignity is unobtainable. Security is elusive. We have a similar undertones bubbling up with African Americans in the US, .
So are these people the vanguard of a new "War" on the wealthy or elite suppressors or disgruntled adolescents with bombs? I think there is evidence for either theory. We had better figure that out.
We are not afraid.
That's the only message I'd like ISIS and the likes to read: you failed, we are not afraid.
I was born in Paris 60 years ago, I'm living and working in Paris. I went to work yesterday morning and today, and the main mood was the same everywhere: yes, Friday's events were horrific, but don't let barbaric people dictate their will. Unite, and show them they failed: we are not afraid.
The weather yesterday and today in Paris is exquisite. Believe me, the parks are full of joggers and promeneurs, as usual, cafe terraces are full, restaurants are open and full of people.
Yes, Friday's events are in many conversations, and everybody has his/her ideas about why this happened and how to tackle this kind of terrorism. As usual in France, you can find (very!) different opinions... But there is one message almost everybody in Paris and in France agrees on: let them know, we are not afraid.
That's the only message I'd like ISIS and the likes to read: you failed, we are not afraid.
I was born in Paris 60 years ago, I'm living and working in Paris. I went to work yesterday morning and today, and the main mood was the same everywhere: yes, Friday's events were horrific, but don't let barbaric people dictate their will. Unite, and show them they failed: we are not afraid.
The weather yesterday and today in Paris is exquisite. Believe me, the parks are full of joggers and promeneurs, as usual, cafe terraces are full, restaurants are open and full of people.
Yes, Friday's events are in many conversations, and everybody has his/her ideas about why this happened and how to tackle this kind of terrorism. As usual in France, you can find (very!) different opinions... But there is one message almost everybody in Paris and in France agrees on: let them know, we are not afraid.
25
The Islamic State terrorists don't stand alone. Who funds them? Who supports them? Sunni tribes and countries, including Saudi Arabia and some Gulf states. Until Sunni support ends, the terrorists won't be defeated. If we can not persuade the Saudis to abandon terrorism in their fight against the Shia, then it goes on and on.
12
This is a facile editorial. Words such as solidarity, resolve, justice etc. are reliably trotted out after each abysmal new low these monstrous religionists reach. And then... back to the low-grade drone campaign that quite obviously will not, and cannot, defeat ISIS and its enablers. The Western powers must now at this juncture apply massive overwhelming force to ISIS-controlled territory but also administer most other Mideast nations, which have proven unable to function as civilized societies. Either that or within 10-15 years we will experience a nuclear detonation in one of our population centers.
Meanwhile, the Times editorial board calls for more resolve. Resolve without corresponding action is the slow death of Western civilization.
Meanwhile, the Times editorial board calls for more resolve. Resolve without corresponding action is the slow death of Western civilization.
3
OK, Enough is enough. ISIS, the death cult, has thrown the glove, slapped our faces, issued a challenge. The time has come to respond to this group. The consensus is that our response was too tepid. As for Syria, I now agree with Russia. Assad should be kept in Power, on a limited scale. These authoritarian dictators were protecting us, and we did not know it.
1
There have been claims the Paris terrorists must have been "sophisticated, highly trained" and the operation "demonstrated a high degree of trade craft."
Really? Could it be not much more than a half dozen bitterly angry young men, with cell phones and Kalashnikov assault rifles, and a deranged sense of justice?
The failed state, whether Iraq or the slums of a European capital, will continue being a source of bitterly angry young men.
Really? Could it be not much more than a half dozen bitterly angry young men, with cell phones and Kalashnikov assault rifles, and a deranged sense of justice?
The failed state, whether Iraq or the slums of a European capital, will continue being a source of bitterly angry young men.
4
I LOVE PARIS In my students days in 1968, I spend the summer in Paris after having studied in Spain for the Spring. The city still showed scars after the riots in the Latin Quarter, with paving stones not yet replaced. But it was a quiet time. I often enjoyed walking around the city late at night by myself, as the metro had closed. I was never bothered during those walks. Parisians hassled people then, as they do now. But if you get beyond the artifice of public manners, they can be quite open, generous and friendly. A French friend, born on Corisca, married to an American wife, always talked about how the Americans were too paranoid. Life in Paris was and is a hassle. The first terrorist attack on a Jewish deli in 1982 left 6 dead and 22 wounded. Then the vicious attacks on Charlie Hebdo and the Kosher supermarket in January of this year. And yesterday with the mass slaughter. It's heartbreaking. Terrorism is in France, in Paris. And it's time to get paranoid like us--the Americans. As the French pride themselves on their personal freedoms and see creativity in each others' idiosyncrasies. Now Paris, France must gird themselves against the worst terrorist attack since WW II. I don't think that the French will allow a handful of terrorists turn things back to the Vichy government and Nazi occupation. But it's going to be a long haul. Let's hope that we can bring the war to the terrorists, rather than having them brutalize, traumatize and smash Paris.
1
Radical Islam is unfortunately a cancer. As with cancer it cannot be defeated simply by the political equivalent of chemotherapy, i.e., attacking the symptoms. It can only be defeated by attacking the root causes. However, painful as this realization may seem to many, the major cause of Islamic terrorism has been U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Many of us, especially Iranians, have been screaming since 9/11 that U.S. politicians and media were targeting the wrong enemy. Instead of gratuitously and falsely demonizing Iran the U.S. should have sanctioned Saudi Arabia and Israel for stoking the flames of Islamic extremism in pursuance of short-sighted policies that enabled 9/11 and the theft of Palestinian lands in brazen defiance of U.S. laws.
Imagine what would have occurred if the U.S. had left Saddam and Qaddafi to their own horrific devices and sanctioned Saudi Arabia and Israel: The House of Saud would have fallen and there would have been a massive oil price spike, but this would have been temporary, and Islamic Extremism would have been limited strictly to Saudi Arabia and far easier to eradicate than the current mess that encompasses the entire region. Israel would have been forced to accept a 2-state solution, thereby removing the casus belli of both Hizbollah and Hamas. Ironically, Iran would have lost the influence it currently enjoys in both Lebanon and Palestine.
It is still not too late to attack the cancer at its root causes.
Many of us, especially Iranians, have been screaming since 9/11 that U.S. politicians and media were targeting the wrong enemy. Instead of gratuitously and falsely demonizing Iran the U.S. should have sanctioned Saudi Arabia and Israel for stoking the flames of Islamic extremism in pursuance of short-sighted policies that enabled 9/11 and the theft of Palestinian lands in brazen defiance of U.S. laws.
Imagine what would have occurred if the U.S. had left Saddam and Qaddafi to their own horrific devices and sanctioned Saudi Arabia and Israel: The House of Saud would have fallen and there would have been a massive oil price spike, but this would have been temporary, and Islamic Extremism would have been limited strictly to Saudi Arabia and far easier to eradicate than the current mess that encompasses the entire region. Israel would have been forced to accept a 2-state solution, thereby removing the casus belli of both Hizbollah and Hamas. Ironically, Iran would have lost the influence it currently enjoys in both Lebanon and Palestine.
It is still not too late to attack the cancer at its root causes.
4
Islamic attacks such as this act of terrorism, cannot defeat any Western nation. We are too strong for that to happen, and groups like ISIS are too weak. The people of Paris in particular and France in general, after mourning for the victims, will eventually go about their relatively happy lives - relative to the barbarians who sponsor and support terrorism.
It is a shame that most people will blame Islam for this act of terrorism, since most Muslims are decent people who just want a good life for themselves and their families. But after non-Muslims have been attacked thousands of times by religious fanatics yelling "Allahu Akbar", it is natural to associate terrorism with Islam.
I hope the rest of the world, especially Europe, wakes up to the reality that ISIS is an evil which must be destroyed. But the United States should withdraw from the Middle East, and elsewhere around the world, because we have already wasted too much blood and treasure fighting in wars the past 60 plus years. We spent tens of $Trillions fighting in other nations' civil wars. So now is the time for us to rebuild our country. But in the meantime, other nations, none of which fought wars on the scale we did, should take up the just cause of defeating ISIS. They have the means to take up this fight, and the responsibility.
It is a shame that most people will blame Islam for this act of terrorism, since most Muslims are decent people who just want a good life for themselves and their families. But after non-Muslims have been attacked thousands of times by religious fanatics yelling "Allahu Akbar", it is natural to associate terrorism with Islam.
I hope the rest of the world, especially Europe, wakes up to the reality that ISIS is an evil which must be destroyed. But the United States should withdraw from the Middle East, and elsewhere around the world, because we have already wasted too much blood and treasure fighting in wars the past 60 plus years. We spent tens of $Trillions fighting in other nations' civil wars. So now is the time for us to rebuild our country. But in the meantime, other nations, none of which fought wars on the scale we did, should take up the just cause of defeating ISIS. They have the means to take up this fight, and the responsibility.
The world needs to be very careful how they respond to this gruesome and soulless attack, but respond we must.
The Muslims continue to tell us that this is not what they are about. Fine. Perhaps not, but the fix should begin within their faith and convince the world that they will help get the concept of jihad under control.
The countries that have spawned and supported ISIL need to be clearly identified. Leaders have to be identified and called to task. The underpinnings need to be exposed and shown to the world.
Terrorist attacks have been occurring since before 9/11 and ISIL is telling us the tragedy in Paris is just the beginning of their attacks. This is a declaration of war against the world and the world needs to respond.
We cannot let this continuing barbarity suffer the same fate as gun control has in America where we fluctuate between sorrow and anger over and over again only to begin the same sequence again shortly thereafter.
The Muslims continue to tell us that this is not what they are about. Fine. Perhaps not, but the fix should begin within their faith and convince the world that they will help get the concept of jihad under control.
The countries that have spawned and supported ISIL need to be clearly identified. Leaders have to be identified and called to task. The underpinnings need to be exposed and shown to the world.
Terrorist attacks have been occurring since before 9/11 and ISIL is telling us the tragedy in Paris is just the beginning of their attacks. This is a declaration of war against the world and the world needs to respond.
We cannot let this continuing barbarity suffer the same fate as gun control has in America where we fluctuate between sorrow and anger over and over again only to begin the same sequence again shortly thereafter.
4
I came to the NYT today looking for the normal daily piece from the editorial board about how Europe is not doing enough on accepting millions of Muslim economic migrants and/or political refugees/victims of violence into their countries. More stories on how the US and other nations should do more in accepting thousands and thousands more Muslim migrants so less poor children drown while crossing from Turkey or Libya on rickety boats. Surely these issues have not gone away today and the NYT editorial board can muster the courage to write another piece about how France and others just aren't doing enough to help the Muslims fleeing persecution by other Muslims. Please, I feel lost without these.
9
We might reflect on this act of pure hate as the result of our invading Iraq after 9/11. Our willingness to go to war after our horrific loss. I hope we don't respond to this act in the same fashion by demonizing all Muslims and the Middle East.
1
With every new terrorist attack the anger I feel towards Bush 2 and his nefarious advisors inches up a notch. Why did simple me know that disturbing the balance of power between Sunni and Shia in the region would bring about nothing good? We also keep playing footsie with the fundamentalist, wealthy Saudia Arabia. After all who were the 9/11 terrorists but Saudis. But my anger and prescience will not change the situation. Read Christine McMorrow's comment that sums it all up nicely.
I am going now to get ready for church and I am thinking perhaps the world would be better off with no religion...what pain, suffering, death and intolerance religions have caused through the centuries. When Buddhists started murdering Muslims in Burma, I thought enough with religion and it's pious ways.
I am going now to get ready for church and I am thinking perhaps the world would be better off with no religion...what pain, suffering, death and intolerance religions have caused through the centuries. When Buddhists started murdering Muslims in Burma, I thought enough with religion and it's pious ways.
5
Perhaps we should go back to Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Syria, however not to spread democratic values, but to protect American and civilized world interests, and keep order. A hard-line military / strong man solution may be what the region needs. It's unfortunate, but not every society, especially tribal societies, are ready for liberal democracy.
2
The free world must not look upon this tragedy as an isolated event. It is not criminal event. It is an attack upon civilized peoples everywhere. It just so happened that it was carried out in Paris. It could have happened in Berlin, Vienna, Naples or Seattle. It could have happened anywhere. Those that carried out this attack have withdrawn from human society and embraced a cult of death. This cult has spread around the world through the vehicle of what we call radicalized Islam. Death cults exist outside the sphere of radicalized anything. They exist as something alien to humanity.
Event the Nazi's wanted to live. They desired to kill millions and replace them with their own purist empire. The ISIS devils want to replace civilization with death, including their own. They seek glory in death over empire.
There are no principled campaigns that can deal with those that seek glory in death. Principles only matter to those that wish to live. ISIS exists beyond our principles and laws.
ISIS has abandoned humanity. Why should humanity treat them as if they were worthy of humane treatment when they welcome death?
We must be realistic in identifying the severity of this problem. So far, the US has not. France realizes this now. I only hope that the US will follow their lead.
Event the Nazi's wanted to live. They desired to kill millions and replace them with their own purist empire. The ISIS devils want to replace civilization with death, including their own. They seek glory in death over empire.
There are no principled campaigns that can deal with those that seek glory in death. Principles only matter to those that wish to live. ISIS exists beyond our principles and laws.
ISIS has abandoned humanity. Why should humanity treat them as if they were worthy of humane treatment when they welcome death?
We must be realistic in identifying the severity of this problem. So far, the US has not. France realizes this now. I only hope that the US will follow their lead.
5
Is it that the terrorists just want to kill everybody who doesn't agree with them?
How can the world fight against that? Killing them doesn't even seem like a
way to fight back since suicide is one of their methods. I guess the world has to somehow force them to live with the rest of us. How can that be done seems to
be the question. Is there an answer to that one?
How can the world fight against that? Killing them doesn't even seem like a
way to fight back since suicide is one of their methods. I guess the world has to somehow force them to live with the rest of us. How can that be done seems to
be the question. Is there an answer to that one?
1
The label Islamic State is neither. This group of barbarians do not represent Islam and the are not a State. They do not represent a religion nor do they behave as a governing body representing the interests of their "citizens." They have captured land, resources, and people to call their own and use the resources to push their only agenda which is terrorism. They have hijacked the term State as they have everything and everyone else under their control.
3
The problem that seemingly stumps us re radical islam is that it is not an identifiable state. However, we know where radicals are trained and who supports them -- Muslim states. We can argue until we exhaust ourselves about whether all Muslims support terrorism, but the truth is that either directly or indirectly terrorist groups are nurtured and given shelter by Muslim states. We know, for example, that the middle eastern states have over 10 million in their militaries, but they allow ISIS to prosper. Is this incompetence, stupidity, benign neglect or support, perhaps a combination of all of these. Who knows?
But the cause is irrelevant. What we must do is force Muslim countries to stop harboring terrorists who threaten the West. We can do that economically by cutting off aid and stop buying their oil. Freeze assets where appropriate. Stop allowing any citizen of a Muslim country to immigrate to the west. I would also recommend that every Muslim in the west who has not assimilated by sent back to their country of origin.
But ultimately the threat must be military. Western leaders should gather the leaders of all Muslim countries in a room and make it clear that going forward we regard them as ultimately responsible for any future terrorist acts against the west and that we will retaliate against Muslim cities after any future terrorist act against the west.
Of course, we must 1st demonstrate determination by wiping ISIS from the face of the earth.
But the cause is irrelevant. What we must do is force Muslim countries to stop harboring terrorists who threaten the West. We can do that economically by cutting off aid and stop buying their oil. Freeze assets where appropriate. Stop allowing any citizen of a Muslim country to immigrate to the west. I would also recommend that every Muslim in the west who has not assimilated by sent back to their country of origin.
But ultimately the threat must be military. Western leaders should gather the leaders of all Muslim countries in a room and make it clear that going forward we regard them as ultimately responsible for any future terrorist acts against the west and that we will retaliate against Muslim cities after any future terrorist act against the west.
Of course, we must 1st demonstrate determination by wiping ISIS from the face of the earth.
2
In today's column, the normally statesman-like Roger Cohen declares that ISIS must be destroyed by a coalition of national partners, utterly and permanently. This will be a tall order for a putative coalition that has failed effectively to address the immgation crisis, the Greek debt fiasco, or Assad's use of chemical weapons against babies.
Vladimir Putin's obsessive imperial ambition and paranoia about western perfidy rules Russia out of any constructive problem-solving, especially given that Putin has joined military forces with the world's most execrable mass-murderer of the 21st Century.
As Cohen suggests, a UN resolution to take down ISIS a desirable option. In the likely event, however, that such a resolution would be vetoed or de-fanged to suit Russian and Chinese wishes, the West must act unilaterally anf forcefully. From a cancerous power brutally willing to slay its own people without compunction, it is only time before it will come after the rest of us, as it already has done -- twice -- in Paris.
Mr. Cohen is right ISIS must be taken completely out of commission, now, by whatever means necessary.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Vladimir Putin's obsessive imperial ambition and paranoia about western perfidy rules Russia out of any constructive problem-solving, especially given that Putin has joined military forces with the world's most execrable mass-murderer of the 21st Century.
As Cohen suggests, a UN resolution to take down ISIS a desirable option. In the likely event, however, that such a resolution would be vetoed or de-fanged to suit Russian and Chinese wishes, the West must act unilaterally anf forcefully. From a cancerous power brutally willing to slay its own people without compunction, it is only time before it will come after the rest of us, as it already has done -- twice -- in Paris.
Mr. Cohen is right ISIS must be taken completely out of commission, now, by whatever means necessary.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
2
It is too shallow to insist that the Paris attacks are a direct extension of the disastrous Bush administration's foreign policy fiasco in Iraq.
Islam is going through a civil war that is independent of the rest of the world. It is their civil war between a grandiose past and a nihilistic future, and it is being fought in the present. It is a war against modernity in every form, and against equality for women.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims are currently being murdered by…other Muslims. The biggest threat to Islam, collectively, is it's inability to adapt to the changing realities of the modern world. In the meantime the U.S. should stay out of the mid-East entirely - our future is not there, and it is not our job to fix their internal dysfunctions.
Islam is going through a civil war that is independent of the rest of the world. It is their civil war between a grandiose past and a nihilistic future, and it is being fought in the present. It is a war against modernity in every form, and against equality for women.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims are currently being murdered by…other Muslims. The biggest threat to Islam, collectively, is it's inability to adapt to the changing realities of the modern world. In the meantime the U.S. should stay out of the mid-East entirely - our future is not there, and it is not our job to fix their internal dysfunctions.
By striking "soft" targets, these demented psychopaths have clearly demonstrated to the world that they are cowards. These self-righteous fanatics are only proving that they are unable to understand the universal values embraced by all major religions.
If, in fact, the murderers claim to be retaliating for European and
American strikes in Iraq and Syria, then George Bush and his henchmen Cheney et alia have much to ponder.
If, in fact, the murderers claim to be retaliating for European and
American strikes in Iraq and Syria, then George Bush and his henchmen Cheney et alia have much to ponder.
3
"Clearly, the state of emergency should be ended as soon as possible."
What is the reflexive compulsion to inject some manner of liberal, weakly relevant, nanny-like preachiness, into an otherwise straightforward, informative editorial? As if one may only tread so many lines without compulsively offering some manner of libation to the liberal Gods. Does anyone at the Times really think that Paris is in immanent danger of becoming a police state without Mother Times clucking her patronizing warnings?
So irritating.
What is the reflexive compulsion to inject some manner of liberal, weakly relevant, nanny-like preachiness, into an otherwise straightforward, informative editorial? As if one may only tread so many lines without compulsively offering some manner of libation to the liberal Gods. Does anyone at the Times really think that Paris is in immanent danger of becoming a police state without Mother Times clucking her patronizing warnings?
So irritating.
3
The only way to eradicate Muslim extremism is to destroy Muslim extremism. It starts with knowing that their ideology is the guise of a religion from their prophet. Their goal is a caliphate. One thousand years ago, they invaded Europe. Now they are invading Europe via invitation. Europe is taking in their killers. The "good and peaceful Muslims" could care less.
The invasion is coming to America. It is here in many states, propped up by our politicians. Political correctness forces us to be dishonest about reality. CAIR is here to make sure we aren't "Islamophobic".
Imagine if FDR invited the Japanese into America after Pearl Harbor? He did the opposite: He interned the ones that were already here.
We need a 6 month moratorium on all immigration, especially the H-1B visa program, to see who is here and vetted them thoroughly.
We need a coordinated plan overseas. Stop pussyfooting around with Islamic radicalism.
The invasion is coming to America. It is here in many states, propped up by our politicians. Political correctness forces us to be dishonest about reality. CAIR is here to make sure we aren't "Islamophobic".
Imagine if FDR invited the Japanese into America after Pearl Harbor? He did the opposite: He interned the ones that were already here.
We need a 6 month moratorium on all immigration, especially the H-1B visa program, to see who is here and vetted them thoroughly.
We need a coordinated plan overseas. Stop pussyfooting around with Islamic radicalism.
