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France declares war on terrorism after attacks

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The last thing a country needs is a war that can never be won :-(

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Egypt’s state-sponsored Islamic authority

What's that?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Is this going to be similar to " The War on DRUGS " ?

I hope things work out BETTER than THAT did. I'm sure ISIS and Al-Qaeda are shaking in their boots NOW.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

IMHO one of the biggest problem is that followers of Islam first need to look inside themselves. What is being done in their name? How can they reconcile living in a secular democracy with being a 'good' Muslim? How can they reform their faith into something more compatible with 21st century values and human rights?

In truth, only a very small number of Muslims would ever perpetrate such attacks. However, A surprisingly large minority (in some countries majority) support the ideals behind them. Legal penalties for blasphemy, adultery, and the like. Death penalty for apostasy. Prison/death for gays. These are not radical positions at all within the Islamic faith. They are mainstream belief. And they need to be changed before any meaningful reform can happen.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

More downstream BS.

Saudi Arabia's global budget for proselytizing intolerant Wahhabism: $2bn

France's 2010 arms sales to Riyadh: EU2.2bn

http://www.islamicpluralism.org/532/al-qaeda-other-terror-groups-swim-in-global-sea-of-saudi

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/eu-makes-controversial-weapons-sales-to-saudi-arabia-a-822288.html

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I think the tolerance of accepting Islamic beliefs as immigrants is not the right position. Paris has "no go zones" to appease the immigrants. Big mistake! When in Rome do as the Romans as they say.

I like to simplify everything. If a guest comes into MY home, he or she will follow my rules. No strange rules, just do not disrespect me or mine. And when I travel I like to " fit in", I am not going to bring my rules and morals to a destination I choose to visit. I am a guest.

Modern world needs photo ID. Woman must have their vials removed for photos. If you don't like it emigrate to Saudi Arabia.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

All empty words. They will surrender to the fanatics by writing laws that restrict free speech on the grounds that people have the right not to be offended. Of course, the fanatics will carry on regardless and won't be arrested. It's like that in the UK now.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

not sure what else they could do in the short term, but this will surey not end well. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to reconcile the Western, liberal, non-discriminatory values that Western democracies hold so dear with the need to deal with violent, idealistic killers who despise those values.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@MarkG

I think the tolerance of accepting Islamic beliefs as immigrants is not the right position.

So you want some sort of "Inquisition", a bit like the Spanish Catholics had, to search out Muslims and, what, torture them until they renounce their faith? Or execute them?

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

"France declares war on terrorism after attacks" Sadly, this will end up being used as a tool, that becomes a war on freedoms as well.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“Our great and beautiful France will never break, will never yield, never bend” in the face of the Islamist threat that is “still there, inside and outside” the country, said Hollande

At least the French now understand who they are fighting - Islamist jihadi's. They are no longer blinded by their Leftist ideology. It is a fact that a vast majority of Muslims are not Islamists. But denying that they are inspired by Islam is like denying that 1+1 equals 2.

I think the tolerance of accepting Islamic beliefs as immigrants is not the right position. Paris has "no go zones" to appease the immigrants. Big mistake!

Yes, big mistake. The assassinations are the logical result of France's extreme form of multiculturalism.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The war seems perfectly endless as long as Islam exists as well as Christianity.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

MarkG

Paris has "no go zones" to appease the immigrants

This far-right construct was most recently spewed by a Fox News "terrorism expert" about Birmingham, England. Said "expert" subsequently apologized for not doing his homework.

The Fox News commentator who said the British city of Birmingham was a no-go zone for non-Muslims is a “complete idiot”, the prime minister, David Cameron, has said.

I've made many trips to some of Fox's identified "zones" looking very non-Muslim, sometimes in suit and tie. Never once did I feel threatened and, as a bonus, there was no dog mess on the streets.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/12/fox-news-expert-ridiculed-over-birmingham-is-totally-muslim-city-claims

Charlie Hebdo: quand Fox News s'emballe sur des "zones de non-droit" à Paris

2 ( +5 / -3 )

For me, I understand that France will put more resources on tracking those peoples and the ones brainwashing them like criminals on the territory which is good. As soon as somebody is taking weapon to kill they are just criminals and murderers. France is a state of law and can move closer on the location where it starts and I hope for Muslim all around the world to start official "excommunication" session of all those terrorist who claim to kill under the name of their god.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Aligning more with the US stand, years too late? 'War on terrorism' sounds like a war on the dark, or a war on shadows, or on the cold winds, the very concept sounding wrong to begin with. But as a rallying cry I guess some people will like the phrase.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

MarkG,

Modern world needs photo ID. Woman must have their vials (sic) removed for photos.

