We have 3 days of mourning is France. T shirts will be printed as we speak, with "Je suis Paris" in bold letters. President Holland will, once again, be choked when he mourns the needless loss of more compatriots. - yet isn't there hypocrisy here? These killings were not carried out by a lone wolf, but an organised cell of islamists. As Stan has mentioned, there must be questions asked of French intelligence (particularly since Islamic attacks are getting sadly regular in France - Charlie Hebdo, a beheading in western France, the terrorist on the train that was taken down by US soldiers). Why wasn't this one picked up? Could it be that the liberal French laws that frown on cctv, phone and internet surveillance etc have missed it? We learned a lesson after the suicide bombers on the underground, and despite self-flagellators like the intensely irritating Shami Chakarabarti (director of Liberty), we now have decent safeguards in place. If it's going to save young lives, MI5 can come and look at my emails, they can check my web history, they can film me buying a newspaper on a Sunday morning. JUST KEEP US ALL SAFE! Back to the French. Look at Calais. It's full of illlegal immigrants, almost all, economic migrants. They should be removed, taken back to their point of departure, yet a French Court rules that their living conditions should be improved. Madness. I think there's a strong argument that France is suffering from an excess of liberalism. I predict Marine Le Pen will now be shooting up the electoral polls...which is itself, worrying
Numb again and sympathy to the loss of life. I believe it's a time now to think of all the loss of life that takes place daily and isn't in our front garden. No answers here I haven't a clue
I've seen nothing overtly racist mate. People are genuinely concerned about the Islamic Faith. I completely agree that there should be no worshipping of ANY religious Gods in public or schools etc. I just hope that science finds a way to rubbish these medieval beliefs. (Not sure we'd ever agree on the anarchist angle, but I'd love to chat about it over a pint sometime.
Many atrocities have been carried out over the centurys in the name of religion and it seems to me that it is a convenient label to attach to an otherwise unjustifiable attack, "we are fighting for our beliefs" is the usual claim. But to say that religion is wrong or bad is just plain ridiculous, I am in no way a religious person but belief in whatever god people follow gives an immense amount of comfort to millions especially in times of grief.
Excellent post. I'm led to believe that the French security services are very good, with their counter terrorist units and special forces being right up there with the best. However, as you say, they seem to be fighting with one hand tied behind their back. This highlights just how good our intelligence services are that they are doing such a good job with the likes of Chakarabarti hindering them at every turn.
What? Well it's your view and your blame but IMO if you want to see tough then look no further than France . The U.K. Is in fact cutting back on inner city security Living with liberalism and also without fear is my preferred lifestyle I can't see this threat going away until the west addresses exactly what it has done
Yes, but these beliefs should be kept to the privacy of peoples' own homes imo. There is no place for state sponsored religion imo. Blair is very religious and often mentioned God when talking about the Iraq war etc. Religious schools of all faiths are very dangerous places imo. Religion is the cause of so much bloodshed and all in the name of a fairy tale (in most cases, the same fairy tale that has been changed slightly in each religion).
It doesn't matter how good you think your anti terror measures are IMO It won't help by that it could never stop every terrorist attack If you are thinking France are in anyway behind I don't agree at all
I'd live with liberalism too, DT, if there was nothing to fear. But when you have a powerful death cult sending out their suicide bombers to all parts of the Western World, you have to choose between a rather quaint liberalism or a more secure state that will save lives You're right that some aspects of France are tough - police with guns, banning the burka etc - but there's another side that, given the dangerous world we live in, seems to me to be simply naive
Ban Islam? Perhaps we could borrow Auschwitz to hold those that don't comply? If Western ideology turns into the ****ing third Reich everytime there's trouble then it's not as free as it makes out. We need to fight this head on. We need to crush ISIS and we need to know that it will probably get worse before it gets better. Judging by the level of fear on here, terrorism has already won.
Perhaps they wanted their identities revealed? Who knows, but I wouldn't be surprised if a video message emerges...
I more than understand wanting revenge. If you could just "take out" the leadship of ISIS I would find it hard to argue against. However, the moment one of your bombs hits a hospital, a school or a residential street that is not full of terrorists, have you not lost the moral high ground? Do you not risk the radicalisation of more people that want revenge against you for those actions, which they will see as terrorism? Do it by foot & perhaps the chances of that happening will reduce. It wouldn't end this struggle though. ISIS would then be replaced by an even worse organisation. ISIS replaced, in the main Al Queda(sp). No, I am not trying to play down the threat & mayhem that organisation had. This has been going on for centuries, prior to the birth of Christianity. Many bloody battles were fought on foot during the Crusades. With more barbaric actions happening by both sides. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change unless you can eventually get ALL people to accept that your own view should be tolerated by others & that you will tolerate that their view is different. The moment everyone stops trying to impose their will on others we will have a chance! I've not a clue how you go about this. More importantly, I don't think that there is one person in the world at present who has a clue either!
Agree about the video. It's possible all the terrorists had Syrian passports on them to make a point. The French role in Syria was apparently the reason for the ISIS retribution - this was voiced by one of the terrorists last night
I like Yuval Havari's take on humanity: There are no gods, no nations, no money and no human rights, except in our collective imagination. Here's a link to this extract within the context of his book. http://www.ynharari.com/power-and-i...s-in-the-world-exist-only-in-our-imagination/
