Charlie Hebdo: A failure of policy

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On October 16, 2013, the French daily Le Monde warned of a large number of jihadists returning from overseas wars and their prospective threat to France. This was noted by English-language intelligence analysts such as the XX Committee blog.

The trouble, as John Schindler wrote January 10 in the cited blog, is this: "Western intelligence services since 9/11 have become very proficient at counterterrorism, with impressive collaboration in all disciplines, and France’s services rank among the best anywhere. If there was an 'intelligence failure' here, and we can be sure that embarrassed Paris politicos will be looking for one, it was small-scale. The real problem is that French politicians, as in all Western countries, have absolutely no idea what to do with the burgeoning numbers of aspiring jihadist killers in their midst."

The disintegration of Levant with hundreds of thousands debt and millions displaced has honed the desperation of prospective jihadists. The ability of the intelligence services to keep the upper hand in the delicate balance has broken down. There are now a large number of jihadists in Europe - perhaps several thousands - prepared to undertake what they perceive as martyrdom in a situation which they view in apocalyptic terms. Weapons are easy to obtain; Bloomberg News reported on January 7 that the street price of a Kalashnikov automatic assault rifle of Eastern European manufacture is about 1,000 euros (US$1,185), and that is roughly accurate.

It is not in the shadow world of intelligence operations but in the daylight of public policy that solutions must be found to the terrorist threat.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-120115.html

[DonCoquixote]

1. scaremongers

"If there was an 'intelligence failure' here, and we can be sure that embarrassed Paris politicos will be looking for one, it was small-scale. The real problem is that French politicians, as in all Western countries, have absolutely no idea what to do with the burgeoning numbers of aspiring jihadist killers in their midst." "

Translated from Racist Dog-whistle "those muslims need ta be sent back!"

[marble falls]

2. I wondered if this wasn't some sort of planted news article. Scare mongering is the exact word.

[geek tragedy]

3. seems that all tickets to Syria should be one way, why let them back in the country? nt

[Jefferson23]

4. Uh oh..dares to say the p word.

policies..tsk tsk.

One day, maybe they'll get it, before it's too late.

[bemildred]

5. Maybe, I do sees signs of concern now. We are getting some concessions.

But most of them are ignorant self-satisfied buffoons, as you can easily see, so I can't feel very optimistic about the necessary social reforms. And especially about the economic reforms. There are estimable politicians scattered here and there about the planet, but not enough of them.

[KoKo]

6. Interesting conclusion at the end of the article:

"The disintegration of Levant with hundreds of thousands debt and millions displaced has honed the desperation of prospective jihadists. The ability of the intelligence services to keep the upper hand in the delicate balance has broken down. There are now a large number of jihadists in Europe - perhaps several thousands - prepared to undertake what they perceive as martyrdom in a situation which they view in apocalyptic terms. Weapons are easy to obtain; Bloomberg News reported on January 7 that the street price of a Kalashnikov automatic assault rifle of Eastern European manufacture is about 1,000 euros (US$1,185), and that is roughly accurate.

It is not in the shadow world of intelligence operations but in the daylight of public policy that solutions must be found to the terrorist threat.

Gunter Bachmann the pseudonym of a European official concerned with counterterrorism."

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7. Yes. That is the punch line. nt