World Politics

[Arredondo]

That's the downside of social media.

Looks false alarm.

 

[Amsterhammer]

First observation. Beirut attack on Thursday, 45 dead and counting. Compared to the new Paris attacks, very short coverage by Western MSM. And apparently, zero reaction on this thread.

More importantly, the Beirut attack are meant as retaliation for the Hezbollah support of Assad against ISIS since the Russian intervention against the said US sponsored terrorist group. Obviously, it does not fit with the clash of civilizations theory. This is a terrorist attack against an enemy of Israel and of the USA. It's as though ISIS were playing into their hands ...

However another attack in Paris is instrmental in propagating Islamophobia in Western minds, so there's a big minute-by-minute live coverage ...

This being said, let us remember that the Bataclan is an ultra-Zionist concert hall which celebrates the Israeli border police Magav every year ... With so much provocation, how could you not expect what would happen.

Eagles of Black Metal recently made a tour in Israel.

A state of emergency has been declared now. These things, we know when it starts, but not when it ends. It might last for décades.

We might this time Wonder what the motives for this attack was. Charlie Hebdo, that was the official recognition by the French Parliament of the Palestinian state (in December) [Netanyahu had predicted terrorist attacks in France in August 2014 if they did].

This time it might be the EU's decision to label products coming from the Israeli colonies (which Netanyahu called anti-Semitic and Nazi) or the planned visited by President Rohani next Sunday, considered "an insult to French Jews". Future will tell.


Oh yes, and finally, Laurent Joffrin and Libération have been mentioned here. So let us remember that Joffrin is a tw*t of the first order who celebrated the libertarian reforms of President Mitterrand in 1984 and that Libération was formerly owned by Rothschild and now by Patrick Drahi. Drahi is an Israeli businessman at the head of the Telecom group Altice, who made deals with the Carlyle Group (which means the neocons of the Bush administration) and is a close friend of Peres and Netanyahu. What a great reference!

Not content with already being the anachronistic, reactionary, laughing stock of this forum, your elevation of a concert hall to the status of "ultra Zionist", now firmly cements your status as someone with negative credibility. Your opinions and ramblings about everything from politics to history are beyond bizarre, largely irrelevant, and often simply laughable.

I posted the quote from Joffrin as it came up last night. Doing so did not, and does not, suggest any political opinion about him or his publication on my part, nor should it in the course of normal discourse lead to the bizarre, slightly paranoid, word salad that is masquerading as your final paragraph above. In short, it is impossible to take you seriously.

And, don't tell me to "stop whining".

 

[python]

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

 

[Scott SoCal]

Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Soft target probably. It's being reported that at least one of the attackers was in the terrorist watch list.

It's hard to know of course but I'd imagine it will have some elements of a crime of opportunity.

Sad days.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re: Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Soft target probably. It's being reported that at least one of the attackers was in the terrorist watch list.

It's hard to know of course but I'd imagine it will have some elements of a crime of opportunity.

Sad days.

Very sad and makes me angry. All I can do is turn inward, protect me and mine. No idea of the solution but for ME, protect me and mine.

Big failure on French intel. BUT sounds like pretty easy to get lost in Paris, not much intel shared with other Euro nations nor the US. PLUS huge muslim population in Paris. 2.3 million total, 10-15% muslim according to interweb(about 230,000).

This sort of thing wouldn't have happened in Moscow.

Be careful out there. Wherever you are.

 

[python]

Re: Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Soft target probably. It's being reported that at least one of the attackers was in the terrorist watch list.

It's hard to know of course but I'd imagine it will have some elements of a crime of opportunity.

Sad days.

yep, that's the only rational explanation i can think of. indeed the monumental failure of french intel...just imagine the audacity and the scale ! the 7 dead culprits must have been supported by at least that many still on the loose...

the stadium where the terrorists 'scored' the highest was attended by the president of the republic at the very time of the crime !!

 

[blutto]

Re: Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Soft target probably. It's being reported that at least one of the attackers was in the terrorist watch list.

It's hard to know of course but I'd imagine it will have some elements of a crime of opportunity.

Sad days.

Very sad and makes me angry. All I can do is turn inward, protect me and mine. No idea of the solution but for ME, protect me and mine.

Big failure on French intel. BUT sounds like pretty easy to get lost in Paris, not much intel shared with other Euro nations nor the US. PLUS huge muslim population in Paris. 2.3 million total, 10-15% muslim according to interweb(about 230,000).

This sort of thing wouldn't have happened in Moscow.

Be careful out there. Wherever you are.