3
it is the ideology, the extreme political islamic ideology, that needs to be addressed and defeated by all responsible media writers, imams in mosques, teachers in schools of islamic countries, and parents in muslim families. the difficulty is that this brutal ideology that seeks to dominate and subjugate ( geographically, wealth, number of people) is originated from and wrapped itself in religion of islam although not adopted by most muslims ( main stream) who only want to follow the religious and spiritual part of the religion. however these main stream muslims always react defensively when extreme political islam is criticized and attacked ( backed by some islamic governments and organizations), by doing that they knowingly or unknowingly give the shield and space for the islamic jihadists to march on. Total separation of religion, islam or any, from politics is crucial, and adopting human rights for all people,(especially women), religious minorities should be fundamental rule and any country ( saudi arabia for example ) that deviates from it should have strict consequences ( no purchase of oil by any country)
6
The first thing we need to do is reframe. We must stop using the words "terror" and "terrorists." Those were the propaganda words ginned up for your consumption by the Bush administration. As was the phrase "war on terror." The administration's political opponents as well as the press swallowed these words hook, line, and sinker. They diminished our ability to question and comprehend, which was their whole point.
We need to shed these words and others like "extremist" so we can better understand who ISIL is, what they want, and in what context we can weaken them.
Rather than bomb "them," shoot "them," or wage some kind of conventional war against "them," we would do well to remember the effectiveness of the Peace Corps. Because in the end, ISIL is a local political problem that must be sorted out by the locals. Should we arm a faction to fight against them? That's been the traditional approach, and hasn't worked particularly well.
Like anyone else I deplore the killing of innocents. Non combatants. Especially in concert halls and cafes. But let's be clear. To deny our own participation in the creation of these violent organizations is to deny our role in Middle Eastern politics and history. We have never shied away from befriending ruthless dictators and cultural fascists like the Saudis.
So before we light fuses and start throwing bombs, let's understand who ISIL is, why they have traction, and how we can defuse their power.
We need to shed these words and others like "extremist" so we can better understand who ISIL is, what they want, and in what context we can weaken them.
Rather than bomb "them," shoot "them," or wage some kind of conventional war against "them," we would do well to remember the effectiveness of the Peace Corps. Because in the end, ISIL is a local political problem that must be sorted out by the locals. Should we arm a faction to fight against them? That's been the traditional approach, and hasn't worked particularly well.
Like anyone else I deplore the killing of innocents. Non combatants. Especially in concert halls and cafes. But let's be clear. To deny our own participation in the creation of these violent organizations is to deny our role in Middle Eastern politics and history. We have never shied away from befriending ruthless dictators and cultural fascists like the Saudis.
So before we light fuses and start throwing bombs, let's understand who ISIL is, why they have traction, and how we can defuse their power.
2
NO. Isis systematically rapes women and beheads men. That is terrorism. What part of that don't you understand?
They must be stopped. While you are "reframing" and "trying to understand", they will rape more, conquer more and kill more.
Also get over the "our middle east policies created this" mentality. These guys have been fighting and raping in SYRIA for years. you know, the country we didn't invade. They didnt and couldn't take iraq until after we left.
The only thing to talk about is how to stop thos group of murdering, raping thugs.
They must be stopped. While you are "reframing" and "trying to understand", they will rape more, conquer more and kill more.
Also get over the "our middle east policies created this" mentality. These guys have been fighting and raping in SYRIA for years. you know, the country we didn't invade. They didnt and couldn't take iraq until after we left.
The only thing to talk about is how to stop thos group of murdering, raping thugs.
2
I hope the French don't fall for the same ploy the United States did after 9/11. Those killed in the twin towers were the means to a larger goal, which was to goad the American democracy into stripping itself of the rights and liberties which made it a hopeful alternative to the police states that exist under Sharia law, and to goad the American people into depleting their treasury in a futile effort to root them out of countries already soured on American hegemony, to get them to kill innocent people to get at them, so they can say, "Look, we were right about the United States, join us and fight them."
I fear the same strategy is at work here. ISIS made sure they could slip a terrorist into the ranks of Syrian refugees, which will no doubt give ammunition to the far right in Europe. I fear they will not only start turning Syrian refugees away by the hundreds of thousands, but they will begin to retaliate against them, and put pressure on the segregated Muslim communities in these countries, and after a few videos of police or military brutality, and after thousands upon thousands of desperate refugees are turned away, guess who will feed, clothe, and house them, saying, "Look, we were right about the West. Join us and fight them."
I have a lot of faith in the Europeans I've met. Don't sacrifice your liberties. Don't fear the Muslims in your communities. Keep taking the high moral ground. Don't let them win.
I fear the same strategy is at work here. ISIS made sure they could slip a terrorist into the ranks of Syrian refugees, which will no doubt give ammunition to the far right in Europe. I fear they will not only start turning Syrian refugees away by the hundreds of thousands, but they will begin to retaliate against them, and put pressure on the segregated Muslim communities in these countries, and after a few videos of police or military brutality, and after thousands upon thousands of desperate refugees are turned away, guess who will feed, clothe, and house them, saying, "Look, we were right about the West. Join us and fight them."
I have a lot of faith in the Europeans I've met. Don't sacrifice your liberties. Don't fear the Muslims in your communities. Keep taking the high moral ground. Don't let them win.
1
Where is world leadership? This failure to protect citizens is proof - as if more were needed - of a collapsing of fundamental governing wherewithal. We have myriad 'information' at our fingertips but somehow are too mesmerized to formulate a policy and execute a plan to smother this evil rising.
1
I'm concerned about comments seeking to blame everyone but the Islamic State for the savage murders in Paris. In other contexts, progressives would call this reasoning "blaming the victim." I opposed the war in Iraq, but I can't deny objective evidence of years of terrorist attacks that were threatened, planned, or occurred before George Bush's presidency. It's also odd to see some progressives rejecting a military response *and* embracing Edward Snowden's self-serving argument (made from the authoritarian regime in which he resides and declines to criticize) that we must place "privacy" interests ahead of life itself. We have to find the right balance, but the balance some have drawn basically leaves us with the option to convert to the most extreme forms of Islamic fundamentalism or die.
A Paris United is most likely not what is going on in France right now. Just as the US is and has been, the French are likely divided and conflicted about issues of refugees, retaliation, impact on economy and tourism (fundamental to economic survival) and acting in unison or coordination with their allies. Hopefully they are not united without a great deal of discussion, looking with 20/20 hindsight and learning from the knee-jerk reactions of the US not so long ago and that their primary immediate concern is not who first to bomb. Thankfully they don't have Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, but I'm pretty sure their counterparts exist in every country. The task of any country is not to be swept away in the grief of the moment, and grief of the time to come by inflicting more grief without great debate and accurate intelligence.
13
And exactly what would cause you to be "swept away" and take action? A nuclear bomb going off in the streets of Paris? If the Holocaust had happened when the current breed of leftist progressives were around Europe would currently be under the control of the Third Reich. I am sick to death of the leftist progressive mantra of "take no action" espoused by the current president, who called ISIS a "JV team" and refused to take action against them when they would have been manageable. Enough is enough.
3
The problem with this Editorial is that while it summarizes this horrific attack, it offers no advice about how France, and how the rest of the world including this nation, should and should not response to the horrific savagery of ISIS.
There are discussions that need to take place, and decisions that need to be made. None will be easy.
There are discussions that need to take place, and decisions that need to be made. None will be easy.
3
Terrorists are powerless to bring down a nation or a people and they know it.
The Nazis attacked the UK in air raids for nearly a year, and it only strengthened the resolve of the British people.
Terrorists can only use their comparatively weaker resources to engineer a more powerful response.
Bin Laden was able to do such by leading the US to topple a secular government in Iraq, further destabilizing the Middle East region and unleashing more chaos.
Deceivers convince people with nothing to lose that a better world awaits them if they cause mass destruction.
Only deeply disturbed and ignorant people would believe a just God would reward the killer of innocents.
Only a devil would suggest such.
This is a time for the leaders of nations and all people around the world to resist the provocation that terrorists are attempting to incite.
These terrorists see the end of days.
They are lighting a match we need to keep the fire from burning.
Already Republican candidates running for the presidential nomination are ratcheting up the rhetoric and playing into the terrorists hands just like before.
We don't need the reptilian brain, we need human intelligence.
We need greater diplomatic efforts to attain peace and coordinated efforts to cut-off terrorist resources.
Finally, we need to extricate ourselves from a region where we have no friends.
Sending weapons to this Medieval region and arming "friendly moderate rebels" is a recipe for blowback.
The Nazis attacked the UK in air raids for nearly a year, and it only strengthened the resolve of the British people.
Terrorists can only use their comparatively weaker resources to engineer a more powerful response.
Bin Laden was able to do such by leading the US to topple a secular government in Iraq, further destabilizing the Middle East region and unleashing more chaos.
Deceivers convince people with nothing to lose that a better world awaits them if they cause mass destruction.
Only deeply disturbed and ignorant people would believe a just God would reward the killer of innocents.
Only a devil would suggest such.
This is a time for the leaders of nations and all people around the world to resist the provocation that terrorists are attempting to incite.
These terrorists see the end of days.
They are lighting a match we need to keep the fire from burning.
Already Republican candidates running for the presidential nomination are ratcheting up the rhetoric and playing into the terrorists hands just like before.
We don't need the reptilian brain, we need human intelligence.
We need greater diplomatic efforts to attain peace and coordinated efforts to cut-off terrorist resources.
Finally, we need to extricate ourselves from a region where we have no friends.
Sending weapons to this Medieval region and arming "friendly moderate rebels" is a recipe for blowback.
2
I was in Paris again this summer. I love it. And it is the home of intellectualism, arts, democratic values and so much more. They pride themselves on their secular society. All of this is anathema to the terrorists.
I think that we are dealing with people who operate in an alternate universe from ours. They love death and destruction of any and all who are not like them. What we consider to be common human values do not apply. They hate. They hate modern society and freedom of expression. They hate Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims not like them, and everyone else. They subjugate women and hate them too. The threat of death means nothing to them as they believe they will enter paradise on the basis of their barbaric acts. They wish to change the world to mirror their world view.
I worry that attacks like this will multiply and become more frequent in Europe and in North America. The Atlantic will not shield us from this now declared war. I fear that it will cost us not only in blood but in the very values of liberal democracy that the terrorists abhor. There will be pressure to give up on civil liberties in free societies inch by inch to fight this scourge. If we let that go too far as a price for feeling safe, they have won because they will have undone the freedoms that we all take for granted.
I wish Parisians the strength and courage to get through this. I wish that for all of us.
I think that we are dealing with people who operate in an alternate universe from ours. They love death and destruction of any and all who are not like them. What we consider to be common human values do not apply. They hate. They hate modern society and freedom of expression. They hate Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims not like them, and everyone else. They subjugate women and hate them too. The threat of death means nothing to them as they believe they will enter paradise on the basis of their barbaric acts. They wish to change the world to mirror their world view.
I worry that attacks like this will multiply and become more frequent in Europe and in North America. The Atlantic will not shield us from this now declared war. I fear that it will cost us not only in blood but in the very values of liberal democracy that the terrorists abhor. There will be pressure to give up on civil liberties in free societies inch by inch to fight this scourge. If we let that go too far as a price for feeling safe, they have won because they will have undone the freedoms that we all take for granted.
I wish Parisians the strength and courage to get through this. I wish that for all of us.
3
Sure - the French people are defiant. The question is defiant towards what?
Are they going to defy common sense and continue with the reckless migrant policies peddled by Merkel and so smugly endorsed by the NYT editorial board?
Or are they going to defy these muslim savages and resolve to root them out domestically and deny them their genocidal caliphate?
All these memorials won't mean squat if the prevailing anti-western leftist ideology of open borders and passivity in the face of barbarism remains in place.
Are they going to defy common sense and continue with the reckless migrant policies peddled by Merkel and so smugly endorsed by the NYT editorial board?
Or are they going to defy these muslim savages and resolve to root them out domestically and deny them their genocidal caliphate?
All these memorials won't mean squat if the prevailing anti-western leftist ideology of open borders and passivity in the face of barbarism remains in place.
2
Hardening the world's resolve against the savagery of the Islamic State should start with worldwide insistence that Muslim nations and Muslim leaders issue a relentless, deafening repudiation of both the barbarian behavior and the state enablers of the barbarians. After each of these atrocious episodes we hear ritual condemnations of terror and soon enough, silence.
If the Muslim world can't or won't take effective action to get its house in order, then the West should proceed to embargo the state enablers of barbarity. Freeze the finances of states underwriting hatred. Accept the hit of reduced oil exports from the Middle East: it would accelerate the shift to non-fossil energy and pull the planet back from the brink of ruinous climate change.
If the Muslim world can't or won't take effective action to get its house in order, then the West should proceed to embargo the state enablers of barbarity. Freeze the finances of states underwriting hatred. Accept the hit of reduced oil exports from the Middle East: it would accelerate the shift to non-fossil energy and pull the planet back from the brink of ruinous climate change.
5
"Clearly, the state of emergency should be ended as soon as possible."
What is the reflexive compulsion to inject some manner of vaguely liberal, weakly relevant preachiness, into an otherwise straightforward, informative article? As if one may only tread so many lines without compulsively offering some manner of libation to the liberal Gods.
It's so irritating.
What is the reflexive compulsion to inject some manner of vaguely liberal, weakly relevant preachiness, into an otherwise straightforward, informative article? As if one may only tread so many lines without compulsively offering some manner of libation to the liberal Gods.
It's so irritating.
3
Article? It's an editorial!
My prayers go to the people of Paris in this defiance of their liberty, but let us not stop praying for the families of those who lose their loved ones here in the United States by large numbers month after month to our homegrown gunslingers -- with our political leaders' support.
2
For me, like many of my fellow citizens, these attacks interrupted a nice friday afternoon. Terror and anger came after astonishement, but now we feel a strong determination. Today we are sad, but not terrorized, and not desesperated. Tomorrow we will continue to love music, arts, food and wine. We will continue to defend human rights and freedom, and fight every kind of fundamentalism.
We have to defeat Isis, yes, as a military target. But we also have to dedicate more means to health and education all over the world, and fight against corruption and obscurantism.
We have to defeat Isis, yes, as a military target. But we also have to dedicate more means to health and education all over the world, and fight against corruption and obscurantism.
5
ISIS can be defeated, I have no doubts, as long as the Western military operations do not go over to the Middle East to build schools and fix roads. In my personal opinion whatever military action taken by the West and its Arab allies should be straight to the point and with the intention of killing the enemy soon. Otherwise our already strained economic systems will suffer even more. Also, since we have been pouring money to countries in the Middle East for decades, why don't we give a vote of confidence to our allies and partially count on them to exterminate this barbaric organization. I am afraid of one thing though. What if ISIS members fade into the background once we start attacking and mingle with civilians? Who do we go after? After all, ISIS militias do not have a uniform or organized army (in the traditional sense of the word). In moments like this we want to destroy some terrorist organizations no doubts but the non organized nature of Middle Eastern terrorist groups pose a military challenge: they have no country, uniform, or organized forces.
World War III ??
Too many comments over the past 24 have used those exact words.
Killing innocent people is horrible. It was horrible last night in Paris, last month in Oregon, and last year in Connecticut. We all feel empathy for those who lost loved ones and we imagine the heartache if it was one of our loved ones who were killed.
One must keep things in perspective however; While 129 dead is 129 too many, it is still only 129. That many are killed every two or three days in America in car crashes. World War III? Hardly.
Further, there is no state, no standing army and no front line to assault. I get it that people are angry and their anger makes them lash out with a need for revenge, but there is no enemy available for us to wage war against.
The sad truth is that these killers are woven into the very fabric of the world around us, and the only way to reduce the number of these killings is through a long, tedious and sometimes frustrating process that is not as simple as just declaring a war.
Too many comments over the past 24 have used those exact words.
Killing innocent people is horrible. It was horrible last night in Paris, last month in Oregon, and last year in Connecticut. We all feel empathy for those who lost loved ones and we imagine the heartache if it was one of our loved ones who were killed.
One must keep things in perspective however; While 129 dead is 129 too many, it is still only 129. That many are killed every two or three days in America in car crashes. World War III? Hardly.
Further, there is no state, no standing army and no front line to assault. I get it that people are angry and their anger makes them lash out with a need for revenge, but there is no enemy available for us to wage war against.
The sad truth is that these killers are woven into the very fabric of the world around us, and the only way to reduce the number of these killings is through a long, tedious and sometimes frustrating process that is not as simple as just declaring a war.
4
The world has seen the barbarity of the Muslim inspired attack in Paris. This is a continuation of a war that started a millennium ago with the first crusades that crossed Europe. This is a historical struggle that cannot be won with words and pleasantries. This epic battle will only allow only one winner, it will continue until one of the participants is subdued, bleeding and/or dead on the field of battle, wherever that may be.
Which side do you want to be on, the side that lops off heads, or the side that imprisons men in dog cages for years at a time. Neither side is taking the high ground, however, only one side is willing to put their lives on the line while the other fires missles from thousands of miles away.
I am on the side of the West, not because their humanity is better, but because the West represents the future, not the past. It is important to accept these alarms for what they are, a wake up call to arms. It is time to step up and make a concentrated effort to end this vicious cycle. A committment to ending this once and for all, once the Muslim community realizes that the weak liberal West has some become enraged they may step back from the brink and become aware that this ultimately will be bad for them. I never hear the religious leaders of Islam denounce these attrocities, why?
Which side do you want to be on, the side that lops off heads, or the side that imprisons men in dog cages for years at a time. Neither side is taking the high ground, however, only one side is willing to put their lives on the line while the other fires missles from thousands of miles away.
I am on the side of the West, not because their humanity is better, but because the West represents the future, not the past. It is important to accept these alarms for what they are, a wake up call to arms. It is time to step up and make a concentrated effort to end this vicious cycle. A committment to ending this once and for all, once the Muslim community realizes that the weak liberal West has some become enraged they may step back from the brink and become aware that this ultimately will be bad for them. I never hear the religious leaders of Islam denounce these attrocities, why?
3
The horrific events that have unfolded in Paris reflect a symptom of the widespread incitement of young European Muslim radicals. If we want to prevent future tragedies like this, it is imperative that we clearly understand the concept of incitement and how it used as a powerful tool to promote and encourage terror. Below is a link that provides an in-depth analysis of how it works.
http://jcpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/INCITEMENT_TO_TERROR_14.pdf
http://jcpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/INCITEMENT_TO_TERROR_14.pdf
2
How many comments by our wannabe Republican presidential candidates and of those that support them does one have to read, insisting that if only the French were allowed to carry heat this massacre wouldn't have happened?
Since our last mass shooting thousands of Americans have died because of unfettered access to guns, a multitude of the number of those having been gunned down by terrorists in Paris.
The kneejerk reaction by our arch-right and their comments about this terrible terrorist mass murder of innocents in Paris, a city that I once lived in, makes me so sick to the point that I want to throw up more than I can eat.
Since our last mass shooting thousands of Americans have died because of unfettered access to guns, a multitude of the number of those having been gunned down by terrorists in Paris.
The kneejerk reaction by our arch-right and their comments about this terrible terrorist mass murder of innocents in Paris, a city that I once lived in, makes me so sick to the point that I want to throw up more than I can eat.
3
Gun control in the US has nothing to do with terrorism. You appear to be saying you simply don't care about the horrific deaths caused by Islamist terrorists.
My heart is at one with France, my head sighs with disgust at the medieval barbarity of disaffected men who choose murder as their only reason for residing on the planet. A generation of lost boys.
4
The key to fighting terrorism is to target objectives while eliminating prejudice. In the US, too much of the debate is being driven by GOP superficiality and cliche. Example: Newt Gingrich screams on Fox about names while silent about bombs and their production; never a solution or measure of helpful common sense in his blame. Adding chaos, his pillorying partisanship over nonsense expands the perception of confusion. He politically loots the tragedies that follow terror.
The objectives in fighting terrorism must target its stages. What do we know about how its money is laundered and funneled? How near or far are we from intercepting the right communications? Are we monitoring physical spaces where weapons may be made? Can each security approach be rethought and refined?
Terrorism is played out on a different grid than state conflicts--terrorism is more a social activity than a military attack. Responding with missiles, and state armies will have little effect except to inflame the peer pressure that creates suicide bombers. Terrorism is small war with a big impact; as it coalesces, it grows, gathers and dispenses evil, individual by individual.
Those individuals are a part of a process all nations must become better at intercepting. The US is able to target key leaders; its drones have answered every Obama promise. Now we need to target key followers. Refine the patterns and data that enable small active family-and-friend cells to be accurately targeted.
The objectives in fighting terrorism must target its stages. What do we know about how its money is laundered and funneled? How near or far are we from intercepting the right communications? Are we monitoring physical spaces where weapons may be made? Can each security approach be rethought and refined?
Terrorism is played out on a different grid than state conflicts--terrorism is more a social activity than a military attack. Responding with missiles, and state armies will have little effect except to inflame the peer pressure that creates suicide bombers. Terrorism is small war with a big impact; as it coalesces, it grows, gathers and dispenses evil, individual by individual.
Those individuals are a part of a process all nations must become better at intercepting. The US is able to target key leaders; its drones have answered every Obama promise. Now we need to target key followers. Refine the patterns and data that enable small active family-and-friend cells to be accurately targeted.
