Posted on 11/02/2020 6:54:00 AM PST by SJackson
President Macron faces a tough dilemma: stand firm and implement the measures he outlined with respect to radical Islamism in France, or reassess that policy," - int'l affairs expert.
These latest incidents can be traced back to the attack claimed by al-Qaeda on January 7, 2015, in which two Muslim brothers forced their way into the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly, shooting dead 12 people and wounding 11 others. This triggered further violence, including the “Hypercacher” kosher supermarket siege in which a terrorist murdered four Jews.
President Emmanuel Macron came out strongly in favor of free speech and against what he called the “Islamic terrorist attack” in Nice, saying France had been targeted “over our values, for our taste for freedom, for the ability on our soil to have freedom of belief... And I say it with great clarity again today: We will not give in.” Macron added, “We will not give up caricatures and drawings, even if others back away.”
Macron’s words incensed the Muslim world, and several countries – including Kuwait and Qatar – announced a boycott of French products in protest. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even questioned Macron’s mental health. “It becomes more and more difficult to be a Muslim and live an Islamic lifestyle in western countries,” Erdogan charged, leading France to recall its ambassador from Turkey.
The ripples of the French attacks are even being felt in Israel. The French Embassy in Israel sent a notice to its citizens on Friday urging them not to enter Jerusalem’s Old City, warning that there might be Muslim protests against France after Friday prayers. Thousands of Palestinians rallied in a “day of rage” against Macron, with Sheikh Ekrima Sabri declaring that the French president should be held accountable “for the acts of violence and chaos in France because of his provocative statements against Islam.”
Macron has deployed thousands of soldiers to protect key French sites, such as places of worship, following the attack in Nice, and he delivered an important speech on October 2 in defense of secularism, unveiling a plan to defend French secular values against “Islamic radicalism,” while stressing that France would not be tyrannized by terrorism.
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According to Col. (Res.) Dr. Raphael G. Bouchnik-Chen, an expert in Middle Eastern and international affairs, Macron – who was became president in 2017 following two years of bloody terror attacks in France – is heading into a 2022 election campaign, and expects to succeed where his predecessors failed.
President Macron faces a tough dilemma: stand firm and implement the measures he outlined with respect to radical Islamism in France, or reassess that policy and put his chance of reelection at risk,” he wrote in a paper for the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA).
His colleague, Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld, argued that the next presidential election – which will likely pit Macron against Marine Le Pen, the leader of the populist right-wing National Rally party – is a major reason for the French president to take strong action now. Le Pen, he notes, has criticized Macron for “an inadequate and anachronistic containment strategy.”
France is at the forefront of the challenge that radical Islam represents to liberal democracy,” Gerstenfeld warned. “The French government’s current superficial skirmishes against radical Islam will in the long run be seen as a footnote in a massive and lengthy battle.”
The world must be prepared for the possible ramifications of the recent attacks in France. Macron’s tough position may unleash a new wave of Islamic terror that could require coordinated international action. While religious sensitivity is always important, a zero-tolerance stand needs to be taken against terrorism. Macron is right to stand for freedom of speech. Caving to terrorism will only lead to more attacks.
Islamism cannot be separated from Islam.
Recognizing Islam as the threat is the first step.
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I have a solution, abandoned in 1977
Hamida Djandoubi, tortured and murdered 22-year-old Élisabeth Bousquet. The more things change, they more they don't
A banlieu crescent Islamic republic pres de Paris?
How to say Reconquista in French?
That was the old France. In the new France, we click our tongues and say, “nononon. Violence is not acceptable over a cartoon. Over an editorial, maybe. But not a cartoon.”
After being over run with these invaders by the puppet masters he now has a dilemma. Smart guy
After being over run with these invaders by the puppet masters he now has a dilemma. Smart guy
France let too many Muslims in and will have violence until they are removed.
Islam is a war plan
I hope that in 2022 there is a good candidate who can win against teensy Micron (that is my name for him). Who can MFGA - Make France Great Again!
This looks like a direct quote from a joe Biden speech. 😁
Charlie Martel. When Charlie Hebdo is not enough.
A candidate is of no value if the French people support an opponent who views standing up to Islam as wrong.
Since Macron was in fact elected, we don’t know that the French non Islamic population has the guts to resist.
Erdogan will be the leader of European Muslims, and will encourage them to overthrow their governments.
This is the Hitler of our time.
They should give Marine Le Pen a chance to see what she can do.
Yellow vests protests. Ever seen them? freeking massive. Then put down viciously by cops, and then infiltrated by black bloc types.
Agreed. She's as close to Charles Martel or Joan of Arc as the French have right now.
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