....you really have get out more because you obviously don't know about the Moscow Metro attack....the Domodedovo International Airport bombing....the Moscow Ball-Bearing Plant’s Palace of Culture incident....all of which claimed a great many lives ...and all of which were perpetrated by folks who, not unlike the ISIS group who are reportedly behind the recent Paris horror, have very strong connections to, uhhh, friends of certain "Western" powers ( think of these incidents as an extension of the strategy initiated by the US of A in Afgahnistan....the only real question is whether this extension is still "under control" or has this strategy jumped the fence and now has a life of its own )....

...before all of the raw emotion that this horror has produced gets channeled into an "official" direction it may be good time to take a deep breath and read the following...

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/11/13/the-age-of-despair-reaping-the-whirlwind-of-western-support-for-extremist-violence/

Cheers

 

[VeloCity]

Well that didn't take long.

"Fundamentalist Islam must be destroyed, radical mosques closed, radical imams expelled." - Marine Le Pen.

 

[l.Harm]

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

It's possible to live in peace, but you have to create understanding. And the last thing you should do, is creating more distance/anger/frustration. Then those terrorists will win.

Don't forget a lot of victims of this brutal attack in Paris are muslims. And don't forget a lot of muslims fight with us Europeans against IS and for a better world.

 

[red_flanders]

Re: Re:

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

Blacks in America have lived a separate existence in from other racial groups for hundreds of years, and certainly don't have the chances and opportunities afforded others in this country. Yet they do not launch planned, systemic mass murders of American citizens or other terrorist acts. Frankly that particular sickness seems almost exclusively the domain of white males who feel they've been disenfranchised in one way or another.

You can't divorce these acts from radical Islam. These guys are recruited by radical Islamic groups, trained by radical Islamists, and do what they do in the name of that religion. You cannot claim this isn't a feature of Islam, it quite simply is at this point in history. That's of course not to say this is the way the vast majority of muslims behave, or even what they support. Of course the vast majority of any group is by definition not extremist. But to say this is independent of Islam is simply, demonstrably untrue.

The only question is what one does about this fact. I honestly don't know. Right now I'm feeling good about the strong words from the French President.

Sadly this is all a direct result of the war in Iraq. Can you imagine if we'd never have invaded? Yep, Saddam would still be there. How on earth is that worse than all this? Madness.

 

[python]

Re: Re:

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

It's possible to live in peace, but you have to create understanding. And the last thing you should do, is creating more distance/anger/frustration. Then those terrorists will win.

Don't forget a lot of victims of this brutal attack in Paris are muslims. And don't forget a lot of muslims fight with us Europeans against IS and for a better world.

a day after the horrible acts perhaps isn't the best time to rehash some recent history of the west's trying to 'civilize' the middle east. but unless some hard questions get answered the terrible acts will continue to devastate us and condition (perhaps distort is a better word) many europeans views on islam...

would yesterday happen if iraq was not dismembered ?

would it happen if lybia wasn't dismembered ?

is it wise given the most recent experience of the 2 dismembered, volatile islamic states to insist like a broken record 'assad must go'.

i believe that sooner or later there is the time to pay for one's mistakes. sometimes it can be postponed, sometimes the bill can be passed to the allies and friends. at other times - and imo that's what was happening to the long suffering muslims in the m. east - the bill can be arrogantly passed to the victims

yet, sometimes it catches up...

 

[Red Rick]

The problem (imo) is that people don't acknowledge the norms and values (and logic for that matter) of western culture (and follow their own religion within these boundaries), and completely discard these norms, values and logic in favour of their twisted interpretation of their religion. That way there is no common ground to find compromises with these people. I think it is disregarding these values that makes it more complicated and I think it is also one of the reasons muslims are more likely to lash out. They often hide behind their religion in order to avoid showing some basic decency. It might be a start to not let them do that, and kicking them out if they have a problem with that

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Re: Re:

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

It's possible to live in peace, but you have to create understanding. And the last thing you should do, is creating more distance/anger/frustration. Then those terrorists will win.

Don't forget a lot of victims of this brutal attack in Paris are muslims. And don't forget a lot of muslims fight with us Europeans against IS and for a better world.

I really don't know how to respond to a quote like this. Simply I think you are wrong but maybe after I calm down some from the events of yesterday and early AM there in France I will be able to formulate just exactly what I believe to be wrong with your statement.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Re: Re:

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

Blacks in America have lived a separate existence in from other racial groups for hundreds of years, and certainly don't have the chances and opportunities afforded others in this country. Yet they do not launch planned, systemic mass murders of American citizens or other terrorist acts. Frankly that particular sickness seems almost exclusively the domain of white males who feel they've been disenfranchised in one way or another.

