Prince Khalid bin Salman and US counterpart discuss over phone prospects for defense cooperation    Saudi Arabia highlights long standing relationship with UNESCO during Executive Board meeting    Princess Haifa: Sporting events draw 14 million tourists with SR22 billion spending in 2024    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 78.8 years    Hajj Ministry sets April 29 as last date for departure of Umrah pilgrims    TASI recoups losses, records highest close since December 2024    Dar wa Emaar hosts annual Eid Al Fitr community celebration with residents at Saraya Al Narjis in Riyadh    6.8 million people travel via four Saudi airports during 2025 Umrah season    Ithra to showcase its art collection at Riyadh Art Week    Israeli protesters urge Netanyahu to secure hostage deal during meeting with Trump    Palestinian teen died in Israeli prison after suffering 'likely prolonged malnutrition', autopsy finds    Saudi U-17s qualify for 2025 FIFA World Cup after win over Thailand    Saudi Arabia imposes SR100,000 fine on Hajj and Umrah firms for not reporting visa overstays    US defends tariffs on remote island of penguins and seals    The Seven Dogs wraps filming in Riyadh with a budget exceeding $40 million    Trump's crackdown on university protests is casting a long shadow    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Terror in Paris - again
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 11 - 2015

The spectacular, shocking terrorist attack in Paris on Friday night which has killed at least 150 people has done several things all at once. It has forced France to announce a state of emergency for the first time since 2005. The simultaneous attack on six sites in Paris will probably lead to the eventual undoing of Francois Hollande's presidency, for this is the second extraordinary terrorist attack in France this year under his watch.
The assault made a mockery of statements made by President Obama just the day before that Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) had been "contained", and another by Secretary of State John Kerry on the day of the carnage that Daesh's "days are numbered". And it might force French citizens and those elsewhere in the Western world to come to the conclusion that they will never be safe after this and will never again be able to lead normal lives.
Coming at the start of a weekend on a Friday night, the attacks, most likely by Daesh, were meant for maximum impact, as the eight or nine attackers mowed down as many people as possible before they blew themselves up or were killed by police. They picked off at random the unsuspecting at cafes and restaurants at various sites in Paris, including the Stade de France and the Bataclan Theater where most of the blood was spilt in cold-blooded executions.
The attack pales in comparison to the Charlie Hebdo rampage in January in which Paris saw three days of attacks from Islamist gunmen that murdered 18 people. However, Friday's attack will have the same effect, a French call for unity. Charlie Hebdo brought the French people together with much of the world standing behind them. A similar show of solidarity at home and words of support from abroad are expected. The message the French will want to get out: terrorism will not win the day and they will not bow or break.
It is also possible that French citizens will take to arming themselves, much like the Americans. The French government obviously cannot efficiently monitor the reportedly 1,000 French men and women who have gone to fight alongside Daesh in Syria and Iraq, many of whom return to continue the fight on French soil.
This horrific attack will also put the spotlight on the summer's refugee influx from countries like Syria into Europe and how the far-right will try to connect the refugees with the attacks. However, it should be remembered that the refugees are fleeing the very same people who most likely carried out the Paris bomb and gun attacks.
Hollande announced that the fight against the attackers would be fought "without mercy", meaning a harder than usual aerial bombardment of Daesh fighters in Syria. How much of an impact this escalation will have and how much has been done is debatable. The retaking of Kurdish fighters of the strategic Iraqi town of Sinjar which had been held by Daesh since last year was offset by the over 40 people killed in Beirut on Thursday by two suicide bombings claimed by Daesh which also looks like it was behind the mid-air explosion of the Russian jet over Sinai which killed 224 people two weeks ago.
The Paris attack came just a day after the reported killing of Mohammed Emwazi, the British citizen known as Jihadi John, the main figure in the Daesh videos showing the executions of American and Western hostages. It was Emwazi's reported death which apparently led Obama and Kerry to speak too soon about Daesh's imminent demise.
Friday was a day of horror, leaving France and the world in shock. The French will now lock down, mourn, fight back, and ask themselves and their government: what's next?


Clic here to read the story from its source.