4
Europe is a much easier target for Muslim extremists; easier to reach connected by land. Europe is a surrogate target representing the West but the U.S. is their ultimate target, to inflict violent revenge for the death of so many and they will succeed- it’s just a matter of when. The reasons are clear: our long foreign policy history installing or supporting repressive regimes that murder/torture the opposition and keeps their citizens in abject poverty, and; our open-ended wars of aggression against the Muslim World now into its 14th consecutive year. Not one country in the Muslim World attacked or threatened to attack the U.S- including Afghanistan which we attacked after 9/11. For decades Afghanistan has had porous borders ruled by regional warlords. Yet we chose to hold Afghans responsible for Al Qaeda seeking refuge in their mountains. 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 do not win over the hearts and minds of people. It guarantees that extremist groups will have an ever growing population of fanatical recruits bent on many more violent reprisals against the United States and they will succeed. How well protected are we in the 3.8 million square miles comprising the U.S.?
2
The attackers were all wearing suicide belts, and are all dead, presumably by their own hands. That is the problem. We must find a way to deal with human beings who lack the most fundamental element of humanity - respect for life. This is extremely difficult to do for those who cherish life, valuing it above all else. Anyone, especially in the US where assault weapons are now more readily available than a pack of cigarettes, can grab a gun and wreak havoc, especially if they're more than willing to die in the process. If armies were involved this would be easy, and the struggle already over. But, as it is, our first battle must be to resist knee-jerk reaction that very likely would result in motivating even more uncivilized to violence. I certainly don't have a ready answer, nor apparently do the leaders of the developed countries, and I do not blame them for that. But, one thing is clear - there are profound cultural differences between nations and regions, and it would be wise to recognize those differences and plan accordingly - before going to war.
5
President Hollande must learn from the U.S. 911 response (dos and don'ts in hindsight) in concert with the rest of the civilized world including the U.S.. And perhaps President Obama could even contribute undoing some of President Bush's and their neocons' mistakes.
The terror attacks in Paris were horrific and down right evil but it also gives the world an opportunity to reset the world. An united world, including the Arab nations, will rout ISIL and other terrorist organizations in the Middle East and Africa. We have missed that opportunity when Mr Bush chose to invade Iraq but this is a chance to make things right.
The terror attacks in Paris were horrific and down right evil but it also gives the world an opportunity to reset the world. An united world, including the Arab nations, will rout ISIL and other terrorist organizations in the Middle East and Africa. We have missed that opportunity when Mr Bush chose to invade Iraq but this is a chance to make things right.
1
Incidentally, Politico has made a snark clickbait on Twitter ("attaboy") criticizing Mrs Clinton commenting on President Bush's post 911 visiting a Mosque. Indeed, President Bush initial response in the aftermath of 911 was just fine. Public opinion even supported his incursion into Afghanistan. His mistakes were his letting the neocons to talk him into going into Iraq and his making the ordinary citizens to bear the burden of the wars, financial and otherwise. He could have been a great president had he stopped after his initial handling of 911. Therefore, Mrs Clinton is right about his initial response by targeting terrorism and not religion.
2
There is only one response to this latest act of monstrous barbarity by ISIS: Crush and destroy this 'caliphate' in the same way as the Allies ground the Third Reich into eternity. ISIS is bent on destroying any trace of human achievement in its 'territories', including bans on music, arts, etc. (The Third Reich, by ironic contrast, co-oped German arts and kept some German ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic going until the closing days of World War II). Such a regime must pay a high penalty for its odious rejection of human civilization.
4
NYT pieties as usual. But expect the usual carping if France or anyone else takes aggressive action against Islamic terrorism (which Obama again cannot bring himself to identify as such).
3
I have always been of the opinion that the west's involvement in the middle eastern countries for almost a century now (oil as the main reason) to the detriment of much of the population started the upheaval we have today. The population felt exploited.
Of course every time there is collateral damage to innocent civilians, there are relatives, who were minding their own business who soon left to first form and join groups to seek revenge for their dead and maimed loved ones. I felt that perhaps if we just pulled out of there, both militarily and in a good part financially and left these countries to their own determination, things might improve for us.
But no more. With the events in Paris last night, and the downing of the Russian plane a short time ago, as well as other recent heinous acts, I think we have passed the point of no return. I think ISIS and Al Qaida and the like have taken on a life of their own and they will not stop even if all westerners left all of the middle east.
I believe we, and are similarly afflicted allies, must mount an all out effort to rid the world of these radical extremists just the way we had to come together to stop the onslaught of the Nazi regime though Europe and then possibly the rest of the world. Its too late to rely strictly on diplomacy (in my view). The leaders of these groups have tasted power and the megalomania that it attendant to it never goes away quietly. I'm afraid we are in for it one way or another. Tis a pity!
Of course every time there is collateral damage to innocent civilians, there are relatives, who were minding their own business who soon left to first form and join groups to seek revenge for their dead and maimed loved ones. I felt that perhaps if we just pulled out of there, both militarily and in a good part financially and left these countries to their own determination, things might improve for us.
But no more. With the events in Paris last night, and the downing of the Russian plane a short time ago, as well as other recent heinous acts, I think we have passed the point of no return. I think ISIS and Al Qaida and the like have taken on a life of their own and they will not stop even if all westerners left all of the middle east.
I believe we, and are similarly afflicted allies, must mount an all out effort to rid the world of these radical extremists just the way we had to come together to stop the onslaught of the Nazi regime though Europe and then possibly the rest of the world. Its too late to rely strictly on diplomacy (in my view). The leaders of these groups have tasted power and the megalomania that it attendant to it never goes away quietly. I'm afraid we are in for it one way or another. Tis a pity!
2
The Islamic State, suicidal zealots, Jihadis, attacked Paris yesterday, slaughtering innocents in beloved Parisian venues, shocking the world numb. ISIS claimed responsibility for the savage attacks (as well as for the destruction of the Russian airliner over the Sinai last week). The New Caliphate vows that "this was only the beginning of the storm" to punish France for its airstrikes against Syria and Iraq. And what about the airstrikes committed by France's allies against Da'Esh in Iraq and Syria? Is this, as Pope Francis declared today, World War III? Military action by the US and the Allies was lit by the flame of the Japanese sneak attack bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7th 1941, and only after 4 long years of bloody war in the Pacific and throughout Europe was the Axis soundly defeated. And what of a war now between the West and Islam? If this slaughter in Paris is "only the beginning of the storm" as the Muslim Terrorists promise, they must be fought to defeat by our allies as was the Axis in WWII.
4
Perhaps these outrageous murders will have finally waken humanity to understand we cannot be complacently idle in eradicating the vile terrorists whom use their own perversion of religion as justification for such murder
May those who fight every day to protect society from such terrorists be given the tools, moral support from both the public and government to turn the tide against all terrorism.
Paris, the City of Lights the liberty you have given the world has been momentary dimmed, but will shine that light once again.
May those who fight every day to protect society from such terrorists be given the tools, moral support from both the public and government to turn the tide against all terrorism.
Paris, the City of Lights the liberty you have given the world has been momentary dimmed, but will shine that light once again.
Military response, by itself, is counterproductive. We should do the following, including military options, in order:
1. NATO nations should agree to continue arming Kurds with improved weaponry and support, including embedding, as we have, special forces troops, to forestall Russia or Turkey attacking the Kurds.
2. The Kurds should be promised in writing a new autonomous region encompassing parts of Syria, Iraq and Turkey that are rightfully theirs. Turkey, as NATO member, particularly Mr. Erdogan, needs to be told that this is the new reality.
3. All states which have allowed direct or indirect financial support of ISIS -- Saudi Arabia and the oil emirates -- have to cease and desist or face withdrawal of Western aid which has allowed them to maintain their undemocratic rule.
4. Any country allowing its citizens or organizations to financially support ISIS should have their assets frozen and their commerce and products (e.g., oil) embargoed, as we did with Iran.
5. Individuals or groups providing financial aid to ISIS should be indicted as co-conspirators, tried in the Hague, and if found guilty should be jailed. Their assets should further be appropriated to cover the costs of the anti-terrorism efforts and pay claims of survivors and victims of the terrorism.
6. Parents and close relatives of anyone found to be a member or fellow traveler of ISIS should be forced to forfeit assets and pay into a fund for victims of ISIS.
1. NATO nations should agree to continue arming Kurds with improved weaponry and support, including embedding, as we have, special forces troops, to forestall Russia or Turkey attacking the Kurds.
2. The Kurds should be promised in writing a new autonomous region encompassing parts of Syria, Iraq and Turkey that are rightfully theirs. Turkey, as NATO member, particularly Mr. Erdogan, needs to be told that this is the new reality.
3. All states which have allowed direct or indirect financial support of ISIS -- Saudi Arabia and the oil emirates -- have to cease and desist or face withdrawal of Western aid which has allowed them to maintain their undemocratic rule.
4. Any country allowing its citizens or organizations to financially support ISIS should have their assets frozen and their commerce and products (e.g., oil) embargoed, as we did with Iran.
5. Individuals or groups providing financial aid to ISIS should be indicted as co-conspirators, tried in the Hague, and if found guilty should be jailed. Their assets should further be appropriated to cover the costs of the anti-terrorism efforts and pay claims of survivors and victims of the terrorism.
6. Parents and close relatives of anyone found to be a member or fellow traveler of ISIS should be forced to forfeit assets and pay into a fund for victims of ISIS.
6
France has long been a beacon of rationality in a world distorted by religious thinking. It is time for rational humanity to again stand up and reject sectarian bullying and willful stupidity.
2
In the last World War we treated uninformed saboteurs and guerrillas found in the theatre of operations as subject to immediate execution after military tribunal instead of catch and release. We interned those of suspected loyalties for the duration domestically. Instead of dropping food supplies to the civilian populations in areas controlled by the enemy, we bombed them into starvation. We torched their cities and brought death and destruction on the civilian populations on which the evil ideologues depended on for the support needed to further their evil ideology. We did so until the "innocent" civilian survivors were broken enough to accept any price for survival. We felt no reticence about punishing those who advocated the fascist ideology, even when swearing loyalty to our nation. We demanded that immigrants from the nations with whom we were at war provided unwavering support of our war without feeling obliged to provide as yet unearned trust.
If and when we conduct World War 3 with the same general mind set that we approached the last World War, we will win. So far we are not winning. Not winning is losing.
If and when we conduct World War 3 with the same general mind set that we approached the last World War, we will win. So far we are not winning. Not winning is losing.
4
After the Charlie Hebdo massacre the Kerry/Obama State Department made a point of not sending a high official to the memorial ceremonies (his Attorney General Eric Holder was actually already there and still did not go.) After the Benghazi massacre, the Clinton/Obama State Department blamed a You-Tube video satire of Mohammed- this story was actually resurrected by Clinton/Obama "spin" doctors after the recent clumsy cartoonish questioning of Clinton by the congressional committee. The implication in both cases was that the Islamic terrorist attacks were an understandable reaction to anti-Muslim media.
At an Arab anti-terrorist meeting, President Obama refused to call ISIS Islamic terrorists- rather calling them "extremists" without referring to the clear religious nature of the Jihad.
Obama, Clinton and Kerry all share responsibility for the awful consequences of "Arab Spring."
At an Arab anti-terrorist meeting, President Obama refused to call ISIS Islamic terrorists- rather calling them "extremists" without referring to the clear religious nature of the Jihad.
Obama, Clinton and Kerry all share responsibility for the awful consequences of "Arab Spring."
3
And what did Barack Obama say about Isis just last Friday?
Doesn't he have a clue?
Doesn't he have a clue?
3
our heads would sppin if our leaders told us everything they knew.
Sound and fury, signifying nothing. The West does not have the will to do what is necessary, that being open a ground war in Syria. So, like O, France will 'bang the drum' and go back to sleep, failing to take action to take back the Muslin sectors of Paris, which they do not control. Long term France has this 'third column' in its society, and that will not go away. To think France has a 'harden resolve' to do anything is delusional.
1
And what, exactly, does the Editorial Board propose to "harden the resolve... against the savagery of the Islamic State"? The Editors oppose surveillance, watch lists, wire taps, profiling, or restricting travel. They oppose military action against ISIS or governments that support them. The Editors even oppose the security measures implemented by President François Hollande!
Even worse, the Editors oppose efforts that would reduce dependence on Arab oil (i.e. Keystone pipeline).
The Editors may be upset that people died, but they refuse to endorse the steps required to capture the guilty, crush terrorist groups, prevent future attacks, and protect innocent lives.
Even worse, the Editors oppose efforts that would reduce dependence on Arab oil (i.e. Keystone pipeline).
The Editors may be upset that people died, but they refuse to endorse the steps required to capture the guilty, crush terrorist groups, prevent future attacks, and protect innocent lives.
3
It is a relief to know that we will not likely see a 9/11 style response from either the French government or the Obama administration. Some Republican candidates for president would no doubt gladly use this as an occasion to strike Iran as a co-conspirator with "Islamic terrorists". The Bush/Cheney model of terrorism response has been thoroughly debunked. But there are still many on the right who are willing to misuse the US military.
1
Let's face it, the French are a remarkable people. A people that has stayed remarkably stable since the nation became a republic not long after the birth of the U.S.A., despite the Reign of Terror and later Napoleonic rule. Both 20th-century world wars were fought on their soil. As a child I lived in Poitiers 3 years, from early 1961 to late 1963. That was less than 20 years after the German occupation. If only I'd understood that, I could've appreciated the courtesy, friendliness, and generosity of the people I got to know (the first two years there, my family lived on the outskirts of the town and all our neighbors were French). That now leaves me in awe each time I watch the TV series "Un Village Francais."
I trust they can make it through this new threat without significant change to the qualities that amaze me in the people of France. As so many of us have repeated the last 24 hours or so ... Vive la France!
I trust they can make it through this new threat without significant change to the qualities that amaze me in the people of France. As so many of us have repeated the last 24 hours or so ... Vive la France!
Will President Holland now declare war on those Sunni countries that have been financing these terrorists; Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait? He's bound to meet strong resistance from them if he goes after ISIL, Al Qaeda in Syria, and Iraq. How about not buying oil form ISIL? They also are getting tons of money from their oil sales and then buying weapons with that money. Yet, another thing to discuss: U.S. Russia, China, and Western Europe make tens of billions each year by selling weapons of all kinds to whoever has the cash- no questions asked. Human greed is responsible for this, from George Bush Sr.'s invasion of Kuwait, which Bin Laden used as justification for all of his planned terrorist attacks to Baby Bush's and Cheney's Big Oil Corp. backed invasion of Iraq.. What a mess!!! Yet, the big corp.- dominated Republicans are controlling our Congress, The public backed both Bush's invasions and our own gov't suppression of our freedom and liberty, all done by these politicians waving the flag and waving the bible more often than the Dems. The genera public- maybe we are the greatest danger to our own lives!
1
Rest in Peace. Let's allow time for grief, but Let's also be better at helping France respond to this (and let's hope France will be better at responding to this) than we were at responding to the events of September 11th, 2001. We all need to find an intelligent and effective way to defeat terrorism and address the root causes of terrorism.
1
If Mr. Netanyahu said this, there would a storm of protests from President Obama enthusiasts.
So I will say it for him. "I told you so."
So I will say it for him. "I told you so."
8
Three of the four leading french newspaper, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le parisien have declared that France was at war. The president said the same thing. We have to wait and see what the parlement, l'Assemblée Nationale, will do. But friends of France like Canada, must expect the worse. France is now a NATO member. The US asked NATO for help after 9-11. France may do the same and we won't have much choice but to fight.
1
Just FYI, France has always been - and never ceased to be - a NATO member since the creation of the alliance.
World War Three??? Please, let's get a hold on ourselves. It's horrific and tragic. I hear the words leaders are saying but they sound all too familiar and what do they mean. How are we going to do all those things? We will end up killing millions more men, women and children. We invaded Iraq for no reason. We destroyed their infrastructure, schools, economy and dismantled their armies which were the start of ISIS. I don't know the answer but I know if we keep on repeating these actions over and over and over we have learned nothing in the last 5000 and more years. No country can battle the US. WE have the biggest military in history. Smaller nations know they cannot attack Europe or the US so what we have is terrorists and we will always have terrorists as long as we are so aggressive too. We must think differently. All we do is invent more destructive weapons. Now we have guns that vaporize people. Big deal. Are they more dead than when shot with a pistol? Everyone seems to think the answer if more war, more and more destructive weapons, more "boots on the ground". What is the point in destroying ISIS when another enemy will pop up as fast they they did?
I sometimes think maybe human beings were programmed from the beginning to wipe ourselves out in the end.
I sometimes think maybe human beings were programmed from the beginning to wipe ourselves out in the end.
4
We all need to stop referring to this group of barbarians as "The Islamic State." The New York Times should lead the way for the media.
We don't need to make up a fictitious name, just call them Daesh, like everyone in the Arab world calls them. Sure, that is an acronym that includes the idea of "state," but at least it doesn't keep repeating the two worst words to possibly attribute to these scumbags: Islam and state.
There is no reason to simply hand them the privilege of calling them a "state." They control territory, but no one recognizes them as a state except other extremists. Why play into their fantasies?
We don't need to make up a fictitious name, just call them Daesh, like everyone in the Arab world calls them. Sure, that is an acronym that includes the idea of "state," but at least it doesn't keep repeating the two worst words to possibly attribute to these scumbags: Islam and state.
There is no reason to simply hand them the privilege of calling them a "state." They control territory, but no one recognizes them as a state except other extremists. Why play into their fantasies?
8
In 1993, I wrote an article for THE LINK, a journal published by Americans for Middle East Understanding ,entitled “Islam and the US National Interest: http://hufind.huji.ac.il/Record/HUJ001289315
I warned that there were governments and groups trying to trap the United States in a war against Islam. I wrote:
“Islam, the world’s second largest religion, is revered not only in that region of the world loosely called the Middle East, but in several other countries such as India and Indonesia as well. Muslims are a majority in about 45 countries … It is reckless to pit such vast and populous areas of the world against the people of the United States … Hurling insults at a religion of [more] than one billion adherents is dangerous at best, in that it is certain to destabilize a very vital and volatile region … To make Islam an enemy of the United States, warns Dr. John Esposito … ‘is to declare a second Cold War that is unlikely to end in the same resounding victory as the first.’”
Sadly, we are about to be entrapped into such a fierce, unwinnable, yet costly war with Islam and Muslims.
The bombings and military activities in Iraq and in Syria may be the slippery slope that will inevitably lead to a more extensive involvement.
Our leaders should avoid such entrapment. They should reverse course and make every effort to reconcile with Islam.
The recent tragic events in Paris should be a stark warning.
I warned that there were governments and groups trying to trap the United States in a war against Islam. I wrote:
“Islam, the world’s second largest religion, is revered not only in that region of the world loosely called the Middle East, but in several other countries such as India and Indonesia as well. Muslims are a majority in about 45 countries … It is reckless to pit such vast and populous areas of the world against the people of the United States … Hurling insults at a religion of [more] than one billion adherents is dangerous at best, in that it is certain to destabilize a very vital and volatile region … To make Islam an enemy of the United States, warns Dr. John Esposito … ‘is to declare a second Cold War that is unlikely to end in the same resounding victory as the first.’”
Sadly, we are about to be entrapped into such a fierce, unwinnable, yet costly war with Islam and Muslims.
The bombings and military activities in Iraq and in Syria may be the slippery slope that will inevitably lead to a more extensive involvement.
Our leaders should avoid such entrapment. They should reverse course and make every effort to reconcile with Islam.
The recent tragic events in Paris should be a stark warning.
6
This is a better link to "Islam and The US National Interest," referred to in my comment:
http://www.ameu.org/The-Link/Archives/Islam-and-the-US-National-Interest...
http://www.ameu.org/The-Link/Archives/Islam-and-the-US-National-Interest...
1
Clearly, leaders and citizens of countries which share France's values of liberty, equality, and brotherhood should react to this atrocity effectively and thoughtfully, not reflexively. But with over 100 people lying dead in the streets of Paris, it seems inappropriate at best and cowardly at worst, even at this early stage, for the Times Editorial Board to suggest "lifting the French state of emergency" as the only urgent action item.
2
I wonder how the editorial board feels now about their cowardly decision not to publish the cartoons after the last attacks. Appeasement is never the answer.
6
Those cartoons would have been considered racist and intolerable, like most things the anti-immigrant Charlie Hebdo does, but of course freedom of the press over all.
How can anyone at this point start by calling this "incomprehensible barbarism"?
In fact it should be pretty easy to comprehend this is what they do, over and over again.
In fact it should be pretty easy to comprehend this is what they do, over and over again.
1
The French are no strangers to terror and brutality and, like they did during World War 11, they will rebound and remain a democratic and dynamic country. They are our oldest allies and without their help America would not have won the Revolutionary War. A country built around democratic principals might occasionally suffer setbacks but never will it relent or be defeated by radicals with no regard for human life or rights.
2
The initial impulse is to go charging in and crush the barbarians with our vast military might, to make them pay for such monstrous carnage.
That initial impulse must be resisted.
This is a long game. ISIS are playing a long game. So should we.
It is the careful work of intelligence and counterintelligence, of sharing information between allies openly and freely. It is a game of monitoring and vigilance, and of surgical, lethal strikes when their leaders and rankers least expect it. Death can come to them as suddenly and unexpectedly as they dole it out to others. Ask Bin Laden. Ask "Jihadi John."
Slowly, they will get worn down. Their ranks will thin. The less effective they become, the more their allure will fade.
