Ok, so the Baker Commission's Iraq Study Report insisted that solving the Middle East Conflict was the key to solving the problems in Iraq. The whole Arab world insists that the Middle East Conflict is the reason for terrorism. Much of Europe believes this. Much of America believes it too.
But, France doesn't?
Kick me in the shins, I think I'm dreaming:
An official report published recently by the French government says that resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not bring an end to the threat of global terrorism.
The report, named “Internal Security vs. Terror Threats” is an official publication of the French government. The report says that “since Europe is closer and more accessible to the Middle East than the United States, it serves as an alternative to anyone seeking to attack the “distant enemy.” Europe contains a variety of appropriate targets, some of which are connected with the United States and with Israel, and a strike on one or more of these targets would draw huge international attention.”
In addition, the report says, Europe has a large population of Muslim immigrants which creates an area where there is direct contact with the conflict areas.
The report also says that “some of the conflicts in the Middle East are mentioned extensively in the rhetoric uttered by the Islamist terrorists. However, the resolution of these conflicts would have no effect on ending global terror, which is functionally disconnected from these conflicts.”
Uh, wow!
4 comments:
I think that the the French are very strange. However, they tend to act very strongly in their own interest-- or what they believe is their own interests. They could afford to support the 'struggles of the opressed Palestinians', etc-- after all, the people who were getting murdered by Pali terrorists were far away.
And they also acted out of self interest in opposing the War in Iraq-- French oil companies were invested in in Saddam's Iraq, and France made large loans to Saddam-- they were afraid these would be lost if he was toppled. The French didn't oppose the war out of any sense of 'anti-war idealism', rather it was simple self-interest.
There are Islamic extremist groups who want to target France...and their motives have nothing to do with issues re Israel/Palestine..and the French know this. When it comes to fighting terrorist threats to themselves, I believe the French are more realistic than many other European countries.
And, of course, now that they have such a large Muslim population, they are getting a first hand experience of what some of these people are really like.
I recently came across this article re French cooperation in the War on Terror. It is also quite different than what we often read in the media.
Yes, I agree with you, Krishna. And also, remember, Chiraq has made it public that if France is attacked with ANY form of WMD, even a small-scale chemical weapons attack, he will nuke the Middle East.
America itself is not nearly so belligerant.
In 1985, the French were to perform a nuclear test in the Pacific. Greenpeace sent a ship in an attempt to prevent the French test.
The French sank the Greenpeace ship!
They denied that they did it, but it was later revealed that Mitterand personally authorized the attack. Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.
There are numerous other examples of this type of agressive behaviour by the French.
So, despite their hypocrisy, I have no doubt that they will pursue terrorists quite vigorously-- well, at least those that they perceive as threatening French interests. In many cases its overdone and inappropriate, but in fighting an enemy like Islamofascism its probably necessary.
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