You can't divorce these acts from radical Islam. These guys are recruited by radical Islamic groups, trained by radical Islamists, and do what they do in the name of that religion. You cannot claim this isn't a feature of Islam, it quite simply is at this point in history. That's of course not to say this is the way the vast majority of muslims behave, or even what they support. Of course the vast majority of any group is by definition not extremist. But to say this is independent of Islam is simply, demonstrably untrue.

The only question is what one does about this fact. I honestly don't know. Right now I'm feeling good about the strong words from the French President.

Sadly this is all a direct result of the war in Iraq. Can you imagine if we'd never have invaded? Yep, Saddam would still be there. How on earth is that worse than all this? Madness.

It very well might be. But 9/11 was pre war in Iraq. So some of these mad men are pissed about more than just Iraq. Not saying you are wrong 100%. The Merikah trying to bring our government to the middle east is probably the stupidest idea's ever. As said here by Python - cant go around trying to take out these leaders of the countries.

 

[red_flanders]

Re: Re:

It very well might be. But 9/11 was pre war in Iraq. So some of these mad men are pissed about more than just Iraq. Not saying you are wrong 100%. The Merikah trying to bring our government to the middle east is probably the stupidest idea's ever. As said here by Python - cant go around trying to take out these leaders of the countries.

I think you and I are of like mind on the question of divorcing Islam from this horrific attack but I can't get past your linking 9/11 to Iraq. It had NOTHING to do with Iraq. I know you're not trying to link them in the traditional sense, but we can't really say them in the same sentence given what's happened. This lie we were fed is the genesis of the Iraq war, and the seed of our complicity in all that followed. I cannot let it pass.

It's well past time to stop linking the two events. If nothing else, let's learn that.

But yeah. They've been attacking us since the first Iraq war. One which I supported at the time, but have to wonder now what it was all in aid of.

That said, I do long for a James Baker at this time. He was a force we could use right now.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

It's possible to live in peace, but you have to create understanding. And the last thing you should do, is creating more distance/anger/frustration. Then those terrorists will win.

Don't forget a lot of victims of this brutal attack in Paris are muslims. And don't forget a lot of muslims fight with us Europeans against IS and for a better world.

I really don't know how to respond to a quote like this. Simply I think you are wrong but maybe after I calm down some from the events of yesterday and early AM there in France I will be able to formulate just exactly what I believe to be wrong with your statement.

Don't get me wrong. For sure there's a radical section of the Islam. But is Islam the only religion where there is barbary and radicalism? History has teached us it's possible in all kinds of religions.

The only point i want to make is that there is no case of a totally wrong Islam. How in earth can you plead for a 'deislamization' of Europe? I think that's way to radical. Even in these horrific times we need to see the reality, and be calm.

There is a place for muslims in our Western society. But not for radical muslims. But there is also no place for radical Christians for example.

 

[blutto]

Re: Re:

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

The danger comes because a part of the Islamic people don't feel at home in Europe. Or don't get enough chances to become real European citizens. Radicalisation isn't a feature/standard of Islam, it's a expression of disbelief, frustration and poverty.

It's possible to live in peace, but you have to create understanding. And the last thing you should do, is creating more distance/anger/frustration. Then those terrorists will win.

Don't forget a lot of victims of this brutal attack in Paris are muslims. And don't forget a lot of muslims fight with us Europeans against IS and for a better world.

I really don't know how to respond to a quote like this. Simply I think you are wrong but maybe after I calm down some from the events of yesterday and early AM there in France I will be able to formulate just exactly what I believe to be wrong with your statement.

Don't get me wrong. For sure there's a radical section of the Islam. But is Islam the only religion where there is barbary and radicalism? History has teached us it's possible in all kinds of religions.

The only point i want to make is that there is no case of a totally wrong Islam. How in earth can you plead for a 'deislamization' of Europe? I think that's way to radical. Even in these horrific times we need to see the reality, and be calm.

There is a place for muslims in our Western society. But not for radical muslims. But there is also no place for radical Christians for example.

...find below the response of the mayor of Paris...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Paris mayor: "Multiculturalism is intolerable to fanatics." Well said.

Just heard her statement on CNN.

That certainly applies to American fanatics, and the far-right in general here. They long for the monoculturalism (their culture, of course) they see in their rear view mirror. "

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...and I would add that fanatics will, or have historically been known to, misuse/misrepresent/misinterpret anything and everything to backstop their fanaticism....