But, yes, in the interim we can expect to endure more of this sort of attack. We have to accept that. Sadly, it is a part of playing the long game.
We are a free and open society. Short of becoming a police state, there is no way this sort of thing can be prevented 100%. We can do our best, but we must not become what they want us to become: a security state, paranoid and fearful, slaves to our prejudices and beholden to the bigots in our midst.
But above all else, to go charging in, the way the Cheney/Bush administration did in Iraq in 2003, will only exacerbate the radicalism of our shared enemy, spread the cancer of their retrograde ideology, and play right into their hands.
That initial impulse must be resisted.
This is a long game. ISIS are playing a long game. So should we.
It is the careful work of intelligence and counterintelligence, of sharing information between allies openly and freely. It is a game of monitoring and vigilance, and of surgical, lethal strikes when their leaders and rankers least expect it. Death can come to them as suddenly and unexpectedly as they dole it out to others. Ask Bin Laden. Ask "Jihadi John."
Slowly, they will get worn down. Their ranks will thin. The less effective they become, the more their allure will fade.
But, yes, in the interim we can expect to endure more of this sort of attack. We have to accept that. Sadly, it is a part of playing the long game.
We are a free and open society. Short of becoming a police state, there is no way this sort of thing can be prevented 100%. We can do our best, but we must not become what they want us to become: a security state, paranoid and fearful, slaves to our prejudices and beholden to the bigots in our midst.
But above all else, to go charging in, the way the Cheney/Bush administration did in Iraq in 2003, will only exacerbate the radicalism of our shared enemy, spread the cancer of their retrograde ideology, and play right into their hands.
4
The editorial team talks about the "savagery of the Islamic State", but isn't it possible that the attacks in Paris were a response to the savagery of the French bombing of the Islamic State in Syria, in which civilians are being killed along with combatants.
1
This misunderstands Islamic fundamentalism. It is a self-motivated ideology, not a reaction to what other actors do, as illustrated by ISIS's many acts of brutalty against people, for example the Yazidis, who cannot be argued to have done anything against them.
More broadly this comment is an example of the widespread tendency to view only actors from the Western world as being responsible and independent agents, and everyone else, even jihadis, as being driven to their actions by the landscape we create. The reality is that people everywhere make their own decisions and therefore should be accountable for them.
ISIS didn't have to kill 120 people. They chose to.
More broadly this comment is an example of the widespread tendency to view only actors from the Western world as being responsible and independent agents, and everyone else, even jihadis, as being driven to their actions by the landscape we create. The reality is that people everywhere make their own decisions and therefore should be accountable for them.
ISIS didn't have to kill 120 people. They chose to.
r a: Yes, ISIS chose to kill more than 120 people and injure many more in Paris. But the French government chose to kill hundreds of Muslims in Syria and elsewhere in the middle east. It is more useful to focus on consequences, not motivations, which are difficult to discern.
If the Islamic State wants to be recognized as a nation, it must face the consequences of its actions. If any recognized country took credit for a string of attacks similar to what we have seen over the last several weeks, there would be swift military action. Maybe it's time the other nations of the world give the Islamic State the recognition they seem to want.
3
Every drop of gas you put in your car funds ISIS or a similar organization. Consider buying a smaller car.
3
Times' story on ISIS claiming responsibility for the attacks in Paris said this, "The style of the attack was in line with the Islamic State’s tactic of indiscriminate killings and goes against Al Qaeda’s guidelines. In a 2013 directive, the leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri, stated that Qaeda operatives should avoid attacks that could inadvertently cause the death of Muslim civilians and noncombatant women or children."
The fact that Ayman al-Zawahri's directive on terror appears "reasonable" when juxtaposed against ISIS' tactics shows how merciless and savage the ISIS's reign of terror is.
Of course, whether it is Al Qaeda or ISIS or Lashkar-e-Taiba (that carried out coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India similar to the Paris attacks), their obejctive is the same: to terrorize and kill innocent people.
The world's response to such terror should be merciless but measured.
The fact that Ayman al-Zawahri's directive on terror appears "reasonable" when juxtaposed against ISIS' tactics shows how merciless and savage the ISIS's reign of terror is.
Of course, whether it is Al Qaeda or ISIS or Lashkar-e-Taiba (that carried out coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India similar to the Paris attacks), their obejctive is the same: to terrorize and kill innocent people.
The world's response to such terror should be merciless but measured.
2
Je suis Parisien.
3
The United States and its allies should forge a coalition to defeat this malignancy with as much power and sophistication as ISIS has demonstrated.
1
Scores of innocents butchered, and the only advice here to the French nation: "the state of emergency should be ended as soon as possible."
Clearly, the bon vivants do not live in Paris; they reside right here in New York.
Clearly, the bon vivants do not live in Paris; they reside right here in New York.
2
I hope this doesn't "harden our resolve" to bomb more MSF hospitals and drone-assassinate more children. I don't know what the answer to this is. All of the options are grotesque. But I do know what answers haven't worked:
1) Bombing everything that moves
2) Invading other countries
3) Mass-surveillance of innocent people (France is probably in the top-3 for state surveillance)
4) Relying on the people who created ISIS to destroy ISIS
Will a military intervention -- which sadly seems inevitable after Russia, France, and Lebanon were all attacked within a week -- really, honestly solve this? Or is it just that it's the only thing our leaders can think to do because they can't let a "challenge" go "unanswered"?
1) Bombing everything that moves
2) Invading other countries
3) Mass-surveillance of innocent people (France is probably in the top-3 for state surveillance)
4) Relying on the people who created ISIS to destroy ISIS
Will a military intervention -- which sadly seems inevitable after Russia, France, and Lebanon were all attacked within a week -- really, honestly solve this? Or is it just that it's the only thing our leaders can think to do because they can't let a "challenge" go "unanswered"?
1
It is for the French to decide the appropriate course of action following this attack and for us to support them. Despite our frequent disagreements on policies, France and the United Sates will always be allies because we share enduring core beliefs.
No doubt calls for expanded military operations in the Middle East will contend with assertions that if the terrorists are just left alone or appeased, they won't attack again. But they will. Over and over again. They are psychopaths and the religious justifications and grievances they espouse are only empty rhetoric. All terrorists groups must be confronted and destroyed not only so that future attacks to be averted but also to prevent further erosion of our civil liberties. The bombing campaigns are not doing the job. More is needed but it must be a widespread, united effort supported by the United Nations. Perhaps now France will lead us in this.
But those decisions will come in the future. Today we stand with our French brothers and sisters in mourning. We extend our heartfelt condolences for their losses and their sorrow.
No doubt calls for expanded military operations in the Middle East will contend with assertions that if the terrorists are just left alone or appeased, they won't attack again. But they will. Over and over again. They are psychopaths and the religious justifications and grievances they espouse are only empty rhetoric. All terrorists groups must be confronted and destroyed not only so that future attacks to be averted but also to prevent further erosion of our civil liberties. The bombing campaigns are not doing the job. More is needed but it must be a widespread, united effort supported by the United Nations. Perhaps now France will lead us in this.
But those decisions will come in the future. Today we stand with our French brothers and sisters in mourning. We extend our heartfelt condolences for their losses and their sorrow.
1
Does the Old Grey Lady still have some fight left in her?
1
When you call them the "Islamic State" you are legitimizing their claims of statehood and a caliphate. Call them Daesh, because they hate that.
The ostrich-like Americans who want to pull out of the Middle East are right -- there is no question that our presence inflames them, which is why Iraq should be called Bush's Folly. And if all we care about is ourselves we and other Western countries should go home.
But we would be leaving millions to the mercy of the anti-human maniacs. Yes, this is a monstrous event, but the primary victims of Daesh and its ilk are the people who live there -- something like 90% of attacks are on fellow middle easterners/North Africans.
Now is the time for the US to forge a real and energetic alliance to destroy every member of Daesh. It is only then that democracy can survive in Tunisia or exist in places like Egypt. It is only then that artists will be able to paint, musicians play and little girls go to school.
We should destroy Daesh on behalf of the people who live there. We owe it to them, not only because Bush opened Pandora's box, but mostly because they are humans and we can help them.
The ostrich-like Americans who want to pull out of the Middle East are right -- there is no question that our presence inflames them, which is why Iraq should be called Bush's Folly. And if all we care about is ourselves we and other Western countries should go home.
But we would be leaving millions to the mercy of the anti-human maniacs. Yes, this is a monstrous event, but the primary victims of Daesh and its ilk are the people who live there -- something like 90% of attacks are on fellow middle easterners/North Africans.
Now is the time for the US to forge a real and energetic alliance to destroy every member of Daesh. It is only then that democracy can survive in Tunisia or exist in places like Egypt. It is only then that artists will be able to paint, musicians play and little girls go to school.
We should destroy Daesh on behalf of the people who live there. We owe it to them, not only because Bush opened Pandora's box, but mostly because they are humans and we can help them.
5
Why do the arab countries not get together and fight them? If one took the middle east from egypt, turkey, iraq, saudi arabia and the gulf countries, one could come up with a combined army in the several millions, with fancy American armaments ... up against a ragtag group numbering in the tens of thousands who train on monkey bars and drive around in 1970s Datsun pickup trucks.
Why is it that we have to go in and fight everyone else's battles?
Besides, it won't work: we cannot defeat ISIL. They are not a standing army, with defined borders, real government, and a capital that you can capture and eliminate.
Why is it that we have to go in and fight everyone else's battles?
Besides, it won't work: we cannot defeat ISIL. They are not a standing army, with defined borders, real government, and a capital that you can capture and eliminate.
1
On 9/12/01 the citizenry of the whole civilized world were Americans. Today we are all French.
I don't know what is to follow, but I do know we must stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Europe and throughout the world fighting for stability and decency in a time of extremist violence. ISIS must be confronted in all it's fragmented manifestations. Unlike the aftermath of 9/11 let us not retreat into paranoia and lies fueled by government desperation to be perceived as addressing the threat. Let us keep the light of truth shining on what has occurred and is occurring in all our responses to this enemy.
I don't know what is to follow, but I do know we must stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Europe and throughout the world fighting for stability and decency in a time of extremist violence. ISIS must be confronted in all it's fragmented manifestations. Unlike the aftermath of 9/11 let us not retreat into paranoia and lies fueled by government desperation to be perceived as addressing the threat. Let us keep the light of truth shining on what has occurred and is occurring in all our responses to this enemy.
4
Reading through the comments, I agree we should not be reactionary, xenophobic, paint all Muslims/immigrants with the same brush, avoid the mistakes we made following 9/11, etc., but I still can't get past the fact that included in the litany of atrocities perpetrated by this group, these people beheaded a 9 year old little girl. Surely that horrific act makes them just as heinous as Hitler and his Nazis were. My son is in the military and I do not want him deployed to Syria to face an uncertain fate, but we cannot sit on our hands any longer. They beheaded a 9 year old little girl.
5
They beheaded a nine-year-old girl, who, I assume, was arab. So, where is the arab outrage? Why is it we are supposed to be outraged, and put our brave soldiers in harm's way, when the nine-year-old girl's people won't do anything?
2
And as a further show of solidarity with the French people, every American official who took cheap shots against France over disagreement with the Iraq war should apologize, publicly, for juvenile acts like dumping French wine and replacing "freedom" for "French" in fries, toast, and the like. It's not too late to say such shows were petty, wrong, and that the French value freedom.
10
Liberté, égalité, fraternité, solidarité!
5
It's not the Islamic State per say.....it's the Wahhabi Islamic state of mind that has been fostered worldwide by the conservative, authoritarian and medieval Saudi Arabian government.
Wahhabism is an orthodox, ultraconservative, fundamentalist, puritanical branch of Sunni Islam...an Islamic "reform movement" hellbent on restoring pure monotheistic worship of 'Allah'.
Wahhabism is named after 18th century preacher and scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
He formed a pact with Muhammad bin Saud offering political obedience and promising that protection and propagation of the Wahhabi movement would mean "power and glory" and rule of "lands and men".
The house of bin Saud continued to maintain its politico-religious alliance with the Wahhabi sect over the next 150 years, through to its eventual proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 and into modern times.
With the help of funding from petroleum exports, the Wahabbist movement exploded in the 1970s and now has worldwide influence.
Wahhabism is a source of global terrorism", inspiring the ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and for causing disunity in the Muslim community by labeling Muslims who disagreed with Wahhabism as apostates, thus paving the way for global bloodshed and jihad of all 'infidels'.
Time to pull the plug on Saudi Arabia and its state-sponsored, religious, murderous psychopathy and the Saudi oil exports that fund it with every gallon of gas.
https://goo.gl/vBKxK8
Wahhabism is an orthodox, ultraconservative, fundamentalist, puritanical branch of Sunni Islam...an Islamic "reform movement" hellbent on restoring pure monotheistic worship of 'Allah'.
Wahhabism is named after 18th century preacher and scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
He formed a pact with Muhammad bin Saud offering political obedience and promising that protection and propagation of the Wahhabi movement would mean "power and glory" and rule of "lands and men".
The house of bin Saud continued to maintain its politico-religious alliance with the Wahhabi sect over the next 150 years, through to its eventual proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 and into modern times.
With the help of funding from petroleum exports, the Wahabbist movement exploded in the 1970s and now has worldwide influence.
Wahhabism is a source of global terrorism", inspiring the ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and for causing disunity in the Muslim community by labeling Muslims who disagreed with Wahhabism as apostates, thus paving the way for global bloodshed and jihad of all 'infidels'.
Time to pull the plug on Saudi Arabia and its state-sponsored, religious, murderous psychopathy and the Saudi oil exports that fund it with every gallon of gas.
https://goo.gl/vBKxK8
91
Socrates, you are correct about the origination of this so called Islamic cult. But we do have a problem Houston moment.
In June 2015 France and the Devil (KSA) signed a $12 Billion deal for providing defense material - I wonder if France and its government ready to name all the parties involved in the deal - who is getting commission and how much? and which banks this is being transferred to.
In May a $7 Billion deal was signed between them. It is not to say that our companies and government did not try to win the same contracts; and yes we bribe them too and would not let anyone know about it.
My only observation would be are we really serious about cutting the Snake's head or these statements are for domestic consumption, be it US, UK, or France.
In June 2015 France and the Devil (KSA) signed a $12 Billion deal for providing defense material - I wonder if France and its government ready to name all the parties involved in the deal - who is getting commission and how much? and which banks this is being transferred to.
In May a $7 Billion deal was signed between them. It is not to say that our companies and government did not try to win the same contracts; and yes we bribe them too and would not let anyone know about it.
My only observation would be are we really serious about cutting the Snake's head or these statements are for domestic consumption, be it US, UK, or France.
1
Bravo, Socrates, for an exceptionally informative account of the origin of Wahhabi-Terrorism and the nations that appease, nurture and support it.
U.S.A., are you listening?
U.S.A., are you listening?
1
Perhaps the world should boycott petroleum from Saudi Arabia. Yes?
1
To all of those who propose boots on the ground, I contend that the USA has already given their 13 year's share of boots. We have done our share of cause and restoration. Let other nations give their share. Where the h--l is our supposed allies' help? The Israelis and the Saudis?
If you are an American citizen and you want to go fight the big one then do it in your own boots and take your kids with you on your own dime. But leave our troops that have been deployed again and again and our treasury alone.
If you are an American citizen and you want to go fight the big one then do it in your own boots and take your kids with you on your own dime. But leave our troops that have been deployed again and again and our treasury alone.
2
Whatever the real or imaginary grievances of the radical Islamists the brutal killings of innocent people through terror attacks could never be justified on any ground, be it ideology or religious cause. The growing threat that the Islamic State poses to civilised society warrants a strong unified global effort against the terror group and its sources of sustenance.
8
Paris 11/13
U.S. 9/11
Israel 24/7
U.S. 9/11
Israel 24/7
20
Iraq Shock and Awe 3/19/2003. Result: A George Bush-installed Islamic Shiite government allied with Iran, Al Qaeda In Iraq which didn't exist until George W. Bush created them. Millions of exiled Sunni population who metastasized from Al Qaeda In Iraq to become ISIS today.
Going for a short stroll around the central streets of Paris' at some point today, in a large part for want to get a pulse of the general atmosphere of the city in the aftermath of such an eerie yesterday evening. And despite the gravity of the events, life painstakingly resumes. At this very hour off the window, the procession of ambulance sirens still overheard blowing horns into the night, its flow and sound volume remains far beneath what it was like around that time yesterday evening, earlier today people's faces seemed resolute, by and large not resigned. Streets aren't depleted nor deserted by citizens overtaken by fears, only the opposite is true. An overflowing sense of mourning prevails though, shopping activity raised to half-mast since nobody shows any inkling for that anyway meanwhile cafes terraces are filled with people's grouping willing to exchange about the situation in plain sight. The social tissue or bond is not broken. To bear witness of this is both uplifting and humbling in par with the expression of sympathies pouring in, not only friends, family, acquaintances but from all around the globe. It is beyond doubt that this country is stoking extra courage by relying on each other's infallible support and in the process realize how fundamental it is to stand shoulder to shoulder, not bow down against these attacks and whatever lays ahead.
9
14 years after 9/11 it seems the world is less safe. Our initial response, to go after bin Laden in Afghanistan, was the right one. But then we put that on the back burner when we foolishly invaded Iraq.
What are we, and the world, going to do now? What is the right course of action?
Many say we need to get out of the Middle East, that we can't solve their problems or police the world. That our security is not threatened.
Can we still say that? Terrorism experts say it's a matter of time before there's an attack here.
Do we need to send a huge ground force to Iraq and Syria, with as much support as we can muster from our allies, to truly crush ISIS? At what cost? If we did, wold we ever be able to leave? We're still in Korea 65 years later.
What are we, and the world, going to do now? What is the right course of action?
Many say we need to get out of the Middle East, that we can't solve their problems or police the world. That our security is not threatened.
Can we still say that? Terrorism experts say it's a matter of time before there's an attack here.
Do we need to send a huge ground force to Iraq and Syria, with as much support as we can muster from our allies, to truly crush ISIS? At what cost? If we did, wold we ever be able to leave? We're still in Korea 65 years later.
1
What is it about France that has caused ISIS to focus on it, rather than, say, Britain? But I’d point out that already the question is being asked as to when the state of emergency there will be lifted, removing from police the extraordinary powers they now deploy. Some of the answer to my question might be that a lot of those extraordinary powers granted French police under their state of emergency are everyday powers to British police forces.
In other words, France may not be anywhere near as well prepared to prevent such murderous outrages as Britain, and certainly not as prepared as we are. Thus, the enemy attacks the weakest point.
This notion, no doubt, will be debated hotly as soon as the dust settles from this last Islamist incursion into the life of a Western society. But what is highly likely is that European and particularly French xenophobia will intensify as evidence mounts of the danger of violent Islamist infiltration of the hordes of displaced refugees clamoring for new lives in Europe. Marine Le Pen’s conservative party will gather steam in advance of the next presidential election there in 2017.
There must as well be a putting aside of any equivalency between Bashar al Assad and ISIS, and Western efforts to destroy the latter should be greatly intensified.
In other words, France may not be anywhere near as well prepared to prevent such murderous outrages as Britain, and certainly not as prepared as we are. Thus, the enemy attacks the weakest point.
This notion, no doubt, will be debated hotly as soon as the dust settles from this last Islamist incursion into the life of a Western society. But what is highly likely is that European and particularly French xenophobia will intensify as evidence mounts of the danger of violent Islamist infiltration of the hordes of displaced refugees clamoring for new lives in Europe. Marine Le Pen’s conservative party will gather steam in advance of the next presidential election there in 2017.
There must as well be a putting aside of any equivalency between Bashar al Assad and ISIS, and Western efforts to destroy the latter should be greatly intensified.
3
Of all the ideologies to stand up against the rapaciousness of the West we get a homicidal sect of Manichean crazy people who have no understanding whatsoever of what they are doing when they mow down defenseless people. They are a page out of a twelfth-century history book, crazed knights slaughtering everything that moved in one town after another. A crazed, maniacal beast is loose in the world.
The death the corporate machine spews is much more subtle: poison air, poison water, poison food, poverty, in a land of plenty. It's as though Chaos has become conscious and asserted itself as the space in which our lives unfold. What these people are doing is horrendous.
The death the corporate machine spews is much more subtle: poison air, poison water, poison food, poverty, in a land of plenty. It's as though Chaos has become conscious and asserted itself as the space in which our lives unfold. What these people are doing is horrendous.
5
Definitely the right time for that, Bill. Thanks for keeping it real. Keep speaking truth to power!
Here is a question? what is a bigger risk to humanity - Global warming or Islamic Terrorism? Micro aggression or Iran with the Bomb? Look at our President's priorities.
10
False even silly juxtapositions. The awesome thing about Obama is that he - unlike the comedians who oppose him - can multi-task. That's what leaders do. Global warming IS a threat to survival as is religious fanaticism (which isn't just Islamic; we have traces of christian-religious fanaticism here in the US). Concern about Iran stands as its own issue just as racial and other isms (sexism, homophobia, xenophobia) stand on their own as real problems. There's no need to conflate or dismiss any of them as the REAL problems and challenges that they are. Grow up.... and learn to multi-task. It's not either or. Life's far more complex than that. Adults realize this.
