How the French Fight Terror (not all French are cheese eating surrender monkeys!)

Foreign Policy ^ | January 23, 2006 | By Marc Perelman

[Boston Republican]

Could Paris teach Washington a thing or two about protecting civil liberties while tracking down terrorists at home? In the United States, revelations that the Bush administration mandated domestic spying have caused a political uproar. France, however, has been spying on its citizens for years, as part of its effective, albeit controversial, counterterrorist system.

In 1988, the FBI invited Alain Marsaud, then France’s top antiterrorist magistrate, to speak about terrorism to the bureau’s new recruits at its academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Marsaud, now a conservative lawmaker, told the audience of would-be feds of the deadly threat that radical Islamist terrorist networks posed to Western societies. His talk was an unmitigated flop. “They thought we were Martians,” recalls Marsaud, who chairs the French Parliament’s domestic security commission. “They were interested in neo-Nazis and green activists, and that was it.”

Marsaud’s experience goes to show just how far Washington has come. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the United States has moved swiftly to overhaul its counterterrorism policy, and has hit some bumps in the road. The recent revelation that President George W. Bush mandated domestic spying has caused a political uproar, even among Republicans. Yet questions of spying, security, civil liberties, and privacy are not new to France, which found itself in the cross hairs of Middle Eastern terrorists well before the United States did. France was the first to uncover a plot to crash a jetliner into a landmark building (the Eiffel Tower)—a chilling preview of the 9/11 attacks. It was the first to face the reality that its own citizens could become assets of Islamist terrorist groups, long before British nationals bombed the London Underground last July. As a result, it has continuously adapted its judicial system and intelligence services to the terrorist threat that it faces.

[Boston Republican]

I thought this was interesting. I know it's a favorite local tradition to bash the French, but when it comes to counterterrorism I always like to hear how various groups are handling things.

[onevoter]

Sounds like the French are a "do as I say and not as I do" group. They would be the first to protest publicly about any counter-terrorism efforts by the Bush administration.

[sageb1]

"It was the first to face the reality that its own citizens could become assets of Islamist terrorist groups"

I'm glad you did post it. This is what the American people must wake up to. Good for the French. If our existing laws don't work, then we must change them. But of course, the Dems are more interested in scoring points with Bush bashing than they are in protecting us.

[sangrila]

"They would be the first to protest publicly about any counter-terrorism efforts by the Bush administration."

Do you have any examples of the French criticizing the US domestic counter-terrorism programs?

[The KG9 Kid]

The global left movement has noticeably been sharing identical (and well-rehearsed) views with the American left wing on chastising the American government's measures in countering terrorism. They use the same arguments, the same language, and the same moral relativism. It's a certain partnership, as we all agree.

One issue on which the European counterparts to the American left wing stayed noticeably silent was over the domestic left's furor about the 'Patriot Act'.

In most cases, the measures outlined in the Patriot Act don't even go as far as most foreign nations already have in place. Europeans heard about the Patriot Act and was astounded in the manner of 'You mean, your government couldn't do any of that before? Ours always could'.

[vikk]

I've heard tell of how there's a lot of behind the scenes information-swapping with French Intel. Given their past colonial holdings in N. Africa and the Middle East, they've actually got real human intelligence on the ground in Islamic communities.
Of course, all the yelling and complaining is geopolitics.

[Vicomte13]

This article accurately describes the way that the French judicial process works in terror cases.

[VOA]

A CNN hour-long special on how European countries are coping with the
Jihadis in their midst ran a month or so ago.
The French did appear to be pretty rough on any active Jihadi they caught in
their midst. But one advantage they seem to have is that many of their
"targets" are at least residents, with family in France. Thus the French said
they often just take an uninvolved family member into custody until the
"target" talks or turns himself in.

The segment on Spain was sad. The Iberian peninsula shall yet again
be an Islamic state, thanks to the candy-@ss approach of the Socialists.
Things are nice now...but the smiling, peaceable Muslims will be aiming
to improve on the approx. 770 years they held part or all of the Iberian peninsula.

[Candor7]

There STILL exist French Patriots!!

I wish there were more of them!

The traditions of Lafayette are still alive and there is hope for the morass of sick wing-nut socialism that plagues La Patrie!

[onevoter]

sangrila
Member of Free Republic Since Jan 20, 2006 - Brand new to Free Republic - Welcome . . . .

[spetznaz]

The French may be (and are) many things, but when it comes to counter-terrorism they can be quite robust in their fiber and action. While I would not hold my breath when it comes to waiting for them to support the US in matters relating to our WOT, the truth still remains that the French government doesn't joke when it comes to protecting their own interests. In matters pertaining to counter-terrorism they are pretty much far ahead of all of Europe (and to a good extent the United States). Their judicial system doesn't play tag with Jihadis, and they don't have as many members of congress (or in their case a parliament comprised of a National Assembly and Senate) who seem to have the sole purpose of undermining stuff (like the Democrats appear to do over here ad infinitum). Thus obviously the French will be effective in such matters.

Add to this the experiences they had in the past in Algeria, and in the more recent past in France proper (Islamic terrorism), and the tension that still exists in a furtive manner today (and maybe not so furtive as was shown late last year), and obviously the French will not play games when it comes to their own safety. They may act the fool in matters concerning the US, but they are pretty much serious when it comes to their own affairs.

Generally speaking, nations that face constant terrorism (or an ever present threat that the populace perceives as real) .....eg Israel, India, Russia, France .....tend to take such matters seriously. Here we experienced 9-11,a true horror, and for a time after that everyone came together and took firm resolve. However most of the population seems to have lost grasp of most of the impact from that day, and many members of congress (particularly the Democrats) seem willing to play 'I-counter-you' with the Bush administration. This will probably be the case until (God forbid) another attack occurs, and then you'll see everyone come together again and say 'never again.' However even after that people will drift apart and things will be back to 'normal.'

[sangrila]

Thank you.

[sangrila]

"I've heard tell of how there's a lot of behind the scenes information-swapping with French Intel. Given their past colonial holdings in N. Africa and the Middle East, they've actually got real human intelligence on the ground in Islamic communities.
Of course, all the yelling and complaining is geopolitics."





The French do have very good intel, especially in Africa and the middle east as you cited. They give us some trouble in the Security Council but that is just "geopolitics." I am also one to take a jab at the French, but I think some Americans have lost sight of the fact that France is one of the strongest allies we have in the whole scheme of things. I think they will come along with us on this Iran thing, and Chriac's recent comments are some indication of this. And contary to what many Americans think, the French military is pretty tough.

[jordan8]

The chief cause of Islamic terrorism in the West is the presence of a large population of Muslims. Neither the elites of France or the U.S. are doing anything to address that cause, indeed "anti-terrorism" laws are laws in defense of mass-immigration, that is they are laws that attempt to clamp a lid on the pressure cooker of an unstable multicultural "society", as are hate-crime laws. The author of this piece longs for a police state, and not just to deal with terrorism.