Cheers

 

[Amsterhammer]

Re:

What about Geert Wilders

The truth is: islam does not belong to us. Brings violence and danger everywhere. We need to deislamize and close our borders.

As long as our so called leaders Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Rutte deny that islam and terror are the same, we will have terror attacks.

Why am I not surprised?

**** Wilders. I have nothing but the greatest contempt for Islamophobe fascists.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Re: Re:

It very well might be. But 9/11 was pre war in Iraq. So some of these mad men are pissed about more than just Iraq. Not saying you are wrong 100%. The Merikah trying to bring our government to the middle east is probably the stupidest idea's ever. As said here by Python - cant go around trying to take out these leaders of the countries.

I think you and I are of like mind on the question of divorcing Islam from this horrific attack but I can't get past your linking 9/11 to Iraq. It had NOTHING to do with Iraq. I know you're not trying to link them in the traditional sense, but we can't really say them in the same sentence given what's happened. This lie we were fed is the genesis of the Iraq war, and the seed of our complicity in all that followed. I cannot let it pass.

It's well past time to stop linking the two events. If nothing else, let's learn that.

But yeah. They've been attacking us since the first Iraq war. One which I supported at the time, but have to wonder now what it was all in aid of.

That said, I do long for a James Baker at this time. He was a force we could use right now.

I understand that. I should not have written those statements the way I did. I KNOW that 9/11 had 0 to do with Iraq. Yes we were fed some lies no doubt. That I also agree on.

I should try to say or wanted to say that 9/11 was done because we had had troops in Saudi or at least that one of the reasons. I believe that Al-queda wanted us to leave the region alone and to stop meddling in the Muslim world.

I was at Desert Shield / Storm and obvious as it is now the reasons were the same - try to prop up Kuwait so the oil would flow. It got us involved in the region in a way as never before. We are collecting the consequences of that now.

 

[red_flanders]

Re: Re:

It very well might be. But 9/11 was pre war in Iraq. So some of these mad men are pissed about more than just Iraq. Not saying you are wrong 100%. The Merikah trying to bring our government to the middle east is probably the stupidest idea's ever. As said here by Python - cant go around trying to take out these leaders of the countries.

I think you and I are of like mind on the question of divorcing Islam from this horrific attack but I can't get past your linking 9/11 to Iraq. It had NOTHING to do with Iraq. I know you're not trying to link them in the traditional sense, but we can't really say them in the same sentence given what's happened. This lie we were fed is the genesis of the Iraq war, and the seed of our complicity in all that followed. I cannot let it pass.

It's well past time to stop linking the two events. If nothing else, let's learn that.

But yeah. They've been attacking us since the first Iraq war. One which I supported at the time, but have to wonder now what it was all in aid of.

That said, I do long for a James Baker at this time. He was a force we could use right now.

I understand that. I should not have written those statements the way I did. I KNOW that 9/11 had 0 to do with Iraq. Yes we were fed some lies no doubt. That I also agree on.

I should try to say or wanted to say that 9/11 was done because we had had troops in Saudi or at least that one of the reasons. I believe that Al-queda wanted us to leave the region alone and to stop meddling in the Muslim world.

I was at Desert Shield / Storm and obvious as it is now the reasons were the same - try to prop up Kuwait so the oil would flow. It got us involved in the region in a way as never before. We are collecting the consequences of that now.

We are in total agreement and I apologize for overreacting. My second apology in these threads in pretty quick order. I guess I need to be a bit more thoughtful before I post.

All this started with oil, as you clearly state and having been there, probably understand better than any of us who were not.

So what do we do about that? Seems to me our foreign policy and our energy policy would both benefit strongly from doing everything we can to get off of oil, to invest has heavily as possible in renewables.

No one factors the cost of all this carnage into the price of our dependence on oil. Solar is going into my house this month. It's too easy not to do now.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Re: Re:

It very well might be. But 9/11 was pre war in Iraq. So some of these mad men are pissed about more than just Iraq. Not saying you are wrong 100%. The Merikah trying to bring our government to the middle east is probably the stupidest idea's ever. As said here by Python - cant go around trying to take out these leaders of the countries.

I think you and I are of like mind on the question of divorcing Islam from this horrific attack but I can't get past your linking 9/11 to Iraq. It had NOTHING to do with Iraq. I know you're not trying to link them in the traditional sense, but we can't really say them in the same sentence given what's happened. This lie we were fed is the genesis of the Iraq war, and the seed of our complicity in all that followed. I cannot let it pass.

It's well past time to stop linking the two events. If nothing else, let's learn that.