1
ISIS is a wicked murder cult that thrives on barbarity. It has no purpose but to rape and murder. With the collapse of the states of Iraq and Syria and with the help of stupid pols in Turkey and harshly oppressive fundamentalist Sunni states these people have unleashed a monstrous challenge to the civilized world.
15
@c harris
I agree with you, but the Editorial Board refuses to say harsh things about ISIS. It is telling that the Editors have more insulting and critical words against Republicans than they do against killers from ISIS.
I agree with you, but the Editorial Board refuses to say harsh things about ISIS. It is telling that the Editors have more insulting and critical words against Republicans than they do against killers from ISIS.
1
And the world stands with Paris
#JeSuisParis
#JeSuisParis
8
The massacre in Paris and any future attacks only work to create new bridges between countries and strengthen old ones. Underneath, the desperate path of IS is weakening further and further as international military alliances take down its leaders, one by one.
4
The steam was still rising from the cooling corpses and doctors were working to keep the dozens of wounded people from the list of the dead when the call for merciless reprisals already was sounded. Can we at least wait until the smell of bomb smoke and gunfire clear before we quench our need for vengeance?
After all, our "reasoned" plunge into war has served America—and the countries we have invaded—so well since 9/11.
After all, our "reasoned" plunge into war has served America—and the countries we have invaded—so well since 9/11.
9
This has nothing to do with vengeance. It's self preservation. Just because Bush made a catastrophic "unreasoned" mistake in responding to 9/11 doesn't mean we and our allies have to do the same now.
1
Not very long ago, Dick Cheney arrogantly and defiantly said, about W's Afghanistan and Iraq adventure, "I have no regrets. I'd do it again." Typical Republican justification for violence and displacement elsewhere. And the entire GOP/TP line-up thirsts for more war.
36
Cheney is someone i 'd like to see in prison if not something worse.
4
Well I think that was with the understanding that he would not have followed Obama's disastrous, precipitous, politically and ideologically driven withdrawal from Iraq.
Remember that Iraq was basically pacified when Bush handed it to Obama. Plenty of people were warning him that this would happen if we left, but he did it anyway as a sop to his progressive base.
Remember that Iraq was basically pacified when Bush handed it to Obama. Plenty of people were warning him that this would happen if we left, but he did it anyway as a sop to his progressive base.
We either fight them over there, or fight them here. Your choice.
Enough is enough! Time for a historic repeat of a global “Allied Effort” to root out this devil from the face of the earth from every continent.
13
When I read people's reactions I both hear calls for reflection and resolve. Reflection over the question how to respond now that IS delivered on its threat to strike Europe in the heart. Resolve to muster all our strength and determination to retaliate against the terrorists responsible for Friday's barbarity.
Today the 28 leaders of the European Union declared 'together we will withstand this threat, with all necessary means and ruthless determination. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-6090_en.htm
Ruthless determination? These words are unusual coming from a meeting of 28 European prime ministers and presidents all speaking a different language.
Today the 28 leaders of the European Union declared 'together we will withstand this threat, with all necessary means and ruthless determination. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-6090_en.htm
Ruthless determination? These words are unusual coming from a meeting of 28 European prime ministers and presidents all speaking a different language.
3
Belgium, Burundi, Canada, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Pope, Russia and the U.S. have each condemned the attacks. I am struck that not a single country in the Middle East has yet to condemn this latest ISIS attack - even though many of their own citizens have been terrorized by these same extremists.
Unless and until the leading Muslim countries in the Middle East - Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States- take on this perversion of Islam, there is not much we in the West can accomplish short of bombing the place back to Stone Age. Over the past century, the West has contributed to the current state of chaos, but state-sanctioned radical Islam (especially Saudi Arabia and Iran) has fueled this death cult. When are they going to stop it? More important, when are we going to demand that they take on the monster they have created and cut off its head?
Unless and until the leading Muslim countries in the Middle East - Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States- take on this perversion of Islam, there is not much we in the West can accomplish short of bombing the place back to Stone Age. Over the past century, the West has contributed to the current state of chaos, but state-sanctioned radical Islam (especially Saudi Arabia and Iran) has fueled this death cult. When are they going to stop it? More important, when are we going to demand that they take on the monster they have created and cut off its head?
63
Iran did.
5
Just because you don't hear it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Iran, among others, has condemned the attacks and say those who perpetrated them are not of any religion, including Islam. But hate and ignorance blinds rationality, doesn't it?
2
Qatar condemned it, but that said many in the mid east probably are celebrating just as they did when 9/11 happened. A truly sick world we live in.
Why do we put up with Saudi Arabi and Qatar carrying out a war on the U.S. through their funding of ISIS. Do our petroleum industry links override our common sense? A Saudi group attacked us on 9/11 and now are attacking us month after month and yet we act as if nothing had happened in the way the Saudi's and Qatari's continue through their Wahabi groups to kill thousands of innocent U.S. allies as well as carry out heinous attacks like the current one in Paris? Are we so beholden to petroleum (it is now in surplus) that we are willing to overlook the rderous actions of groups acting on behalf of religious fanatics backed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar and apparently Egypt. What does it take to wake up Mr. Obama and his cabinet officers to the fact that we are being attacked by the very gangs of religious terrorists that we seem to think are our petroleum friends?
46
we are still importing oil from them even though we don't have to given our own supply of domestic oil and nat gas, but our big oil companies want us to export our oil and gas all the while we continue to import it. Crazy scheme. i thought the whole idea of domestic production was just that- to get off the importation of oil from hostile countries which Saudi Arabia is btw. Greed is the reason, nothing more. Saudi Arabia should be on the same list as Russia regarding sanctions.
1
" What does it take to wake up Mr. Obama and his cabinet officers to the fact that we are being attacked by the very gangs of religious terrorists that we seem to think are our petroleum friends?"
It takes voting for someone who does not call these countries "our allies" and who will not sell our country's soul in order to maintain an air base or other "strategic" facility on their grounds. If you think Hillary will confront Saudi Arabia or any other petroleum friend, well then, dream on and be content to lighting candles in solidarity for future terrorist victims.
It takes voting for someone who does not call these countries "our allies" and who will not sell our country's soul in order to maintain an air base or other "strategic" facility on their grounds. If you think Hillary will confront Saudi Arabia or any other petroleum friend, well then, dream on and be content to lighting candles in solidarity for future terrorist victims.
I've lived in the 11th Arr & gone to concerts at Bataclan. The attacks probably were ISIL/ISIS, but as some said, "Let's not give these 'terrorists' more power than they deserve." The shooters were 25-year-olds with guns & encouragement (lies) from afar. The attacks were far worse than a school massacre, but no less senseless. These aren't soldiers: they're naive young men who, with less fire-power, would have been drive-by shooters.
As for, "well-orchestrated," how hard is it to say, "Get to a site & start shooting people at 9:30." Parisians sit in cafes, go to concerts, stroll down the street. In 10th & 11th Arr, there's little security beyond a bouncer - because that's freedom.
I'd feel safer if the attacks had been sophisticated & highly coordinated: then, we could finger a master-mind to track & eliminate. But what I see is a bunch of duped, nearly-child shooters aiming at normal life in a free country. Thus, any disenchanted youth is an ISIL weapon, and every free person a target. What a tragedy.
As for, "well-orchestrated," how hard is it to say, "Get to a site & start shooting people at 9:30." Parisians sit in cafes, go to concerts, stroll down the street. In 10th & 11th Arr, there's little security beyond a bouncer - because that's freedom.
I'd feel safer if the attacks had been sophisticated & highly coordinated: then, we could finger a master-mind to track & eliminate. But what I see is a bunch of duped, nearly-child shooters aiming at normal life in a free country. Thus, any disenchanted youth is an ISIL weapon, and every free person a target. What a tragedy.
73
Good point - and supported by the fact that the US has said it picked up no chatter about an attack.
As you say, far scarier when the murderer could be the disillusioned boy next door.
As you say, far scarier when the murderer could be the disillusioned boy next door.
I certainly hope that yesterday's atrocity in Paris will send a potent message to Paris NOT to capitulate to Merkel's folly in accepting more 'migrants' on French soil from the troubled Levant. It has just been revealed that one of the kamikazes was a Syrian 'refugee' registered during his moment of trespassing on Greek soil back in early October. Please, please do not allow any more of these people to try to infiltrate French territory under beggar's cloths. Like Bob Dylan sand, 'The enemy I see/wears a cloak of decency' -- I am not at all moved by these propagandistic photos of 'dead toddlers' on Turkish beaches.
12
I vehemently opposed the Iraq invasion that the Bush II presidency bullied and hoodwinked on the American public, media and its allies, an invasion and failed occupation that in fact has led to the subsequent Shia/Sunni schism and therefore the growth of ISIS. But following these barbaric, cowardly attacks on Paris--yes, an act of war--the West and its allies now must do exactly what is necessary to defeat and destroy the jihadis by taking the fight to them. That means going into Syria and Iraq with troops in multi-lateral battle mode, ideally with U.N. authorization, and not cherry-picking with drones or dropping in a few advisers. Understandably, America and its allies have been loath to put more troops in harm's way, reacting to both a war-weary public as well as the potential backlash from the Islamic world. But the time for restraint and appeasement is over, much like in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland after his years of brazen brutalities and conquests while the West stood by and did nothing. Yes, we must do our utter best to include potential Arab allies on our side to create a coalition, but ultimately the West must protect and defend not just their countries, their freedoms, and their way of life, but civilization itself. Vive la France!
8
Merci for these beautiful words that warm my brokenhearted French heart:
VIVE LA FRANCE!
VIVE LA FRANCE!
to call this "an act of war" and not respond with war on the "homeland" of ISIS will embolden our common enemies. Hopefully France won't make that mistake. And hopefully the US will join forcefully in the the "merciless" response Hllande has promised.
World leaders should NOT be planning for a long war. They should be asking what overwhelming force can destroy ISIS within three months. It is a metastasized cancer. The parent growth must be removed even though this surgery will cause innocent casualties.Clearly if we had acted a year ago or two years ago, the death toll overall would be much less than it has already been from ISIS savagery. Just as clearly, the longer we wait to act decisively, the greater the loss of life.
World leaders should NOT be planning for a long war. They should be asking what overwhelming force can destroy ISIS within three months. It is a metastasized cancer. The parent growth must be removed even though this surgery will cause innocent casualties.Clearly if we had acted a year ago or two years ago, the death toll overall would be much less than it has already been from ISIS savagery. Just as clearly, the longer we wait to act decisively, the greater the loss of life.
13
Terror in Paris, a brutal and savage attack by jihadists, trying to impose radical Islam by violent means, must be countered by a global effort to destroy them. The temporary advantage of these religiously-inspired criminals is their zeal to destroy social order by surprise attacks on an unsuspecting public, evil incarnate in a dogmatic ideology so extreme, that it will require us to wake up from the doldrums of complacency...and muster the unified will to fight back, and the courage, determination and perseverance to corral their forces and annihilate them with all means possible. This ought to be not just a show of will, it is a matter of survival. ISIS is a sick interpretation of Islam not even the most faithful Muslims subscribe to, and for now, the main victims of these fundamentalist barbarians. As it affects more and more innocent victims in a worldwide fashion, a fierce global response is a must. One more thing; the president has been reluctant to call these terrorists for what they are, Islamist, creating confusion as to the religious component, a fundamental concept required to fight and destroy them, given its dogmatic intolerance, hence, inability to reason.
4
We should have kept some US forces in Iraq..We left and the evil snake got hungrier and meaner
4
You have no proof to back that up.
3
We should never have been in Iraq in the first place
We could not leave American soldiers there without a Status of Forces agreement !
We could not leave American soldiers there without a Status of Forces agreement !
5
It is hard to consider the horrific attacks in Paris can effectively be challenged by the weapons of war from one state or alliance of states against the forces of ISIL/ISIS (currently occupying territory in what were actual states-- minimally if harshly governed-- until a regime change was forced by invasion.)
Do the Paris attacks now justify the use of tactical or even large scale nuclear weapons in an awesome strike by powerful nations to prevent further attacks against the innocents in soft targets--concert halls, restaurants, trains--of the West? ISIL/ISIS has now struck one of the NATO states. Why hold back from using all the weapons available to keep up the pretense that a force such as ISIS will be defeated by conventional means or weapons.?
World War Three may have already started as Pope Francis suggests. On the other hand our world may have experienced just another episode in the eons long struggle of evil against good--at least we are certain "they" are evil if less comfortable "we" are always on the side of good.
Walls and fences to the sky outlining our national borders are no longer enough to keep evil away because the terror comes from within, nurtured in our societies, educated to our values, offered the seduction of the creature comforts of capitalism, and yet willing to die if we will be murdered as well.
Evil is not a problem to be confronted with the weapons of war alone. We may not have the weapons to defeat the evil of our time.
Do the Paris attacks now justify the use of tactical or even large scale nuclear weapons in an awesome strike by powerful nations to prevent further attacks against the innocents in soft targets--concert halls, restaurants, trains--of the West? ISIL/ISIS has now struck one of the NATO states. Why hold back from using all the weapons available to keep up the pretense that a force such as ISIS will be defeated by conventional means or weapons.?
World War Three may have already started as Pope Francis suggests. On the other hand our world may have experienced just another episode in the eons long struggle of evil against good--at least we are certain "they" are evil if less comfortable "we" are always on the side of good.
Walls and fences to the sky outlining our national borders are no longer enough to keep evil away because the terror comes from within, nurtured in our societies, educated to our values, offered the seduction of the creature comforts of capitalism, and yet willing to die if we will be murdered as well.
Evil is not a problem to be confronted with the weapons of war alone. We may not have the weapons to defeat the evil of our time.
21
Of course we can destroy Islamic State with conventional weapons. We just haven't been willing to. We have hydrophobia; it's pouring; we want a porte-cochère. It's hard to accept that Islamic State's leadership believes what it says. They doubtless are aware that we possess thermonuclear weapons. Do they truly believe they'll overrun the modern world? Religious fanaticism doesn't excuse stupidity.
The apathy that the West has displayed in the face of Islamic State is absurd. To have waited, as we have, until it has metastasized, as it has, into a legitimate global threat before taking it seriously (assuming we're now doing that) is ridiculous. How ironic: An attempt by the president not to be reckless created the very chaos his supposed "levelheadedness," we were assured, would avert.
Some people will never accommodate themselves to peaceful coexistence in and with modernity. They can stay where they are, or, if they choose to attack us, they can die. But I've long thought that the longer Islamic State perdures, the more it radiates a kind of invincibility and divine protection and sanction, which probably aids its recruiting process. Showing the medievalist enemies of democracy that their fantasies are just that is the first step toward destroying those ideas or at least keeping them tucked away in the minds of fantasists and not allowing them to manifest. True, this is not JUST a military problem, but there is a military component as well -- and it's paramount.
The apathy that the West has displayed in the face of Islamic State is absurd. To have waited, as we have, until it has metastasized, as it has, into a legitimate global threat before taking it seriously (assuming we're now doing that) is ridiculous. How ironic: An attempt by the president not to be reckless created the very chaos his supposed "levelheadedness," we were assured, would avert.
Some people will never accommodate themselves to peaceful coexistence in and with modernity. They can stay where they are, or, if they choose to attack us, they can die. But I've long thought that the longer Islamic State perdures, the more it radiates a kind of invincibility and divine protection and sanction, which probably aids its recruiting process. Showing the medievalist enemies of democracy that their fantasies are just that is the first step toward destroying those ideas or at least keeping them tucked away in the minds of fantasists and not allowing them to manifest. True, this is not JUST a military problem, but there is a military component as well -- and it's paramount.
Our heart goes to French people, who have lost their loved ones, French reaction not to tag it with a particular religion is or immigrants is commendable. These acts of terrorizing France shows the reach of these fundamentalist, enemies of humanity killing innocent people. It should be taken serious and dealt with accordingly with appropriate and proportionate force.
Overreacting and giving too much importance to these enemies of humanity like actually playing in their hands, thats what they want, Their acts of terrorism are clear sighns that they are loosing this battle. Violence can't win any battles.
Overreacting and giving too much importance to these enemies of humanity like actually playing in their hands, thats what they want, Their acts of terrorism are clear sighns that they are loosing this battle. Violence can't win any battles.
24
damned if we do, damned if we don't...if we or france or the world don't retaliate against isis they will take it as a sign of weakness and continue their attacks...if we do retaliate they will use that as an excuse to continue their attacks...we are dealing with an enemy unlike any other we have faced...liberals want us to pat isis on the head and say "please don't do that again" and conservatives wants us to bomb them to smithereens...past history shows neither solution works..the reality is that there may be no solution
I hope that many people will read your words and give them serious consideration, Muzaffar. You have spoken with wisdom and compassion.
1
Other than revenge, what has been accomplished by these (or any) killings.
And what exactly has revenge ever accomplished?
And what exactly has revenge ever accomplished?
5
Let me suggest a bold idea that may not be well thought out, but may be possible. Now that the bulk of Syrian refuges have left, why don't we allow ISIS to make Syria a home, have them fight Assad, and may the mightiest win. We close and surround the borders, let single individuals leave orderly and state this is the Islamic State now and welcome to it. We then join with all countries to join against further attacks outside and stop the hydra. Anyone with ISIS ideology can move to Syria.
1
Just yesterday, Obama said that ISIS was contained and ordered the expedited processing of Syrian refugees!
Please help stop the madness! All of those who voted for the community organizer are to blame!
Please help stop the madness! All of those who voted for the community organizer are to blame!
21
Are you kidding? If you're going to blame presidents for this, don't forget about your boys Bush and Cheney -- they share the majority of the blame for the chaos in the Middle East. Those clowns started this whole thing by launching an attack on a country that posed no threat to us; one which was run by a brutal dictator, for sure, but at least he kept a lid on radical Islam within his own borders. But when Saddam Hussein was out of the picture, and there was no one adequate to replace him, it opened up an existential vacuum in the Middle East that first al-Qaedda and then ISIS happily filled. Without the incredible idiocy and overreach of the Bush administration we would not even be close to where we are right now.
88
Nice try -- and in response to s such lame, cheap-shot generalization, here you go: All those who voted for a C-plus Yale "legacy" student and failed businessman who coasted on his daddy's name in 2000 are to blame!
(Not much fun when lazy rhetoric is thrown back at you, is it?)
(Not much fun when lazy rhetoric is thrown back at you, is it?)
19
Thank you so much, BDA, for your cohesive and spot-on response to that individual's tired, immature comment about Obama. I know the Bush apologists out there think this attack and ISIS' power (for now) lets their president off the hook, but your comment deftly explains exactly *why* the cancer of ISIS exists. That may too hard for mindless ideologues to digest, but thinking adults know better.
10
Did we so soon forget the Thalys train attack? The machine-gunman, armed with an AKM assault rifle, claimed he wasn't a terrorist, but rather his motive was robbery -- despite the fact that he had a history of being radicalized and had the obvious intent of massacring everyone on the train.
Obviously, the problem is not just ISIS, or just Al Queda, or the next terrorist club of the month. The problem is radical Islam.
It is no longer time for naiveté with regard to radical Islam.
Obviously, the problem is not just ISIS, or just Al Queda, or the next terrorist club of the month. The problem is radical Islam.
It is no longer time for naiveté with regard to radical Islam.
42
I can only pray that France will do a better job than the USA did at dealing with these disturbing realities post 9-11. I hope they can resist the urge to succumb to right wing paranoia and xenophobia, which is something we've often failed at.
119
One can only hope.
1
Paranoia only exists as an erroneous belief that someone is out to get you. They, the Muslim extremists are out to get us.
2
You might be describing those who refused to listen to Churchill when he warned Parliament about Germany; he was considered right wing and paranoid. He was also correct. And the world waited until Germany invaded Poland. We waited until Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. What will it take for ISIS to be recognized as a world threat to peace and security?
I read one commentator this morning who claimed these attacks where the launch of a Third World war. If it is indeed a war it is totally unconventional.
It is not being fought with armies, disagreements among superpowers, or even the assassination of some world figure. No , It's far more amorphus, more dangerous, and thus far harder to fight.
When you have a generation almost of homegrown terrorist, how on earth can you develop tactics to combat that? They live inside the country they speak the language and they move freely back-and-forth between the countries that are sponsoring the terrorism.
I agree with those who say you can't simply taking refugees and then assume they assimilate. The Western world is paying the price for the hate and resentment of the Muslim world. Since they have no real economy, they're only raison d'être is to wage war in the most cowardly way possible,.
Devising A viable plan to stamp out that type of passion is going to take some hard thinking and hard choices about what the west must do if it wants to survive.
It is not being fought with armies, disagreements among superpowers, or even the assassination of some world figure. No , It's far more amorphus, more dangerous, and thus far harder to fight.
When you have a generation almost of homegrown terrorist, how on earth can you develop tactics to combat that? They live inside the country they speak the language and they move freely back-and-forth between the countries that are sponsoring the terrorism.
I agree with those who say you can't simply taking refugees and then assume they assimilate. The Western world is paying the price for the hate and resentment of the Muslim world. Since they have no real economy, they're only raison d'être is to wage war in the most cowardly way possible,.
Devising A viable plan to stamp out that type of passion is going to take some hard thinking and hard choices about what the west must do if it wants to survive.