France has this: both the carte d'identité, that everyone must carry, and a ban on the burqa.

Any other irrelevant opinions to share with us?

It is a fact that a vast majority of Muslims are not Islamists. But denying that they are inspired by Islam is like denying that 1+1 equals 2.

It is a fact that a vast majority of Christians opposed Apartheid. But denying that it was inspired by the (Christian) Dutch Reform Church is like denying that 1+1 equals 2.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Great, from a city that never has been successfully defended from invaders. The only lock arms is the lock of the breach on a weapon. Aux armes! Jamais.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Are the world progressive socialists this blind? The day the PLO took their first hostages and murdered them back in the 1960s was when modern terrorism began, when the war started. Radical, aggressive islamists began began in the 1950s and now today is when France wakes up? Why Do these left winners have to wait for a Pile of dead bodies before they see What is right in front of them. Now if only the rest of the world would wake up.

Though it is a war which will only end when the Muslim culture changed like every other modern culture has. Christians ridicule, Do not legetimize the psychos in their religion, and on the rare occasion a David koresh type group appears, they are put down. For Islam, these radical holymen are running entire nations. This must change or there will always be a war

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Will the Americans change "freedom fries" back to "french fries" now?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The day the PLO took their first hostages and murdered them back in the 1960s was when modern terrorism began

And Lehi were what, then?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This far-right construct was most recently spewed by a Fox News "terrorism expert" about Birmingham, England. Said "expert" subsequently apologized for not doing his homework.

The general point he was trying to make is true though. I think his apology is a bit tongue-in-cheek.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Pas plus de Monsieur Nice Guy...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Another "war on terror", without specifying where the terror originates? And while radical Wahabi and Deobandi preachers are all over the republic, indoctrinating their flock? Sure.... that will help, France.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The west's rights and freedoms are slowly being eroded by these people who hide behind the radicals and secretly support or agree with their ideals.

The west must stand up for itself and stand for what is right, just and free.

20 or 30 years time it will be a very different world unless those that value our way of life and beliefs make a stand now.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

When America declared its war on terror vast swathes of the Middle East were carpet bombed-is France going to do the same?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Valls has found a diversion to overshadow the failure of economy.

. Paris has "no go zones" to appease the immigrants.

Where is that ? Tell me. I'm in Paris now. Well, I've seen the maps from US media and both the place where I live and the one where I work are what they call "no go". Everyday I change trains in Gare du Nord which is classified at the same rank as a Taliban training camp. I am tough as I was using Osaka's Tennoji station too (to then walk through Nishinari-ku on nice weather), and that was supposed to be no-go. That's like in Tokyo, if you've walked in Roppongi once, you think you are still alive but no way, it's so dangerous that you must dead and it's your ghost that is reading that.

Legal penalties for blasphemy, adultery, and the like. Death penalty for apostasy. Prison/death for gays. These are not radical positions at all within the Islamic faith.

They are not radical position within the Catholic faith, the Jewish faith, and any other. I mean in 1930, 80% of the French were religious and they were thinking like that, roughly. For instance, a homosexual guy (they were not yet called gay) from my grand-parents' village was avoided by all villagers and at his death, they made a parade to refuse to bury him near the church (the only graveyard that officially had accept everybody). In 1950, they were still 60% and the stigma was still big if your dared divorcing, living with someone without a religious marriage, etc, and you could lose jobs, being refused sales/rental of housing, entrance to shows. That's only since the 70's that tolerance has become the mainstream opinion in France, and most people now consider that the neighbor's lifestyle may not be their cup of tea, but as long as it's not interfering with theirs, it's not their business.

The west's rights and freedoms are slowly being eroded

All the contrary, they have progressed in France in the last decades. It's freer than ever. I think we have progressed and succeeded in educating the masses, and we have to continue the campaigns to reach the communities that are behind -and that's not all migrants, not all Muslims. As long as we are left with one idiot that openly hates and wants to bully the gays/Jews/agnostics/ women in skirts/ women in scarves/all women except Mum/blacks/divorced/cartoonists/commies/Muslims/pharmacists that sell the pill/doctors that do abortions/you-name-it... the job is not over.