But yeah. They've been attacking us since the first Iraq war. One which I supported at the time, but have to wonder now what it was all in aid of.

That said, I do long for a James Baker at this time. He was a force we could use right now.

I understand that. I should not have written those statements the way I did. I KNOW that 9/11 had 0 to do with Iraq. Yes we were fed some lies no doubt. That I also agree on.

I should try to say or wanted to say that 9/11 was done because we had had troops in Saudi or at least that one of the reasons. I believe that Al-queda wanted us to leave the region alone and to stop meddling in the Muslim world.

I was at Desert Shield / Storm and obvious as it is now the reasons were the same - try to prop up Kuwait so the oil would flow. It got us involved in the region in a way as never before. We are collecting the consequences of that now.

We are in total agreement and I apologize for overreacting. My second apology in these threads in pretty quick order. I guess I need to be a bit more thoughtful before I post.

All this started with oil, as you clearly state and having been there, probably understand better than any of us who were not.

So what do we do about that? Seems to me our foreign policy and our energy policy would both benefit strongly from doing everything we can to get off of oil, to invest has heavily as possible in renewables.

No one factors the cost of all this carnage into the price of our dependence on oil. Solar is going into my house this month. It's too easy not to do now.

Good news about the Solar. I want to do it also. Ever since I was in Elementary school and President Carter had them installed on the white house. I would day dream about having solar cells on my home and then someone would always crush me with the old..."you would need a battery farm to store energy enough to keep the house going" that all seems so stupid now. Sorry to go off topic.

The USA has to understand that the worlds problems are not ours to solve. We would do more help with aid and doctors than what we have done since the 90's. I know I know someone is gong to come tell me how our CIA and our government is into everyone's business etc. I understand that. I also understand that if we could just step back and save the ammo for another time and place we would be better in the world.

Now back to these fools who just caused harm to our friends the French people. What is there to do for them. They have a large immigrant population and those will travel back and forth to their Homelands. During which time you would expect some to be radicalized. Either in France or at home. They are decide that the only way for the Muslim world to exist is their way and to kill everyone else. This is a problem that is going to show up in the USA I don't doubt it one bit.

The first time I saw this commercial for a drone delivering something for Amazon or as a toy to video cool stuff. These things are not good and can be used for some serious bad stuff. I'm paranoid no doubt but I don't want the things around me not even at a park.

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Because France is a western country that allows gay and jewish people to live normal lives, allows little girls to get an education, allows its women to wear what they want, allows free speech, allows people born into "muslim families" to convert to other religions etc.

You are trying to rationalize the behavior of fascistic sociopaths who want to destroy all life and believe they will get rewarded for causing suffering, as some sort of militaristic response to foreign policy.

Why do they behead gay people, stone women for adultery and throw acid at 5 year old girls? Is that a response to western foreign policy too?

There are military operations people that don't like the US take. Going into a hall and massacring everyone within sight then calling it a miracle, is not that.

 

[Irondan]

Re: Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Because France is a western country that allows gay and jewish people to live normal lives, allows little girls to get an education, allows its women to wear what they want, allows free speech, allows people born into "muslim families" to convert to other religions etc.

You are trying to rationalize the behavior of fascistic sociopaths who want to destroy all life and believe they will get rewarded for causing suffering, as some sort of militaristic response to foreign policy.

Why do they behead gay people, stone women for adultery and throw acid at 5 year old girls? Is that a response to western foreign policy too?

There are military operations people that don't like the US take. Going into a hall and massacring everyone within sight then calling it a miracle, is not that.

Great comment Hitch.

We're all trying to rationalize, or understand why they would pick the French for this heinous act but the fact is that we're (western world) all the target.

 

[blutto]

Re: Re:

why france ?

in the anti- isil military 'front' the french have played a truly secondary if not a minor role...

Soft target probably. It's being reported that at least one of the attackers was in the terrorist watch list.

It's hard to know of course but I'd imagine it will have some elements of a crime of opportunity.

Sad days.

yep, that's the only rational explanation i can think of. indeed the monumental failure of french intel...just imagine the audacity and the scale ! the 7 dead culprits must have been supported by at least that many still on the loose...

the stadium where the terrorists 'scored' the highest was attended by the president of the republic at the very time of the crime !!

....there is unfortunately the historical fact of Operation Gladio which while publically acknowledged was never investigated and quite possibly never fully shut down....so who really knows if this is a failure....will be interesting to see how the aftermath plays out and who benefits from any changes to French politics that this awful tragedy will produce....

Cheers