58
I admire your lucid thinking. Being Albert Schweitzer today is tantamount to cutting one's own head off. Better to take a page from Ayn Rand's playbook.
4
Yes, we have made mistakes in much of the world. But do you not find it strange how hundreds of millions of Latinos, Southeast Asians and others who suffered from colonialism, often in far greater ways, are not trying to murder all of us?
They are instead preoccupied, by and large, with the everyday business of trying to make a better life for their children.
They are instead preoccupied, by and large, with the everyday business of trying to make a better life for their children.
2
Don't expect "hard thinking" to come from the current administration!
1
This is an awful act of barbarism. But let us not forget that this perversion of Islam has killed other Muslims. It is not about religion. It's about evil people who like to kill people. And frankly, I'm tired of Middle Eastern countries turning to the West and going "So, what are you going to do about it?" This is your back yard. Get YOUR armies in the and deal with it. We'll help, but this is YOUR problem. Because what you generally do is nothing, turn your head to the West, largely America (with the help of solid allies) and then you have the GALL to criticize America for interfering in a problem that you won't deal with. You have collectively about 5 million people in your armies. And you cannot take out 30,000?
10
Sorry, but it's all about religion. About a certain interpretation of their religion. It's not that ISIS has tried to hide this either. They openly boast about their new caliphate, they cite scripture from the Koran to justify their actions, and they make it perfectly clear that they intend to sweep the "infidels" from the earth, enslave their women, and create a world society based on the strictures of the 7th century AD. They are all about their religion. That's what people in the West don't seem to get, but they better wake up to that reality. You can call it a perversion of Islam if you like, but it is real, it is happening, and it is not just about "evil people who like to kill people." They believe they are doing the work of their prophet; they believe their mission is holy. That's what makes them so dangerous.
25
What a tepid editorial. Basically, the editorial board doesn't seem to have an opinion on this, there is no call for action, only a recapitulation of what happened last night, with a finishing nod to a hardening of French and world resolve against the savagery of the Islamic State. Oh boy, does that get me stirred. Good thing you guys weren't around after Pearl Harbor.
Here's what the Times should have said:
We cannot stand for these attacks against western civilization and must do everything in our power to annihilate these terrorists. We advocate the application of military power by the US and other western nations until we completely eradicate the Islamic state. Their atrocities have put them totally beyond the pale of acceptable human conduct. We will not allow this to stand.
We finally recognize that we cannot call a truce or declare peace with groups such as Isis or Al Qaeda or any jihadist group. We call on all Muslims to either stand with us or face our wrath.
And we hold President Obama in part responsible for the rise of ISIS because of his failure to confront ISIS and his apologist foreign policy. We demand that he immediately take military action against ISIS and all jihadis, with or without a fully dedicated coalition.
Here's what the Times should have said:
We cannot stand for these attacks against western civilization and must do everything in our power to annihilate these terrorists. We advocate the application of military power by the US and other western nations until we completely eradicate the Islamic state. Their atrocities have put them totally beyond the pale of acceptable human conduct. We will not allow this to stand.
We finally recognize that we cannot call a truce or declare peace with groups such as Isis or Al Qaeda or any jihadist group. We call on all Muslims to either stand with us or face our wrath.
And we hold President Obama in part responsible for the rise of ISIS because of his failure to confront ISIS and his apologist foreign policy. We demand that he immediately take military action against ISIS and all jihadis, with or without a fully dedicated coalition.
24
Now that is a good editorial! Don't expect it from this board of apologists.
7
Ralphie is right except for his last paragraph and for the timing. I believe that through the judicious use of force and ambitious negotiation Obama has saved countless lives and resources and avoided the kind of consequences that the impetuous invasion of Iraq caused, perhaps including the rise of jihadism. I think there is a case to be made for an invasion of Syria and some other terrorist centers of control and influence, but it must be a well-planned, carefully coordinated cooperative global effort, including especially France, Russia, and Lebanon and other middle eastern states.
7
Not surprisingly, last night's attack did not give the Times's Editorial Board second thoughts about its ceaseless advocacy--on its news and opinion pages--for Europe to keep its borders open to any migrant who reaches them. Nor did it make it any more honest about the issue facing Europe in general and France, with a 10% Muslim population, in particular:
-The Charlie Hebdo "attacks prompted national soul-searching about France’s secular values and sweeping antiterror legislation to allow authorities to better track would-be assailants" but no thoughts about the wisdom of accepting more Muslim immigrants?
-It's the Islamic State, not Islam itself, that "hates ... the public pleasures ... sports, music, wine and food shared by men and women together." And it's the Islamic State's "savagery," even though the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Boko Haram (to pick just the household names) are equally savage.
They are staying true to their September editorial, "Europe Should See Refugees as a Boon, Not a Burden," which doesn't mention the migrants' religion:
"Advocating a pro-immigration position has become politically difficult in the West, in large part because opponents have successfully cast newcomers as economic and social burdens. Their false arguments damage economies and the lives of millions of people trying to escape war and poverty."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/opinion/europe-should-see-refugees-as-...
-The Charlie Hebdo "attacks prompted national soul-searching about France’s secular values and sweeping antiterror legislation to allow authorities to better track would-be assailants" but no thoughts about the wisdom of accepting more Muslim immigrants?
-It's the Islamic State, not Islam itself, that "hates ... the public pleasures ... sports, music, wine and food shared by men and women together." And it's the Islamic State's "savagery," even though the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Boko Haram (to pick just the household names) are equally savage.
They are staying true to their September editorial, "Europe Should See Refugees as a Boon, Not a Burden," which doesn't mention the migrants' religion:
"Advocating a pro-immigration position has become politically difficult in the West, in large part because opponents have successfully cast newcomers as economic and social burdens. Their false arguments damage economies and the lives of millions of people trying to escape war and poverty."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/opinion/europe-should-see-refugees-as-...
28
An excellent rebuttal to the NYT's pie in the sky, irresponsible vision of 'refugees'' supposedly constructive contributions to European society today.
11
@anon: The fantasy vs. the reality. Thank you.
5
Watching a respected institution indulge in deliberate ignorance and naiveté has been disheartening.
1
When there is refusal on the part of the Western media to unequivocally call blowing up a Seder killing 25 people including the elderly and children terrorism, such atrocities become more normalized.
17
How can France keep track of terrorists, especially the "returners" as long as there are open borders? Europe will have to do some soul-searching in this regard.
21
The EU countries are already looking at the recent Schengen Agreement. All those open borders and tens of thousands migrants entering and moving on.
This won't play well for liberals.
12
M. - Liberal logic at play...
Step 3: Close the border and increase security AFTER people are killed.
Step 2: Terrorists kill your citizens
Step 1: Allow terrorists in - including the ones on the "watch list"
Maybe they should consider the proper order of the steps, and not allow them into the country in the first place.
Step 3: Close the border and increase security AFTER people are killed.
Step 2: Terrorists kill your citizens
Step 1: Allow terrorists in - including the ones on the "watch list"
Maybe they should consider the proper order of the steps, and not allow them into the country in the first place.
5
It plays much worse for the gung-ho "bomb it if it moves" GOP gang. War, brought to you by the letter W and the number 43.
20
Maybe there could be an answer to the Refugee crisis, here, too.
.
What if only women and children refugees and migrants were allowed to stay in the West, and the men were conscribed into an army, led by the West but with Middle Eastern boots on the ground, that would go back to the Middle East, and conquer ISIS.
.
From the standpoint of the migrants, nothing could be more heroic than to shepherd your family to safety, and then return to take your home back. From the standpoint of Europeans, they will only be expected to temporarily assimilate two thirds as many refugees. From the standpoint of geo-politics, the people who should be fighting a war at last will be fighting it. And finally, it could serve as a deterrent to economic migration, because if you're moving just to get a better job, the last thing you want is to be drafted into an army.
.
What if only women and children refugees and migrants were allowed to stay in the West, and the men were conscribed into an army, led by the West but with Middle Eastern boots on the ground, that would go back to the Middle East, and conquer ISIS.
.
From the standpoint of the migrants, nothing could be more heroic than to shepherd your family to safety, and then return to take your home back. From the standpoint of Europeans, they will only be expected to temporarily assimilate two thirds as many refugees. From the standpoint of geo-politics, the people who should be fighting a war at last will be fighting it. And finally, it could serve as a deterrent to economic migration, because if you're moving just to get a better job, the last thing you want is to be drafted into an army.
8
The terror attack will do more than "harden the resolve of the French". Pres. Hollande now clearly recognizes "radical terror", (however you want to term it) as an existential threat to his country, and vows to act accordingly. He has figured it out.
But has the rest of the world?
I doubt it. As horrifying as it was, it will take more than the events of Nov. 15 2015 to prompt the concerted and coordinated military effort by a coalition of major world powers to defeat the growing Islamic State.
Pre. Hollande will have to go it more or less alone. Hope he has success.
But has the rest of the world?
I doubt it. As horrifying as it was, it will take more than the events of Nov. 15 2015 to prompt the concerted and coordinated military effort by a coalition of major world powers to defeat the growing Islamic State.
Pre. Hollande will have to go it more or less alone. Hope he has success.
1
That's Nov. "13". Sorry.
1
The meticulous organization and scope of the terrorist attacks in Paris should result in a radical reassessment of our policies with regard to immigration from Islamic countries and travel to and from the U.S. from Islamic and Middle Eastern countries. Travel and immigration from same into the United States by men between the ages of 20 to 50 years of age should be severely restricted and carefully vetted. Islamic/Middle Eastern visitors with passports of VISAs should be continuously tracked until we are certain they have left the country. More importantly, U.S. male citizens in this age group should be prohibited from traveling to Syria or Iraq and violation of this policy should result in their being denied readmittance into the U.S.
Is it a perfect or foolproof policy? Of course not, but it is a start. Call it politically incorrect, call it racial profiling, call it discriminatory, but above all - call it common sense and self-preservation. A 65 year old woman from Great Britain does not pose the same terrorist potential as a 25 year old man entering the United States from Syria or Iraq.
Is it a perfect or foolproof policy? Of course not, but it is a start. Call it politically incorrect, call it racial profiling, call it discriminatory, but above all - call it common sense and self-preservation. A 65 year old woman from Great Britain does not pose the same terrorist potential as a 25 year old man entering the United States from Syria or Iraq.
11
Congratulations; you have expressed your capitulation to the desires of the terrorists perfectly. They are thousands of miles from you in Chicago, and yet you can't wait to tell them that they have beaten you, you are conceding victory, because you don't deserve the freedoms of the country you live in. By all means, let's jettison all the values that made Amerca great, because it' just too darn hard.
2
This editorial has the wonderful virtue of expressing genuine emotion and common sense. I'm concerned about comments elsewhere in in the paper seeking to blame everyone but the Islamic State for the savage murders in Paris. In other contexts, progressives would call this reasoning "blaming the victim." I opposed the war in Iraq, but I can't deny objective evidence of years of terrorist attacks that were threatened, planned, or occurred before George W. Bush's presidency. It's also odd to see some progressives rejecting a military response *and* embracing Edward Snowden's self-serving argument (made from the authoritarian regime in which he resides and declines to criticize) that we must place "privacy" interests ahead of life itself. We have to find the right balance, but the balance some have drawn basically leaves us with the option to convert to the most extreme forms of Islamic fundamentalism or die.
4
France is the new United States and the United States is the new France. Let us hear no more nonsense of France's propensity to surrender, and America's willingness to lead the fight against the radical Muslim terror and barbarism. Obama, the liberals' beaux ideal of a President, continues to lead from behind, relying on air strikes alone to defeat ISIS. A couple of well-placed US combined arms divisions on Syrian and Iragi soil would do the job. Assad and his henchman Putin would ultimately stand down, and at this point tacitly welcome greater US military muscle. France, Germany, Saudi Arabia among other aggrieved nations will stand with us.
27
"A couple of well-placed US combined arms divisions on Syrian and Iragi soil would do the job." - Like they did in Iraq the first time? Please learn from history. If we go in, ISIS will blend into the population, fighting us with land mines, ambushes, and other booby traps. And when they fight us head on it will be with a hand tied behind our back because we want to avoid civilian casualties. This stalemate will continue for years until the public once again gets sick of a pointless and unwinnable war and demands that the troops come home, having accomplished nothing.
14
As long as you, Trump and Gingrich are willing to add your blood!
2
I see no indication that the Saudis would stand with us, and further, it is going to take a lot more than a couple of US armed divisions to eradicate ISIS. I'm not suggesting that a military response isn't called for, only that it must be coordinated with massive international support, and will take many years.
"This attack will harden the resolve of the French against the savagery of the Islamic State, as it must the world’s."
Has not enough happened prior to these horrific attacks to harden the resolve? The United States leadership is either naive or is spinning a story unsupported by reality. Let's review:
2011: Osama bin Laden killed
2012: President Obama campaigning said that Al Qaeda had been decimated
Jan 2014: President Obama said ISIS was a JV team
June 2014: ISIS declares a Caliphate
videotapes of beheadings & immolations ..... ISIS expands territorial control
Oct 31 2015: Sinai Russian jet crash .... 224 dead
Nov 12 2015 Beirut bombing 43 dead
Nov 13 2015 Paris murders 127 dead so far
Is President Obama so enamored with his approach to date that he is incapable of leading a more effective approach against those who abhor freedom?
Has not enough happened prior to these horrific attacks to harden the resolve? The United States leadership is either naive or is spinning a story unsupported by reality. Let's review:
2011: Osama bin Laden killed
2012: President Obama campaigning said that Al Qaeda had been decimated
Jan 2014: President Obama said ISIS was a JV team
June 2014: ISIS declares a Caliphate
videotapes of beheadings & immolations ..... ISIS expands territorial control
Oct 31 2015: Sinai Russian jet crash .... 224 dead
Nov 12 2015 Beirut bombing 43 dead
Nov 13 2015 Paris murders 127 dead so far
Is President Obama so enamored with his approach to date that he is incapable of leading a more effective approach against those who abhor freedom?
13
France needs to know we stand resolutely on their side and will follow them into the dark night. We need to convene the Security Council once we have a clear view of the facts and issue an unequivocal response.
6
We know. Thank you.
1
I have been very wary of increased US involvement in the middle-east. The region is a hopeless quagmire. However, the time has come to realize that ISIL is an international threat. If I am not mistaken, the attacks in Paris by a self-proclaimed state constitute an attack on a member of NATO. As such, it calls for a response from NATO. I think Americans would have fewer objections to US boots on the ground, if they were joined by our (alleged) European allies.
3
We have now witnessed yet another attack on civilized society by barbarians who would slaughter innocents indiscriminately in order to achieve their aims. Willful denial of the brutal nature of humanity as clearly depicted throughout history will result in our slaughter. The current American President, Obama, seems willfully ignorant of history and its lessons and the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan have created the vacuum into which ISIS have been born and flourished. History will prove that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were correct in taking the fight directly to the enemy. History is already proving Obama and his acolytes wrong. We must re engage and defeat the enemy now before they defeat us. Send ground troops to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and end ISIS and the insurgency.
8
Are you serious? Actually, "history will prove George W. Bush and DIck Cheney" actually CREATED ISIS when they invaded Iraq without ANY actual proven cause, and disbanded needlessly disbanded the million man Iraqi Army, with no pay, and without collecting their weapons. Bush and Cheney needlessly created an unemployed population of angry, largely Sunni, men with military training who went from positions of respect and authority in their nation to homeless militants. It's really quite stunning how under-informed your comment really is. Do you not realize the bulk of the expertise and training of the "core" ISIS/ISIL militants came from the fact they are largely former Iraqi Army members and displaced Sunni militants from the 2nd Gulf War??? I mean...you have been paying attention, yes?
69
Make no mistake about it, Bush and Cheney ignited this with their mistaken war against Saddam Hussein.
14
"Take the fight to the enemy," eh? You'll be the first to enlist (or your son or daughter will), right?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
5
I took public transport into Paris this noon and walked up and down the Champs Elysées to try and get a feeling about the mood of the French and tourists there. I was heartened by the number of people filling the restaurants and cafes. I did not see a lot of smiles and from the bits of conversations I overheard it was clear people were all talking about the horrific events of last night, but I detected no fear or panic. I met some friends this afternoon who were tearful and subdued, but not one of them said they would avoid any of the soft targets these cowards chose for their killing spree. They remain and will continue to be resolutely defiant in the face of such barbarism. Vive la France!
319
Thank you for that dispatch from the civilized side of the front lines.
2
The group from whom we need to hear -- and with not just words but action -- are those Muslims in France who claim to be loyal to France. It would be encouraging to hear that they have begun an 'in group" search for ISIS sympathizers within their own communities, with a cold determination to be root them out and be rid of them.
2
Stop these radical Muslims now or risk much worse when Iran supplies them with a nuclear weapon. It will happen within 15 years because of Obama's capitulation to the Iranians. This president, who refuses to utter the words "Islamic terrorism" does not have the courage or will to do the right thing and commit American troops to the cause. I never thought I would see the day when Russia and France did the job America should be doing. Leading from behind is not leading.
11
You must not have paid much attention the last decade. ISIS is a Sunni terror organization, whereas Iran is a Shia country. These two "denominations" are fighting each other. So tell me again why Iran would supply a nuclear weapon to its enemies?
And if Bush's Iraq debacle has shown anything, it is that the US is woefully ill-equipped to determine who is friend and who is foe in a culture so much unlike our own. We'd once again be seen as occupiers. I doubt that recommitting troops would accomplish much, other than further draining money and human lives from the US.
The only way forward is to equip people with skin in the game and who can identify terrorist sympathizers and have them fight for their own freedom from terrorist rule. I wish Bush and Cheney would have shown the restraint we're seeing now from our government, and would not have launched this unprovoked war, started under false pretense.
And if Bush's Iraq debacle has shown anything, it is that the US is woefully ill-equipped to determine who is friend and who is foe in a culture so much unlike our own. We'd once again be seen as occupiers. I doubt that recommitting troops would accomplish much, other than further draining money and human lives from the US.
The only way forward is to equip people with skin in the game and who can identify terrorist sympathizers and have them fight for their own freedom from terrorist rule. I wish Bush and Cheney would have shown the restraint we're seeing now from our government, and would not have launched this unprovoked war, started under false pretense.
40
And sooner without the accord. But have no fear. WWIII will be gearing up, and it isn't about religion. It has never been a religious battle. Religion is just the ideology which transforms humans into political pawns. It happens here and everywhere. The real battle is over resources and always has been.
2
After the shock and disbelief, after the perplexity and confusion, after anger and hatred (yes nobody is immune) after the sadness and depression, after the entire range of human emotion in less than 12 hours, there comes a quiet clarity and strong determination…
The determination to continue life since they take life, to continue speaking since they want to silence us, to keep playing music since they want to stop music, ... you can add to this list all the things that are dear to free men and women around the world, since they want to take on all of humanity and all creation, from the ancient heritage of Palmyra to our Paris, a symbol of a brilliant past and the XXI century city, progressive and multicultural…
The only real fear I have is that we may yield to the sirens of hatred and confusion that some advocate from Texas to Tourcoing with their theories of another age.
More than ever I feel that I am a New Yorker and a Parisian, proud to have lived in both places - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité - the same values - the same battle.
Where they seek to silence us, we will speak, where they seek to stop music we'll play, where they sow destruction we will reconstruct, where they seek to make us afraid they will encounter courage, where they want to divide us they will find solidarity and where they think they will depress us, they will face determination...
The determination to continue life since they take life, to continue speaking since they want to silence us, to keep playing music since they want to stop music, ... you can add to this list all the things that are dear to free men and women around the world, since they want to take on all of humanity and all creation, from the ancient heritage of Palmyra to our Paris, a symbol of a brilliant past and the XXI century city, progressive and multicultural…
The only real fear I have is that we may yield to the sirens of hatred and confusion that some advocate from Texas to Tourcoing with their theories of another age.
More than ever I feel that I am a New Yorker and a Parisian, proud to have lived in both places - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité - the same values - the same battle.
Where they seek to silence us, we will speak, where they seek to stop music we'll play, where they sow destruction we will reconstruct, where they seek to make us afraid they will encounter courage, where they want to divide us they will find solidarity and where they think they will depress us, they will face determination...
173
Wars used to b about territory. Invasion. Conquering. I would not underestimate the ability of a group to conquer. The nazis literally rolled into Paris. With enough passive complacency, the same could happen again,ale no mistake about that.
1
Whoever described Daesh as a 'barbaric death cult' got it right. There is no equation of violence here. Cowardly murderers motivated by moronic religious fervor are not to be equated with anyone else. Certainly not with the men and women in arms who fight for our defense. Daesh represent an insignificant but persistent and grotesque side show. They must not be allowed to grow any further; their outlook is fundamentally at odds with our value system. Scaled up, they would clearly represent an existential threat. They should be stopped cold. Now. Dead in their tracks.
17
9/11? The Cole attack? World Trade Center in '93? While it's easy to scream "BUSH DID THIS," the simple fact is they were at war with us before we even knew their names- and before Iraq. So don't believe the fake "reasons" (Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and of course, Israel) they offer. They hate us for having, as this Editorial plainly states: "places where people freely gathered to enjoy the public pleasures the Islamic State hates: sports, music, wine and food shared by men and women together."
