“’Invasive counterterrorist operations and tough tactics by the general police have [already] led to alienation in some sections of the community and may be contributing to the increasing problem of jihadist radicalization in France,’ said terrorism researcher Frank Foley. Several purportedly arbitrary arrests in counterterrorism raids have created a perception that all Muslims are now under a general suspicion in the country.”
“Hence, a Le Pen win — and a further marginalization of Muslims — could also be a victory for the Islamic State’s recruitment strategy.”
This analysis is nothing short of insane, but it’s quite common. Establishment “terrorism experts” and the media elites said the same thing when Trump was elected. But step back for a moment and think about it. They’re saying that Muslims who are law-abiding, loyal citizens of a secular republic will be so enraged by police tactics that “have created a perception that all Muslims are now under a general suspicion in the country” that they will join the jihad that they otherwise would reject and abhor and actively oppose. If they can switch sides that easily and quickly, were they ever really on the side of France and the West in the first place?
These analysts are saying that if Le Pen is elected and institutes strong anti-terror measures, Muslims will be “marginalized” and “radicalized.” All right. Hollande was elected last time, propelled into the presidency by the Muslim vote. Yet France still suffered an escalating series of jihad attacks. Why were they feeling “marginalized” then, when their candidate won and followed exactly the recommendations that are made in this article — don’t fight terrorism too strongly, or you’ll only create more terrorists? Hollande only allowed for “invasive counterterrorist operations” after several devastating jihad massacres, not before. So what caused those jihad massacres? What excuse and method of blaming the West will they come up with to explain that?
These “terrorism experts” are essentially counseling surrender: Don’t fight back, it will only make them angrier.
“France’s terrorism problem divided the country. The election could make it worse,” by Rick Noack, Washington Post, April 23, 2017 (thanks to Darcy):
PARIS — For a few days over the past two years, terrorism helped to unite some parts of French society. Following large-scale attacks, the French rallied behind their deeply unpopular President François Hollande, making his approval ratings repeatedly skyrocket for short time periods.
But the times of political unity are long over.
In Sunday’s first round of the presidential election, following a divisive campaign, French voters will have their choice between 11 candidates and their vastly different approaches to counterterrorism. Even before Thursday’s attack at the Champs-Elysees in which one police officer was killed, a majority of French said in polls that they wanted harsher sentences for terrorists and more powers for security services to prevent attacks.
Sunday’s vote is the first presidential election since the wave of terrorist attacks in France started in early 2015, and two of the four leading candidates are in favor of counterterrorism laws that have been criticized as draconic. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and conservative contender François Fillon have vowed to introduce sweeping legislation to expand police powers if they get elected. Centrist contender Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to increase security measures also attempts to calm the fears of voters, although it remains far less extensive.
Tougher measures might not automatically lead to more safety in France, however. Experts are warning that the opposite could be the case. In reality, a further crackdown on terrorism in the way it has been practiced so far, they say, could end up exposing the country further and making it more vulnerable to attacks.
“Invasive counterterrorist operations and tough tactics by the general police have [already] led to alienation in some sections of the community and may be contributing to the increasing problem of jihadist radicalization in France,” said terrorism researcher Frank Foley. Several purportedly arbitrary arrests in counterterrorism raids have created a perception that all Muslims are now under a general suspicion in the country.
A Le Pen victory in particular might “lead to a dangerous escalation of the situation in France,” Foley said.
Le Pen has, for example, vowed to proceed with large-scale deportations of Islamists. And following Thursday’s attack, both she and Fillon stated that France was “at war” with radical Islam.
Some say that such harsh rhetoric has only incited sectarian tensions.
“Le Pen’s recent remarks deliver a representation of Islam, which could easily be perceived as incompatible with secular democracy and indirectly play into the hands of radicals,” said Dounia Mahlouly, a French terrorism scholar with the International Center for the Study of Radicalization. The Islamic State and other groups have been trying to isolate Muslims within Western societies for some time to make them more prone to radicalization. Hence, a Le Pen win — and a further marginalization of Muslims — could also be a victory for the Islamic State’s recruitment strategy….