France's 2010 arms sales

I agree that's a shame. I have always thought we had nothing to do in that business.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

France is understandably angry. The key is whether or not it will exercise its power to back up its anger.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

There do some to be some posters copying the words of the idiotic, febrile, babbling turnip from Fox, a network well-known for its love of all things French. Blasphemy to that shower of numbskulls would probably involve owning a passport. The last thing we need to do is listen to lunatic rightists in their 'war on terror' which has of course gone swimmingly up to now.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@Cos

Most intelligent, sanest post to have appeared on JT since this whole horrible event began.

Thanks.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Je suis Charlie.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

MarkG,

I think the tolerance of accepting Islamic beliefs as immigrants is not the right position. Paris has "no go zones" to appease the immigrants. Big mistake! When in Rome do as the Romans as they say.

Seriously, stop watching Fox News, it's better for you and your general knowledge. I live in Paris and those "no go zones" don't exist, not in Paris or anywhere in France.

Modern world needs photo ID. Woman must have their vials removed for photos. If you don't like it emigrate to Saudi Arabia.

We already have Identity Card and vials are not allowed on the photo.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Another "war on terror", without specifying where the terror originates? And while radical Wahabi and Deobandi preachers are all over the republic, indoctrinating their flock? Sure.... that will help, France.

It's a knee jerk reaction, as we call it in the UK. The politicians make such reactions when something like the Charlie Hebdo situation occurs to make it look like they are doing something constructive yet once the dust settles and the rhetoric stops flying about, you look at it and wonder if it actually meant anything.

The thing is that terrorism isn't something you can fire a gun at. It isn't something that you can crack down on as you can parking or drinking in public. Terrorism thrives on a degree of anonimity. You never quite know where it is coming from or where it is going to strike next, yet they know that as soon as they do, governments will yammer on and the media will hype their actions to the skies.

That's why so many people do it and much as we might abhor what happened in an editorial meeting in Paris, despite the perpetrators being killed shortly afterwards, chances are that somebody will try it again, at least they will while there are people out there who are ignorant enough to believe that any religion is worth taking lives for. The solution? Actually there's no quick solution that I can see. Education is one thought, but deprogramming the fanatics could take years and there's no guarantee that it would work straight away, if at all.

Certainly a "war" isn't a real solution. Look at how many years the US have been at it. Or consider the Northern Ireland situation during the 20th century.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Egypt’s state-sponsored Islamic authority, the Dar al-Ifta, said the latest cover of Charlie Hebdo—which has been widely reproduced around the world—was “an unjustified provocation against the feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims”.

keyword: Egypt’s state-sponsored Islamic authority

Religion based governments are inherently intolerant.

As previously described, religion requires adherence. In this case the religion of Egypt’s state-sponsored Islamic authority has decided it will determine the laws of France on free speech. Egypt’s state-sponsored Islamic authority has also decided they condone mad gunmen as a response; that's what happens when people have their feelings hurt about a disembodied almighty sprit force and the Egyptian government sponsors that opinion via Dar al-Ifta. Well done Egypt. Little has changed since the building of the Pyramids.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

KawaguchiTaro:

" those "no go zones" don't exist, not in Paris or anywhere in France. "

Oh really. Well, the French government stopped counting the "zone urbaine special" a few years ago, when their number had reached an embarrassing 700 or so, so I guess that is one way to claim they "don't exist".

Just to experience yourself what does not exist, you might want to spend some time in Trappes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPsSy8p1DN8

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Fox News Lies, and seven right wingers believe it, because they are hysterical.

There are no "No Go Zones" in France. There are slums. They are called ""sensitive urban zones.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensitive_urban_zone

Right wingers hysterical.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Cos

They are not radical position within the Catholic faith, the Jewish faith, and any other.

Can you give an example of any Christian organization in the West (or anywhere for that matter) today that promotes, 'legal penalties for blasphemy, adultery, and the like. Death penalty for apostasy. Prison/death for gays.'? In your zeal to defend Islamic jihadi's you seem to be losing your head. Let's not stir up hatred towards a religion based on a lack of facts. The Crusades ended hundreds of years ago. The Enlightenment and Christian religious reforms have transformed the religion. I am not a Christian myself but I can think of nothing in the Christian Bible that promotes legal state sanction for any of those thing you listed.