Until we are willing to submit to their way, they will continue to wage their war. The only question is: will meet this challenge, or just continue to do almost nothing?
Until we are willing to submit to their way, they will continue to wage their war. The only question is: will meet this challenge, or just continue to do almost nothing?
10
We have been meddling in the Middle East since way before 1993. So we had those bent on attacking us prior to Bush. But Bush expanded it. He took a small group of people hiding in caves that were able to occasionally pull something off -- but at a smaller scale than home grown terrorists and school shooters -- and turned them into a force that can recruit from Minnesota and invade countries.
At this point it doesn't really matter who caused it. How do you fix it? They might hate us for our music and women -- but they attack us because we have effectively invaded and bombed their countries.
At this point it doesn't really matter who caused it. How do you fix it? They might hate us for our music and women -- but they attack us because we have effectively invaded and bombed their countries.
7
Conrad,
Small group in caves? WTC 1993? You blame Bush, so repubs can say, Bush left a relatively quiet Iraq and Obama let this "JV Team" move up to varsity.
My simple point is THEY always have a reason to hate us, regardless of what we do-- they hate us. You cannot talk or reason with them. All we can do is recognize they are at war with us, so like the French Prez said, we must be at war with them.
Small group in caves? WTC 1993? You blame Bush, so repubs can say, Bush left a relatively quiet Iraq and Obama let this "JV Team" move up to varsity.
My simple point is THEY always have a reason to hate us, regardless of what we do-- they hate us. You cannot talk or reason with them. All we can do is recognize they are at war with us, so like the French Prez said, we must be at war with them.
2
We love going to Paris and the news last night about the violence there was so upsetting. We pray for the victims and the families of the victims.
I imagine the news pundits and the U.S. Presidential candidates will use this as a reason to discuss war and hate and immigration. They will spout out carefully worded messages about how they will resolve this and blah, blah, blah. They will discuss solidarity with France. How we will win against the enemy. How they will not terrorize us. We are strong. We heard this talk after 9/11. And we hear it often still since attacks are still happening. They, meaning our leaders, speak and try to comfort us with their answers to the many questions of why, how and what next.
But the sad thing is they do not have any answers. Where were the answers after so many children were slaughtered at their own school in Sandy Hook? if they cannot come together to have a plan to protect first graders in our own communities, how can we expect them to protect the world? Their talk seems meaningless to me. I do not feel comforted by their words.
I imagine the news pundits and the U.S. Presidential candidates will use this as a reason to discuss war and hate and immigration. They will spout out carefully worded messages about how they will resolve this and blah, blah, blah. They will discuss solidarity with France. How we will win against the enemy. How they will not terrorize us. We are strong. We heard this talk after 9/11. And we hear it often still since attacks are still happening. They, meaning our leaders, speak and try to comfort us with their answers to the many questions of why, how and what next.
But the sad thing is they do not have any answers. Where were the answers after so many children were slaughtered at their own school in Sandy Hook? if they cannot come together to have a plan to protect first graders in our own communities, how can we expect them to protect the world? Their talk seems meaningless to me. I do not feel comforted by their words.
8
By insisting always on referring to Da'esh as the 'Islamic State', and upgrading these psycopathic thugs to so-called 'terrorists', the NYT Editorial Board helps to legitimise and glorify an illegitimate gang of mobsters, hoodlums, rapists and racketeers.
7
Everybody calls them ISIS. What you mean by "upgrading," I think, is that we are seeming to give recognition that they are a state. They are not, but they are gaining state capabilities. "Daesh" is not an apostrophized word. It's an Arabic pejorative, an acronym that means "ISIS." There is nothing wrong with calling them ISIS. There IS something wrong with caring so much about what they are called that you obscure, to yourself as well as others, that they do have a rising amount of state capability. It doesn't matter what we call them as long as we realize what it is we mean. I'm a political scientist, and we call them ISIS too. We don't get hung up on the name. We DO try to make forecasts and recommend strategies to deal with a quasi-state that threatens everyone.
You used the fact that NYT calls ISIS "ISIS" as an oblique attack on NYT. We know what they are, and calling them ISIS does nothing to legitimate ISIS. It simply gives them a handle so we can refer to them quickly. I suppose you could go off and tell everyone in Kentucky that they should start using the Arab name for ISIS. Have fun with that.
You used the fact that NYT calls ISIS "ISIS" as an oblique attack on NYT. We know what they are, and calling them ISIS does nothing to legitimate ISIS. It simply gives them a handle so we can refer to them quickly. I suppose you could go off and tell everyone in Kentucky that they should start using the Arab name for ISIS. Have fun with that.
5
First, correctly, Da'esh *is* apostrophised when written in English. See http://theconversation.com/explainer-isis-isil-islamic-state-or-daesh-40838
Second, Da'esh is not a state and never will be a state. For the NYT to refer to Da'esh as a state, therefore, gives Da'esh a status they do not have nor deserve.
Third, you may be a political scientist, whatever that signifies, but you evidently know or understand little about how the way we use language shapes the way we see the world.
Second, Da'esh is not a state and never will be a state. For the NYT to refer to Da'esh as a state, therefore, gives Da'esh a status they do not have nor deserve.
Third, you may be a political scientist, whatever that signifies, but you evidently know or understand little about how the way we use language shapes the way we see the world.
4
Furthermore, Da'esh is not a pejorative, neither in any version of modern Arabic nor in any variant of English. It is simply the closest English acronym we have for the most common and widely accepted Arabic name for this group.
3
I must applaud the French for suppressing any reactionary feelings they may have against Muslims, or immigrants in general. While it would be an understandable and expected reaction in many countries (I fear even in my own), the French are a defiantly open and inclusive society. They continue to demonstrate a welcoming culture that is a model to the world. And in doing so, they collectively thumb their nose at the extremists to whom such a culture is anathema.
112
A distinction is to be made between the well-settled Muslims of mainly North African origin, linked to France's colonial past. However, we are not obliged to show any tolerance towards the invaders from the Middle East who are currently interloping on European territory with no justification except troublemaking and parasitism.
3
No comfort at all to the families of those killed and injured - hundreds of French citizens who count on their government to enact policies that will provide for their safety. It's amazing to me that people get to this kind of response so quickly. If their (the French's) "welcoming culture" enabled these acts...well, again, I take no comfort from that.
It begs the question of how open and welcoming the French are if a group of terrorist can plan and execute such a butchery yet no one from their community alerted the police.
France, and many other European nations, are in constant threat from certain of their immigrant population who have swarmed in to feast on the benefits of Western economic strength while turning up their noses at the culture and mores of their new homeland.
France, and many other European nations, are in constant threat from certain of their immigrant population who have swarmed in to feast on the benefits of Western economic strength while turning up their noses at the culture and mores of their new homeland.
1
It is a pattern that ISIS always targets and kills vulnerable and unarmed citizens.
What ISIS has done in Paris is not just an act of war but it is also a clash of civilizations and values. With ISIS committing an act of war through its agents on French soil, I would not be surprised if President Hollande appeals to NATO for solidarity by increasing the sustained actions against ISIS.
Western civilizations and values are under attack by ISIS. While the West has moved on since the invention of the printing press through the age of Enlightenment to produce institutions of civilization that decided to build rather than destroy, radical and extremist Islam has regressed to its historic foundations of chaos, violence and death from two millennia ago. ISIS is a monolithic robotic movement of violence, death and barbarity that is totally foreign and opposite to what we in the West believe in and have developed through our cultures of peace, stability, empathy and respect for law and order through a long and difficult history.
Now if only the Arab League would set aside their long history of inaction, divisiveness and infighting and join in solidarity with France and other Western partners to mount a coordinated campaign to defeat ISIS.
ISIS must be decapitated.
What ISIS has done in Paris is not just an act of war but it is also a clash of civilizations and values. With ISIS committing an act of war through its agents on French soil, I would not be surprised if President Hollande appeals to NATO for solidarity by increasing the sustained actions against ISIS.
Western civilizations and values are under attack by ISIS. While the West has moved on since the invention of the printing press through the age of Enlightenment to produce institutions of civilization that decided to build rather than destroy, radical and extremist Islam has regressed to its historic foundations of chaos, violence and death from two millennia ago. ISIS is a monolithic robotic movement of violence, death and barbarity that is totally foreign and opposite to what we in the West believe in and have developed through our cultures of peace, stability, empathy and respect for law and order through a long and difficult history.
Now if only the Arab League would set aside their long history of inaction, divisiveness and infighting and join in solidarity with France and other Western partners to mount a coordinated campaign to defeat ISIS.
ISIS must be decapitated.
48
@Gerry O'Brien, you call for the Arab League to act and demand: "ISIS must be decapitated."
Sorry, but Paul Bremer decapitated the Iraqi Army, the U.S. decapitated Qaddafi, the U.S. has been trying to decapitate Assad, Saudi efforts to decapitate the legitimate Houthis has created another ISIS stronghold, while Israel is trying stealthily to decapitate the Palestinians whose plight is Islamic Extremism's 'cause célèbre'.
Isn't it time for a little less decapitating and a little more thinking?
Sorry, but Paul Bremer decapitated the Iraqi Army, the U.S. decapitated Qaddafi, the U.S. has been trying to decapitate Assad, Saudi efforts to decapitate the legitimate Houthis has created another ISIS stronghold, while Israel is trying stealthily to decapitate the Palestinians whose plight is Islamic Extremism's 'cause célèbre'.
Isn't it time for a little less decapitating and a little more thinking?
1
We all need to pause. We need a time of meditation. Time to reflect and grieve our losses, particularly the loss of a sense of our common humanity, common decency, common sense. I know this sounds trite. But my concern is that too often a tragedy, a trauma, sets off a bellicose over-reaction in the wrong direction.
ISIS ... Why are we calling it by 3 different names? It's as if it were a hydra, able to transform any attack by growing more heads. Yes, it uses fearful tactics. Yes, we all feel a sense of vulnerability, when we see videos of its cruelty in meting out death to those it captures. Yes, we recoil at its brazen attacks, ever more menacing. Yes, it brainwashes its recruits, including the recruitment of wives for its intent of breeding its own babies, future terrorists.
But still, our humanity, our dignity, demands that we stand back and ponder. Before acting in haste. That we have a national conversation, a worldwide conversation. We need a coalition of spiritual leaders as well as non religious persons - of wisdom and good conscience - along with ordinary citizens of goodwill, to consider what combination of security measures and humanitarian measures we, as citizens of a fragile world, believe might serve the greater good. Rather than just the defense industries and the haters across the globe. We need to think about ends before choosing means. Ends which do not end in PTSD, in killing, in police states,
Is this too much for an old lady to ask?
ISIS ... Why are we calling it by 3 different names? It's as if it were a hydra, able to transform any attack by growing more heads. Yes, it uses fearful tactics. Yes, we all feel a sense of vulnerability, when we see videos of its cruelty in meting out death to those it captures. Yes, we recoil at its brazen attacks, ever more menacing. Yes, it brainwashes its recruits, including the recruitment of wives for its intent of breeding its own babies, future terrorists.
But still, our humanity, our dignity, demands that we stand back and ponder. Before acting in haste. That we have a national conversation, a worldwide conversation. We need a coalition of spiritual leaders as well as non religious persons - of wisdom and good conscience - along with ordinary citizens of goodwill, to consider what combination of security measures and humanitarian measures we, as citizens of a fragile world, believe might serve the greater good. Rather than just the defense industries and the haters across the globe. We need to think about ends before choosing means. Ends which do not end in PTSD, in killing, in police states,
Is this too much for an old lady to ask?
236
"We need a coalition of spiritual leaders [...] to consider what combination of security measures and humanitarian measures we, as citizens of a fragile world, believe might serve the greater good."
I like the concept but I don't see any practical solutions here. You can't kumbaya with these people. They're anathema to logic. They don't want to negotiate. They want to kill people.
I like the concept but I don't see any practical solutions here. You can't kumbaya with these people. They're anathema to logic. They don't want to negotiate. They want to kill people.
3
TheraP, Your intentions may be laudable, but the carnage you are seeing in Paris, Syria, Iraq etc. is the result of grand spiritual thinking. It's time to face the fact that religion is as great a force for evil as is could be for good.
17
By now ypu shpuld be aware of the fact that our civilization is under attack. France should have prepared itself. There was the attack in January in Paris, the attempted attack this past summer and now this present attack along with a concerted and unmitigating invasion via "immigration". I guess you would prefer being slaughtered while you "ponder".
15
I think it is important to make a few points now. Sure, Liberty is what our two countries have always stood for and are standing for now. Let’s remember that we are not fighting for an absolute unrestricted Freedom, which our human nature can turn into a terrible and destructive threat to our societies. History has proven us that absolute untamed Freedom will only give itself to the few and withdraw itself from the people.
How did we manage to control this absolute Freedom and make it the common good?
We all came up, in the aftermath of our respective revolutions, with tools to limit and transcend Liberty. These are our Laws. They established and installed our Equality and our Solidarity. Then Freedom peacefully turned into this marching lady with a torch and had no other choice than to offer itself to all of us, individually. We managed to dominate it. Liberty now respects us and will stay with us as long as prove we are worth it.
Our duty now is to fight for the Equality and the Solidarity in our societies more than ever. These two essential values are the sole guides and shields of our Freedom. Today, it means we have to gather in solidarity with all the families that have been struck by these atrocities. We have to stand for our principles, our values and our laws. They are our most efficient weapons against the chaos of terror and terrorists.
The people of New York and the world will meet right by the G. Washington Arch, which is the symbol of these values that we share.
How did we manage to control this absolute Freedom and make it the common good?
We all came up, in the aftermath of our respective revolutions, with tools to limit and transcend Liberty. These are our Laws. They established and installed our Equality and our Solidarity. Then Freedom peacefully turned into this marching lady with a torch and had no other choice than to offer itself to all of us, individually. We managed to dominate it. Liberty now respects us and will stay with us as long as prove we are worth it.
Our duty now is to fight for the Equality and the Solidarity in our societies more than ever. These two essential values are the sole guides and shields of our Freedom. Today, it means we have to gather in solidarity with all the families that have been struck by these atrocities. We have to stand for our principles, our values and our laws. They are our most efficient weapons against the chaos of terror and terrorists.
The people of New York and the world will meet right by the G. Washington Arch, which is the symbol of these values that we share.
6
This "savage Islamic State" is unfortunately NOT something with a street address. It is hatred and confusion of some people, many right among us. This cannot be uprooted only by "Law and Order" means - see the fate of many East/Central Europe/Russia lands - right after "law and order" heavy lid had been removed, many places started blowing up. But removing hatred can be achieved - today Germany is one of most hate-free countries. Would you believe this in 1945?
These attacks can do nothing against European states in a classical sense of "harm". All these terrorist madmen are a puny force compared with the strength of European military or police.
But they do not attack our states as such. The danger is that we will convert into xenophobic police states, comradely supporting "law and order" thugs over the globe, in the name of stability. Then Europe would truly die - we would be no different from other places.
Today, Europe and other countries of the same culture (US etc) are truly imperialist in one sense - we rob other countries from best of their people - we get a constant stream of the most talented individuals, escaping lack of freedom elsewhere. It is our best selfish interest to keep that, until the same freedom spreads everywhere, so people everywhere can reach their full potential, and everybody can share their accomplishments. We have to defend that freedom, we cannot forget this most basic thing.
These attacks can do nothing against European states in a classical sense of "harm". All these terrorist madmen are a puny force compared with the strength of European military or police.
But they do not attack our states as such. The danger is that we will convert into xenophobic police states, comradely supporting "law and order" thugs over the globe, in the name of stability. Then Europe would truly die - we would be no different from other places.
Today, Europe and other countries of the same culture (US etc) are truly imperialist in one sense - we rob other countries from best of their people - we get a constant stream of the most talented individuals, escaping lack of freedom elsewhere. It is our best selfish interest to keep that, until the same freedom spreads everywhere, so people everywhere can reach their full potential, and everybody can share their accomplishments. We have to defend that freedom, we cannot forget this most basic thing.
12
While the French people have the right to defend themselves, they must still excercise restraint and not do anything so provocative as to escalate this cycle of violence. It does no one any good to instigate further attacks and retaliation.
3
May the civilized peoples of all nations rise to defeat this threat together, without sacrificing the values which the terrorists seek to destroy. There is much cause for pessimism but we soldier on because we must fight for progress and the universal values of Liberte, Egalite and Fraternite. .
"I am an optimist. I see little use in being anything else." - Winston Churchill
"I am an optimist. I see little use in being anything else." - Winston Churchill
22
Psychologically, what happened in Paris isn't much different than any mass shooting. It is the insignificants' desperate attempt at significance. While the act is decidedly significant, we should be careful not to give too much significance to those who did it.
105
Are you kidding? "Too much significance to those who did it?" Of course we must give significance to these monsters! This is not a "lone wolf" killing but part of acts of aggression against multiple nations for religious/political reasons. This is not a disaffected, mentally ill loaner who killed a lot of people.
As another poster aptly put it, this is the beginning of WWIII and we must recognize it as such. Piecemeal retaliation has done no good and only emboldened these people. We need a group of nation allies just like in WWII to put this to rest once and for all. It will not be pretty but a civilized city being under siege against civilians is far less pretty and a horrible way to live.
As another poster aptly put it, this is the beginning of WWIII and we must recognize it as such. Piecemeal retaliation has done no good and only emboldened these people. We need a group of nation allies just like in WWII to put this to rest once and for all. It will not be pretty but a civilized city being under siege against civilians is far less pretty and a horrible way to live.
8
It is completely different. A typical mass shooting is an isolated incident by one deranged person acting alone. This is a conspiracy by a well oiled terrorism machine. Denying then "significance" is no solution.
11
You mean those 127 people might as well have died because of a boat sinking or an earthquake?
What rubbish. They were targeted by people with a specific agenda to murder them. There is nothing insignificant about them or their goal.
What rubbish. They were targeted by people with a specific agenda to murder them. There is nothing insignificant about them or their goal.
9
This attack will harden the resolve of the French against the savagery of the Islamic State, as it must the world’s.
---------------------
If we harden our hearts, and think the solutions will come by dropping bombs, then the terrorists win.
If you value a free life, now is the time to live those values, when they are being openly tested...
---------------------
If we harden our hearts, and think the solutions will come by dropping bombs, then the terrorists win.
If you value a free life, now is the time to live those values, when they are being openly tested...
5
I am horrified by the slaughter in Paris. I weep for the innocents.
But several thoughts - a straight line of causation can be drawn from the lies and probable war crimes of Bush, Cheney, Powell and Rice and our senseless invasion of Iraq in 2002, and its aftermath. We toppled Saddam, who was no threat to the US. Nature abhors a vacuum. The void was filled with chaos and tohubohu, leading directly to the creation of ISIS, and its like. Obama's foreign policy, if there was one, was a disaster.
How to deal with this, and still maintain free countries is a different question, particularly with the millions of displaced persons from the now fragmented Arab States?
Perhaps one good result. The politically correct world states should now realize that Israel is not the bogeyman. Israel has lived with the threat and actuality of such terrorist acts since its creation. Europe and the US should get off Israel's back. There are more widespread real, and threatening problems than the "Palestinians".
Paris experienced this in a tragic and graphic way on Friday.
Let us learn.
But several thoughts - a straight line of causation can be drawn from the lies and probable war crimes of Bush, Cheney, Powell and Rice and our senseless invasion of Iraq in 2002, and its aftermath. We toppled Saddam, who was no threat to the US. Nature abhors a vacuum. The void was filled with chaos and tohubohu, leading directly to the creation of ISIS, and its like. Obama's foreign policy, if there was one, was a disaster.
How to deal with this, and still maintain free countries is a different question, particularly with the millions of displaced persons from the now fragmented Arab States?
Perhaps one good result. The politically correct world states should now realize that Israel is not the bogeyman. Israel has lived with the threat and actuality of such terrorist acts since its creation. Europe and the US should get off Israel's back. There are more widespread real, and threatening problems than the "Palestinians".
Paris experienced this in a tragic and graphic way on Friday.
Let us learn.
9
Agree with your "straight line" of responsibility and strategic catastrophe pointing back to Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld, but why stop there? The longer line continues back to include the Arab-American oil consortium, ethnic cleansing and colonization of Palestine, imperial map-making in Mesopotamia, colonial Mandates, the "Great Game" of king-making and false and broken promises ... a poisonous mix to say the least but all part of the "straight line" that can seem like a fuse.
5
"ethnic cleansing and colonization of Palestine" Really?? Israel has Muslim Arab citizens, even some in its parliament. If Israel wanted to rid the land of Muslims, it would have done so long ago. It is the Muslim Palestinians who want all of Israel and Palestine to be Judenrein!
The attitude of Parisians to resume their life and not let the terrorists destroy their joie de vivre is much the same as that of Israelis who have been under attack by radical Islam for many more years. Illegitimi non carborundum!
The attitude of Parisians to resume their life and not let the terrorists destroy their joie de vivre is much the same as that of Israelis who have been under attack by radical Islam for many more years. Illegitimi non carborundum!
4
It seems to me that we have entered World War Three. I do not say this in an alarmist way, but simply as fact. The US, Russia, Egypt, France, Iraq, Syria - much of the world, in fact - is under attack by Muslim extremists. That, it seems to me, means we have, literally, entered World War Three.
