French leader declares “war” on radical Islam after attacks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^A far cry from the usual blather about the French being unwilling and unable to fight that is bandied around especially when the US is at odds with France on foreign policy.

But despite your optimistic scenario, the French are as powerless as the the Americans in dealing with Muslim extremists. One is not fighting a country but a movement that takes shelter in many different countries.

Since Bush's declaration of a war on terror Al Qaeda's leadership has been decimated but many offshoots - some even more brutal than Al Qaeda - have been spawned despite the concerted attempt by the US with all of its resources to eradicate the extremists.

What makes you think that a relatively inconsequential military power like France will be able to achieve what the US has not been able to accomplish to date?

There is nothing inconsequential about France as a military power. They may not be a super-power, but they have virtually every weapon possessed in the US arsenal. They are not members of NATO and will not play by the same rules. This was their 9/11 and they are mobilizing for war. They will invade Yemen and not leave until every al qaida operative in the country is dead.

You are delusional. Not a chance they will do anything of the sort. If the US with all of its military prowess and financial resources has had limited success in the war on terror, what makes you think the French are better equipped to do so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^A far cry from the usual blather about the French being unwilling and unable to fight that is bandied around especially when the US is at odds with France on foreign policy.

But despite your optimistic scenario, the French are as powerless as the the Americans in dealing with Muslim extremists. One is not fighting a country but a movement that takes shelter in many different countries.

Since Bush's declaration of a war on terror Al Qaeda's leadership has been decimated but many offshoots - some even more brutal than Al Qaeda - have been spawned despite the concerted attempt by the US with all of its resources to eradicate the extremists.

What makes you think that a relatively inconsequential military power like France will be able to achieve what the US has not been able to accomplish to date?

There is nothing inconsequential about France as a military power. They may not be a super-power, but they have virtually every weapon possessed in the US arsenal. They are not members of NATO and will not play by the same rules. This was their 9/11 and they are mobilizing for war. They will invade Yemen and not leave until every al qaida operative in the country is dead.

Wow, where to start.

1. France is a member of NATO.
2. They could barely muster up the energy to run a few bombing attacks last year, then declared "we can't do it all ourselves". It reminds me of my kids who pick up their toys once and then they complain that they always have to do all the housekeeping.
3. We had do do the target spotting for them in Libya.

[Anonymous]

I was unaware France had rejoined NATO.

France is francocentric. They claim to be unable to do anything which is not in their own interest.

Yemen is smaller and more isolated than Afganistan and Iraq.

If needed France will receive US targeting data.

France will launch ground attacks in Yemen.

Three million people marched in the streets of France yesterday. The government has public support to fight this war against al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

France will solve the problem of al Qaida in Yemen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was unaware France had rejoined NATO.

France is francocentric. They claim to be unable to do anything which is not in their own interest.

Yemen is smaller and more isolated than Afganistan and Iraq.

If needed France will receive US targeting data.

France will launch ground attacks in Yemen.

Three million people marched in the streets of France yesterday. The government has public support to fight this war against al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

France will solve the problem of al Qaida in Yemen.

When was the last time that France won any war on its own? They are inconsequential as a military power.

[Anonymous]

There are incipient discussions in France about a French version of the Patriot Act. Naturally, there is alarm about overreach and violation of personal liberties, based on the US experience. It will be an interesting development to follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was unaware France had rejoined NATO.

France is francocentric. They claim to be unable to do anything which is not in their own interest.

Yemen is smaller and more isolated than Afganistan and Iraq.

If needed France will receive US targeting data.

France will launch ground attacks in Yemen.

Three million people marched in the streets of France yesterday. The government has public support to fight this war against al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

France will solve the problem of al Qaida in Yemen.

Really, Yemen is in their interest but Syria is not. Your understanding of French foreign policy is quite amusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^A far cry from the usual blather about the French being unwilling and unable to fight that is bandied around especially when the US is at odds with France on foreign policy.

But despite your optimistic scenario, the French are as powerless as the the Americans in dealing with Muslim extremists. One is not fighting a country but a movement that takes shelter in many different countries.

Since Bush's declaration of a war on terror Al Qaeda's leadership has been decimated but many offshoots - some even more brutal than Al Qaeda - have been spawned despite the concerted attempt by the US with all of its resources to eradicate the extremists.What makes you think that a relatively inconsequential military power like France will be able to achieve what the US has not been able to accomplish to date?

I don't believe the US has nearly utilized all of its resources. Whether or not they should is up for debate/discussion.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:When was the last time that France won any war on its own? They are inconsequential as a military power.

To be fair, France performed pretty well in Mali. Of course, Yemen would be a different story. I doubt anyone wants to send ground troops to Yemen.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When was the last time that France won any war on its own? They are inconsequential as a military power.

To be fair, France performed pretty well in Mali. Of course, Yemen would be a different story. I doubt anyone wants to send ground troops to Yemen.

Fair point! But as you stated Yemen would be a whole different challenge than Mali.

Besides, the French effort in Mali has not been a long term success as evidenced by the return of jihadists to Mali. Further, from this link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/07/24/a-reminder-of-what-has-been-happening-in-mali

In many ways, France's redeployment of its troops was less an acknowledgement that the problems in Mali were over, and more a sign that it viewed the Islamist threat in northwest Africa as a transnational problem. The recent surge of attacks by Boko Haram may show they are right. Many of Nigeria's Islamists had cut their teeth fighting in Mali before returning home.

Even if the French were successful in driving AQ out of Yemen, they would surface elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

The problem with all the nato allies is none have the ability to project power...they lack the logistical capabilities. Only the U.S. has that...now they may have better on the ground Intel...look at all the guys we took out after the Pakistan school shooting.

[Anonymous]

Does radical Islam know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with all the nato allies is none have the ability to project power...they lack the logistical capabilities. Only the U.S. has that...now they may have better on the ground Intel...look at all the guys we took out after the Pakistan school shooting.

Sure, we took out most of Al Qaeda's leadership and look what took their place?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with all the nato allies is none have the ability to project power...they lack the logistical capabilities. Only the U.S. has that...now they may have better on the ground Intel...look at all the guys we took out after the Pakistan school shooting.


Sure, we took out most of Al Qaeda's leadership and look what took their place?

Any time you start to kill people unintended thing will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How often does Christ get slandered?

Seriously? Plenty, as do Christians.

yeah - so what?

Anyone person secure in his/her belief system, will turn the other cheek, no?

Religion is for morons anyway.

I'm sorry but I cannot recall any Muslims mocking Jesus Christ. Can someone please send me a list of examples? All I can think of is atheists like George Carlin.

I'm not sure if there are cartoonists in the Muslim world, but they consider Christians Infidels and want them run out of the world so that Muslims can control the world. In Saudi Arabia, other religions aren't even allowed. Many of these countries don't allow free speech which is why there are no cartoonists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How often does Christ get slandered?

Seriously? Plenty, as do Christians.

yeah - so what?

Anyone person secure in his/her belief system, will turn the other cheek, no?

Religion is for morons anyway.

I'm sorry but I cannot recall any Muslims mocking Jesus Christ. Can someone please send me a list of examples? All I can think of is atheists like George Carlin.

I'm not sure if there are cartoonists in the Muslim world, but they consider Christians Infidels and want them run out of the world so that Muslims can control the world. In Saudi Arabia, other religions aren't even allowed. Many of these countries don't allow free speech which is why there are no cartoonists.

So no to the mockery of Jesus.