The Muslim Koran does include a civil legal component in the form of Sharia law that does promote such legal sanctions. One major difference in the two documents is the that the Koran conflates religion with the state. The Bible specifically does not. For example, in the Bible it says, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's". Along with that there is the Western tradition of separating church from state. There is no such tradition in the Muslim world.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Wolfpack: "The Muslim Koran does include a civil legal component in the form of Sharia law that does promote such legal sanctions. One major difference in the two documents is the that the Koran conflates religion with the state. The Bible specifically does not. For example, in the Bible it says, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's". Along with that there is the Western tradition of separating church from state. There is no such tradition in the Muslim world."

Thanks for this. OK, forever and a day, the Muslim will forever pursue a civil legal component, Sharia law and there is the Western tradition of separating church from state. IF All Muslims MUST have Sharia Law, eliminating secular authority, and the Western tradition of separating church from state is unacceptable, then this is a crazy war on Civilization a la Kooky Town.

The result? Killing innocent Moms and Dads in their place of work for a Cartoon. Islam has about as much appeal as any fascist identity. Maybe they could read a little bit about Hitler, his fascism had the same result and the same targets, freedom.

These homicidal maniacs begging for respectability through killing innocent people, the governments that protect them, the twisted sickness that allows these slaughters? If Islam is only that, then Islam is at fault, not the creative mind of humanity.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If Islam is only that, then Islam is at fault, not the creative mind of humanity.

The only fault for Muslims is their lack of a reformation as Christians have done. The vast majority of Muslims don't want Sharia. But there are way too many that do and many Muslim countries that are essentially theocracies.

It's comical how the Left holds themselves back from criticizing these extremists; their oppression of women, gays, religious minorities, the list of Leftist bugaboos is endless. They refuse to see the role of religion in the extremist views of far too many Muslims especially those followers of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and similar Islamist groups. The very same people on the Left somehow have no problem linking conservatives to Christianity and to what they consider to be extremist views. But Christianity does not tell Christians to assassinate abortion providers. Christianity doesn't tell conservatives that big government is a bad thing, or that they shouldn't believe in science.

Obama can go after Christians in court who only want their rights respected. Yet despite all evidence to the contrary will not call the real enemy - Islamic terrorists - by their name. When terrorists call themselves Muslim and repeatedly commit heinous crimes in the name of Allah, why the ridiculous denials of the obvious?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wolfpack:

" he only fault for Muslims is their lack of a reformation as Christians have done. "

Actually, there are branches in islam that have done so, for example both the Alavites and the Ahmediyya sects have abandoned koranic literalism and concepts like jihad and shariah law. And that is why we don´t see Alavite and Ahmediyya terrorists; to the contrary, both sects are persecuted in many islamic countries.

Alas, both the Alavites and Ahmediyyas are small and enjoy no support, while the radical fundamentalist Wahabi branch of Sunnis islam, which goes full throttle on radical Shariah law, receives generous support from our "allies" the Saudi government.

All of this underlines again that we are not dealing with unspecified "terrorism" but with a very specific problem with a virulent ideology.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

WilliB

All of this underlines again that we are not dealing with unspecified "terrorism" but with a very specific problem with a virulent ideology.

Well put. The Left used to throw around a phrase, 'name it and shame it' when attacking their foes. Do they not see Islamic terrorists as their foes? Perhaps not.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

WillieB

You last post makes sense, to a degree. I think you do not take into account that many Moslems in the Sunni and Shia tradition are secular. Secular Muslims not living in the West face harassment, discrimination and death for not kow towing to the fundies.

Not everyone is as brave/foolhardy as Malala.

Further, I find it hard to trust your instincts on this when you fall for such obvious nonsense bleated by right wing media about Islam. Casse in point: you acceptance of "No Go Zones."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WilliBJ,

Oh really. Well, the French government stopped counting the "zone urbaine special" a few years ago, when their number had reached an embarrassing 700 or so, so I guess that is one way to claim they "don't exist".

Do you really think that you are teaching me something? I'm from those "Zone Urbaines" and I'm still living there. We know that they exist, nobody denies it, but they just point out the fact that poverty is higher and that education, security is a priority there.

But calling them "no go zones" is an obvious lie, you can even take the worst area in Paris and its suburb as an example it won't change anything. No one will call that "no go zone" here, and it will never be. Also Fox News map is so wrong that the Ritz hotel, which is the one of the costliest is located in those "zones".

Do you realize that even the "specialist" interviewed by Fox News apologized for this lie, and that everybody is make fun of this news here?

How can you make a news about France without interviewing someone who knows his subject ?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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