It also seems to me that the United States, as well as the rest of the world, must finally face up to that fact and fight back in the same way we fought back during World War Two. As much as I hate war, we are IN one, and we'd better pull out all the stops to end it before it ends us.
It also seems to me that the United States, as well as the rest of the world, must finally face up to that fact and fight back in the same way we fought back during World War Two. As much as I hate war, we are IN one, and we'd better pull out all the stops to end it before it ends us.
210
Sadly our own leader still has his head in the sand.
5
I think it would be major powers confronting each other to be a world war three. In fact what we face are terrorists with no nation state despite there protestations. Be sure-- WWIII would be the destruction of the planet and our way of life. To suggest that we start one is beyond irresponsible.
2
I think you mean his predecessor did, by taking us into a needless war, which unleashed the monster that exists today.
4
I've always opposed wars of choice, but the attacks in Paris like the ones here on 9/11 leave us no choice and demand a concerted, united military response from the allies. By what ever words we choose whether it be "terrorism," "jihad," or "radical Islam" it is, as French President Francois Hollande said, "an act of war." The Islamic State has demonstrated that it has the capacity to attack Western nations on their soil). NATO and the United Nations need to respond with the authorization force--that is, "boots on the ground"--to put an end to ISIS and resolve the Syrian civil war in the process. The time for restraint is over, and the time for coordinated allied military action has arrived.
168
Really-- it war our unrestrained act of war which destabilized the middle east and left an opening for this group. I don't think you strategic credentials merit your having any power to declare war.
1
NO!
1
The "Islamist State" is not a country, it's an ideology. How do you fight an ideology that has infiltrated almost every nation on earth? How do you declare war on a stateless entity? Do we go in with guns blazing everywhere? This was not an act of war, it was a terrorist attack not sanctioned by any government nor any country, so who should be punished for these stateless, lawless terrorists?
1
"Why do they hate us?"
This was a good question brought up by Bill Maher last night.
Dylan Ratigan got it right in my opinion. I know it is hard to swallow, but it was the money that flowed into the middle east through oil that created asymmetric power. Is this an American view? Not really.
Ask a terrorist why and what to you expect to hear? Something that makes sense? Why would their explanation make sense? It never does. They're generally reacting to things they themselves don't understand. A condition of living that they're just generally unhappy about.
Yes, they say it is because we're in the middle east. We shouldn't be there. But our money corrupts their systems without any physical presence.
I don't have a solution to the problem other than getting off the oil addiction. We can definitely get off the oil if we are just willing to spend a little bit of money.
Let's get off oil and get out. That's my opinion.
This was a good question brought up by Bill Maher last night.
Dylan Ratigan got it right in my opinion. I know it is hard to swallow, but it was the money that flowed into the middle east through oil that created asymmetric power. Is this an American view? Not really.
Ask a terrorist why and what to you expect to hear? Something that makes sense? Why would their explanation make sense? It never does. They're generally reacting to things they themselves don't understand. A condition of living that they're just generally unhappy about.
Yes, they say it is because we're in the middle east. We shouldn't be there. But our money corrupts their systems without any physical presence.
I don't have a solution to the problem other than getting off the oil addiction. We can definitely get off the oil if we are just willing to spend a little bit of money.
Let's get off oil and get out. That's my opinion.
4
I would like to suggest that it's not our oil addiction so much as our "defense" addiction. Probably we would of never given the Middle East any attention if not for oil. But beyond that -- it's really difficult to see how oil interests benefit from conflict in the Middle East. Certainly oil is not benefiting now. But the Military Industrial Complex, which seems to have a much stronger hold on Washington than Oil could ever hope to? If you want to "follow the money" then follow the money.
3
Well, thank you for the pointer. We should follow the money.
English, and perhaps all languages, or incapable of expressing the jungle of emotions we feel in reaction to these events. My father's mother was Celia Caron, her family originally from Western France, but having France in my blood pales to having France in my heart.
Having suffered horrific loss in war in Vietnam, ironically to a foe that had defeated France, I'm nevertheless incapable of offering anything to French people everywhere yet hope the timeless will suffice, "Que vive le France."
E pluribus unum.
Never give up, never give in, never back down and never surrender.
Having suffered horrific loss in war in Vietnam, ironically to a foe that had defeated France, I'm nevertheless incapable of offering anything to French people everywhere yet hope the timeless will suffice, "Que vive le France."
E pluribus unum.
Never give up, never give in, never back down and never surrender.
18
What exactly do the wise persons of the NYT Editorial Board mean when they piosly decalre "This attack will harden the resolve of the French against the savagery of the Islamic State, as it must the world’s"?
From the first three commentors it is obvious that even among the NYT readers the predicable knee-jerk Linsey Graham-esc response of "boots on the ground" will be the dominant reaction.
Supposedly reputable publications like the NYT need to stop with the hyerventilating, irresponsible and polemicizing characterizations like "incomprehensible barberism", which only serve to prevent rational search for solutions.
Virtually every week we have "incomprehensible acts of barbarism" in the US, mass shootings in schools, in the work place, and senseless drive by shootings. The US has committed "incomprehensible acts of barbarism" in Iraq and Afghanistan" which are coldly characterized as "collateral damage".
We, the US, are the primary cause of the instability in the Middle East, which has spawned the terror. We have proven that military action, "boots on the ground" cannot pacify, stabilize, or democratize countries and societies which do not have the internal will or capacity to do so. So let's not make the same mistake we made in Afghanistan, where we thought that "killing Osama bin Laden" would be the miracle cure.
From the first three commentors it is obvious that even among the NYT readers the predicable knee-jerk Linsey Graham-esc response of "boots on the ground" will be the dominant reaction.
Supposedly reputable publications like the NYT need to stop with the hyerventilating, irresponsible and polemicizing characterizations like "incomprehensible barberism", which only serve to prevent rational search for solutions.
Virtually every week we have "incomprehensible acts of barbarism" in the US, mass shootings in schools, in the work place, and senseless drive by shootings. The US has committed "incomprehensible acts of barbarism" in Iraq and Afghanistan" which are coldly characterized as "collateral damage".
We, the US, are the primary cause of the instability in the Middle East, which has spawned the terror. We have proven that military action, "boots on the ground" cannot pacify, stabilize, or democratize countries and societies which do not have the internal will or capacity to do so. So let's not make the same mistake we made in Afghanistan, where we thought that "killing Osama bin Laden" would be the miracle cure.
120
Brave words, Klaus! They suggest that you don't believe that what happened in Paris (or New York or Madrid or London) is barbarism. And you don't want us to "make the same mistake we made in Afghanistan." But you fail to suggest any course of action other than hand wringing about America's responsibility in spawning this Islamic terror (isn't Islamic terror by definition barbaric because it specifically targets innocents?). My question to you is: what now?
3
@Marcos59
No, obviously, what Islamic fanatics are doing all over the world is barbaric. But you don't respond to barbaric acts of others with barbaric acts of our own - one would hope that that kind of thing was left in the Dark Ages - where, unfortunately, much of the Islamic Middle East still resides.
"What now?", you ask. Well, first, if you have nothing sensible, with any chance of success - "boots on the ground" have been proven not to work - then lets take a breath and THINK a little while before DOING something stupid.
We know, for example, that the roots of fanatic Islam are found in our "ally" Saudia Arabia, and to a lesser extent in Pakistan. Can we perhaps start by being honest with ourselves and with others by putting pressure on our "allies" like Saudi Arabia to stop exporting, fostering and financing fanatic islamists?
There are lots of things short of we ourselves committing barbaric acts which can be done to re-stabilize the Middle East. But bombing the hell out of them is not one of them...
No, obviously, what Islamic fanatics are doing all over the world is barbaric. But you don't respond to barbaric acts of others with barbaric acts of our own - one would hope that that kind of thing was left in the Dark Ages - where, unfortunately, much of the Islamic Middle East still resides.
"What now?", you ask. Well, first, if you have nothing sensible, with any chance of success - "boots on the ground" have been proven not to work - then lets take a breath and THINK a little while before DOING something stupid.
We know, for example, that the roots of fanatic Islam are found in our "ally" Saudia Arabia, and to a lesser extent in Pakistan. Can we perhaps start by being honest with ourselves and with others by putting pressure on our "allies" like Saudi Arabia to stop exporting, fostering and financing fanatic islamists?
There are lots of things short of we ourselves committing barbaric acts which can be done to re-stabilize the Middle East. But bombing the hell out of them is not one of them...
7
So what's your brilliant solution to this horrific attack on civilization by a monstrous, medieval death cult? Perhaps you think we should do nothing but grin and bear such carnage because, according to you, we are the cause of Middle East instability. Just as we are not the solution to the world's problems, we're not the cause, either. Your post is reminiscent of a persistent self-blaming, self-hating strain among American leftists.
12
ISIS rose to power, threatened the west, and Obama ignored them
ISIS posts beheadings, threatening the west, and we ignored them
ISIS killed children, threatening the west, and we ignored them
ISIS burned "prisoners" alive, threatening the west, and we ignored them
On and on...
And in America, the response so far has been "don't call them Islamic terrorists...because then you are an "Islamophobe".
And now, America, France and the West is surprised.
Ye reap what ye sow.
ISIS posts beheadings, threatening the west, and we ignored them
ISIS killed children, threatening the west, and we ignored them
ISIS burned "prisoners" alive, threatening the west, and we ignored them
On and on...
And in America, the response so far has been "don't call them Islamic terrorists...because then you are an "Islamophobe".
And now, America, France and the West is surprised.
Ye reap what ye sow.
48
We are reaping what George W. Bush sowed.
5
How convenient ... or have you forgotten why ISIS rose to power?
A hint: our misbegotten invasion of Iraq, the removal of Saddam, who as evil as he was helped maintain the balance of power in the region.
You are absolutely correct: sadly, we are reaping what we have sown. What we sowed was the opening of Pandora's box.
And btw, there is no way our young men and women should go marching into these places populated with tribal people when our so called allies are funding many of these same groups.
A hint: our misbegotten invasion of Iraq, the removal of Saddam, who as evil as he was helped maintain the balance of power in the region.
You are absolutely correct: sadly, we are reaping what we have sown. What we sowed was the opening of Pandora's box.
And btw, there is no way our young men and women should go marching into these places populated with tribal people when our so called allies are funding many of these same groups.
4
And is The Westboro(ugh) Baptist Church a Christian Terrorist organization? How about the KKK? Or all the mass murderers in the USA who slaughter because God has told them to. Were the NAZI's a Christian Terrorist organization? Hitler was Protestant so therefor a Christian and he used the bible to justify the slaughter of millions of Jews and other undesirables. Or how about the homophobe whose rally was attended last week by Cruz, Huckabee and Jindal who is a calling for the execution of gay people because the bible tells us to? Are they Christian terrorists? After all not one of these republican presidential candidates, all avowed "Christians" spoke out against this man's despicable beliefs. If someone takes what this dangerous individual espouses, which Cruz, Huckabee and Jindal apparently support since they didn't condemn, and starts slaughtering innocent gay people will he and they be labeled "Christian" terrorists? These people are no more religious than any other murderer who uses the bible to somehow justify the evil he is perpetrating on humankind. The bible, Koran or Talmud or any other religious holy books have nothing to do with it. And neither does God.
George W. Bush's unprovoked invasion of Iraq - The gift that keeps on giving... And giving, and giving, and...
313
Yes, this is the the biggest blunder in world history.
It matters who you vote for. This immature show of power was the dumbest thing I could imagine. Why? You have all the power. We have all the power, and the proper use of that power is to use it as little as possible.
It matters who you vote for. This immature show of power was the dumbest thing I could imagine. Why? You have all the power. We have all the power, and the proper use of that power is to use it as little as possible.
12
Agreed! Time to get out and stay out. 14 years of war is enough even with the carnage in Paris. More bombs will only make it worse.
3
Why don't you read a history book? Clinton was president during the bombings of the World Trade Center and our embassies in Africa.
6
My heart goes out to the victims and their families of this French Massacre by the ISIL, May the injured recover fully and soon with God’s help.
The editorial misses pointing to the root causes of these terror attacks. The ideology of extremist that was behind our 9-11 , the 7-7 of UK and now this in France and many others in Libya, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc.
It is time to call spade a spade. It is the ideology of hate spewed from the Saudi Arabia that needs to be stopped throughout the world. Even today we support and train their recruits in Jordan and Turkey.
Once all facts are known it would come to light that these attackers came into Europe through their base in Erdogan’s Turkey a so called NATO ally.
Countries that must be immediately sanctioned are the supporters and funders of ISIL. Although there is considerable effort already directed at avoiding blame to the Saudis and other GCC countries, but for how long are we to allow these horrendous acts of the Saudis?
Remember 16 out of 19 9-11 hijackers were Saudis.
The editorial misses pointing to the root causes of these terror attacks. The ideology of extremist that was behind our 9-11 , the 7-7 of UK and now this in France and many others in Libya, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc.
It is time to call spade a spade. It is the ideology of hate spewed from the Saudi Arabia that needs to be stopped throughout the world. Even today we support and train their recruits in Jordan and Turkey.
Once all facts are known it would come to light that these attackers came into Europe through their base in Erdogan’s Turkey a so called NATO ally.
Countries that must be immediately sanctioned are the supporters and funders of ISIL. Although there is considerable effort already directed at avoiding blame to the Saudis and other GCC countries, but for how long are we to allow these horrendous acts of the Saudis?
Remember 16 out of 19 9-11 hijackers were Saudis.
137
Umm....perhaps you're forgetting the core trained ISIL members are almost certainly the million members of the laregly-Sunni Iraqi Army we needlessly disbanded without pay and sent home angry after invading. Should've just paid them to maintain order during transition to democratic government in Iraq.
8
That was a mistake but the core is based on Saudi Ideology of Wahhabism and Salafism
Listen to what even Egyptians are saying.
http://bit.ly/1Nu5U1P
Listen to what even Egyptians are saying.
http://bit.ly/1Nu5U1P
4
Wizarat sounds like an Iranian friend of mine who thinks that all evil was born and should be buried in Saudi Arabia. Maybe, and I'm not a fan of Al Saud, but I'm willing to wager that if NATO were to blast Saudi Arabia into oblivion terrorism will still continue. The reason for terror has a much wider scope than just Saudi Arabia. There are far too many grievances among Muslim populations in the region that have never been addressed or settled.
Leaving the Crusades out, let's begin with colonialism in the 20th century, Sykes-Picot, British Mandate in Palestine and creation of Israel on Palestinian Arab land. These Western misadventures, pillaging, and murders are not going to be forgotten by successive generations, especially when their lives are driven further into despair by the West and its Arab/Muslim puppets.
We know the solution, but we're unwilling to admit our role in the damage we've done for the last century both in Asia and Africa (including Middle East.)
Leaving the Crusades out, let's begin with colonialism in the 20th century, Sykes-Picot, British Mandate in Palestine and creation of Israel on Palestinian Arab land. These Western misadventures, pillaging, and murders are not going to be forgotten by successive generations, especially when their lives are driven further into despair by the West and its Arab/Muslim puppets.
We know the solution, but we're unwilling to admit our role in the damage we've done for the last century both in Asia and Africa (including Middle East.)
The Snowden disclosures seemingly are harming intelligence gathering. Whether
this horror is accepted as a consequence of why Snowden is wrong, people are duly worried. I think of Benjamin Franklin as great and wise, while he is a mortal human being of the later eighteenth century. Things shall probably get worse, and I'm not unwilling to relinquish privacy for the sake of security, whether another may brilliantly hold that I'm entitled to neither.
this horror is accepted as a consequence of why Snowden is wrong, people are duly worried. I think of Benjamin Franklin as great and wise, while he is a mortal human being of the later eighteenth century. Things shall probably get worse, and I'm not unwilling to relinquish privacy for the sake of security, whether another may brilliantly hold that I'm entitled to neither.
2
In the other NYT report, it is admitted that no sign was picked up by intelligence agencies on these premeditated attacks. That means the signs did not pass through the channels Snowden has exposed. Making sense?
4
No more refugees should be admitted at all. They should be turned back so they can fight Da'esh. After all, for most Syria is their home. Don't they have any sense of patriotism, any desire to have a country of their own? Among the refugees pouring into Europe there are many able-bodied men. Give them weapons to fight and keep their wives and children fed and protected, so they won't be tempted to turn these weapons against the West. Kurds and other minorities in Syria are dying daily, fighting Da'esh with inadeque arms and numbers. It's time for the West to reward their courage and to punish the cowardice of those who run away.
49
They are civilians who do not wish to be in a war zone. Why do I read one ignorant hawkish comment after the next?
3
What a perverse flight of imagination. As if the West itself had no role to play in the conditions that spawned this Frankenstein? Obscene.
6
Sorry, but the first people they attacked were the Iraqi army, trained and equipped by us. They ran. ISIS, made up of former Ba-athist commanders, took all their American weapons and became--DAESH.
2
It seems to be time to form another 'coalition of the willing'. Countries that despite some being strange bedfellows will sacrifice their blood and resources to end the scourge of ISIS. The war we began under false premises against Iraq was a horrendous mistake but this enemy has shown itself to be openly defiant of peaceful existence and basic human rights.
15
Warren,
ISIS has killed a few thousand people. Saddam killed tens of thousands of his own people and hundreds of thousands of others. Assad in Syria has also killed tens of thousands of his own people and driven millions more out of Syria. That said it's ISIS we need to deal with first!
ISIS has killed a few thousand people. Saddam killed tens of thousands of his own people and hundreds of thousands of others. Assad in Syria has also killed tens of thousands of his own people and driven millions more out of Syria. That said it's ISIS we need to deal with first!
Viva la France!
49
So your call to action is "hardened resolve" against "savagery"? We are fortunate that the generation that destroyed the Axis powers and stared down the Soviets through a determination to win was made of sterner stuff. Led as we are by a neophyte out of his element in any discussion that does not involve socializing medicine, I'm afraid ISIS is safe through 2016. And perhaps after.
15
Which one of the current GOP candidates isn't a "neophyte?"
13
It's risible that you consider Obama obsessed with "socialized" medicine, when it's you who mention it in commenting upon a subject that has nothing to do with it.
Just who is obsessed with "socialized" medicine, Obama or you?
Just who is obsessed with "socialized" medicine, Obama or you?
7
After 9/11, the US shed civil rights; ditto the UK after 7/7. Let's see how France handles it. There, they have a growing right-wing with leaders like the Le Pen family. Germany has a growing right-wing. So does Sweden. So does the UK. UK membership of the EU may be further threatened by a bad response to the Paris attacks. Terrorists win too easily: international coalitions are threatened, while domestic liberties are shed for the illusion of security.
How can other countries be recruited to the coalition to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq? For America to try that alone is counterproductive. Perhaps Paris is the wake-up call.
How can other countries be recruited to the coalition to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq? For America to try that alone is counterproductive. Perhaps Paris is the wake-up call.
3
If I had my way we would stop using the word "terrorism" and "terrorists." These words convey power. Call them what they are, criminals, lowlifes, cowards. The headline would read "Criminal Cowardly Attack in Paris." More telling, less fear.
114
NATO should invoke Article 5 - as it did after the September 11 attacks - and deal with the Islamic State before this scourge can escalate its reach and depth.
69
This will happen here too. It is inevitable, We don't yet know who the attackers were -- local people, refugees, imports who cam for the attack, The Charlie Hebdo attacks were carried out by local people.
This attack showed a high degree of skill in coordinating attack as so many different locations. I suspect there must have been a chief coordinator who made sure all these attacks went off at the same time.
As information develops we must learn from these events and stop pretending we are invulnerable - we are not. All Europe will be taking extra precautions now - and that will be difficult with the swarm of refugees tramping through so many countries to get to Germany. How many potential attackers are hidden among the refugees -- we will never know until they start attacking. Europe is making no effort to identify them.
It was reported that a Syrian passport was found on one of the dead attackers. Most attackers will probably have a Syrian Background or fought with ISIS in Syria. Nationals of many countries have gone to Syria.
That should give us pause to screen any in this country or who are trying to come, that have Syrian connections - just as the rest of Europe will be doing.
This attack showed a high degree of skill in coordinating attack as so many different locations. I suspect there must have been a chief coordinator who made sure all these attacks went off at the same time.
As information develops we must learn from these events and stop pretending we are invulnerable - we are not. All Europe will be taking extra precautions now - and that will be difficult with the swarm of refugees tramping through so many countries to get to Germany. How many potential attackers are hidden among the refugees -- we will never know until they start attacking. Europe is making no effort to identify them.
It was reported that a Syrian passport was found on one of the dead attackers. Most attackers will probably have a Syrian Background or fought with ISIS in Syria. Nationals of many countries have gone to Syria.
That should give us pause to screen any in this country or who are trying to come, that have Syrian connections - just as the rest of Europe will be doing.
25
We are too isolated and we do have the Patriot Act.
2
Our Southern border is wide open and the Northern border is not that well guarded either. Granted having 2 oceans for borders makes it harder but Not Impossible.
Also Obama wants to increase the number of Syrian refugees we take and ISIS can hide among those.
Also Obama wants to increase the number of Syrian refugees we take and ISIS can hide among those.
5
Xenophobia rears its ugly head - and in the first comment! Must be some sort of record.
6