The things don't know how free people think. They think that they can terrify other countries into staying on the sidelines by preemptive strikes against those countries (France, Australia, Russia). It would have been better for them had they made a point of attacking ONLY American interests and citizens, rather than those of prospective or actual US allies. That MIGHT have fooled nonAmericans into believing that they could 'sit this one out' as only Americans (and Israelis of course) were in danger. The things simply do not understand how people in free or mostly free countries think and react. They mean to cow and terrify, and succeed in infuriating. This is true of Australia, it will be true of Russia, and France may be able to pass the first attack off as a "mistake" on the terrorist's part, but another attack will make that impossible. More and more of the west is beginning to recognize that the things are sincere when they state that their "religion" requires them to extend islam globally by all means (violent and nonviolent) and that their goal is a global caliphate under islam and shariya, NOT "simply" the destruction of Israel,as many once tried to believe.
I agree: these ME terrorists are either stupid or know something we don't--like weapons of MD in wait, once they have us and our world allies completely poised to strike
We've chosen to learn the hard way. And so we shall.
The tanker was the first attack on France only if you accept the official lies that the explosion in the plant in Toulouse last year was an accident. I wonder how many people in France actually believe that. As a character remarks in one of Hitchcock's movies, the French are a cynical lot.