Monty says
Hmm. So do not kill the rats in your home. They might get upset and try to bite you. Just let them breed until your house becomes uninhabitable. Some of the rats have not bitten anyone yet. So just leave them alone, OK!
mortimer says
Disagree with Monty. Muslims are not vermin, but humans. They are can be deprogrammed and are deprogrammed at the rate of 10 million every year. Please use reasonable language. Do not be like them.
Check Noorish says
And how many Muslims are born every year?
mortimer says
The Muslim birthrate is plummeting in every country. As women are educated, they will have the same number of children as other groups. Can you not do this research yourself? Are you foolish?
Check Noorish says
How do you know that true Muslims are human? There are Muslims that want to get out from the gang of true Muslims, this is true. They can be considered humans. But the true Muslims, those going on streets demanding, raping, destroying and killing are defined by their actions. They are nou humans.
CrossWare says
Anyone who calls himself/herself a Muslim does not deserve any respect. It is an ideology, like Nazis and Communists. If you are no longer a Muslim, well that is a different situation.
Don Foss says
Take heart that hundreds of millions of “Muslims” are Muslim in name only, and are actually apostates in their hearts, yet living in the cultures and societies they do must go through the minimal motions – show up at the mosque on Fridays, wear hijab, make the usual “inshallah”-type comments in public, etc, in order to simply live a safe and otherwise normal life in their cultures (of which I myself have lived and worked many years). That is why it is Islam itself that needs to be called on the carpet, but not Muslims in general themselves, which is the reason I am a Robert Spenser fan.
TH says
The fact that they have been born into this ideology and brainwashed doesn’t make them less human or don’t deserve respect.The Western Islamic apologists including media and politicians are doing nothing to help Muslims realize the reality of Islam and doing them no favor. If the Establishment had a proper understanding of Islam, as they probably had of Nazism and Communism, they could proceed to establish methods of delegitimization or deprogramming of these people who are actually the victim of this horrendous ideology without they realizing it. A whole lot could be done to revert the situation such as investigating what is taught in mosques and madrassas, expelling imans who are promoting terrorism, closing down such mosques, declare that the Koran is a book which promotes hatred and terrorism and prove it by publishing hte many text in it which do so. Make know what kind of character Mahommad was so that they would feel ashamed of him and realize that he is not “the perfect model of human conduct”.
Christian Indeed says
10 million Muslims deprogrammed every year?
I call ‘male cow manure’ on that ‘quote’.
I guess we have to define ‘deprogam’ too and also look at the rate of ‘re-offending’.
mortimer says
6 million Africans are leaving Islam every year. There are easily 10 million leaving every year. Mullahs confirm that they are finding apostasy everywhere. Ordinary Muslims all know one or two dozen apostates. If that is so, then there are 200 or 300 million apostates.
Christian Indeed says
10 million Muslims deprogrammed every year?
I call ‘male cow manure’ on that ‘quote’.
I guess we have to define ‘deprogam’ too and also look at the rate of ‘re-offending’.
Michael says
if there are, say, 800 million that would need to be de-programmed — probably optimistic — that would take 80 years … they’re breeding like crazy in the meantime. I think we don’t have 80 years. They do; they’re patient, blindly focused on world domination. The concept of deprogramming seems unrealistic at best.
John Kendall says
Only a stupid people, in this case the French, would bring in people that have to be deprogrammed.
StacyGirl says
Nazis could be deprogrammed or they could take over and fight you to the death. You are a fool.
John Kendall says
“Nazis could be deprogrammed…”
LOL ?!
How stupid to bring in people to be deprogrammed, to bring in an ideology that wants to destroy you. LOL ?!
John Hawk says
I don’t disagree with the sentiment, Mortimer, but I question the math. Where does the 10 million per year figure come from?
gravenimage says
Mortimer wrote:
Disagree with Monty. Muslims are not vermin, but humans. They are can be deprogrammed and are deprogrammed at the rate of 10 million every year.
…………………………..
Mortimer, Muslims have *never* successfully been “deprogrammed”.
I presume your 10 million figure comes from Muslims who leave Islam.
There are several problems with this–firstly, I often see figures more along the line of six million rather than 10 million–just a little over half of your figure.
Then, these are Muslims who have *voluntarily* left Islam–not those who were “deprogrammed” by Infidels.
Thirdly, the high birth rate of Muslims leads to an increase in the Muslim population of about 29 million–that’s allowing for a 1.8% annual increase, as cited by the CIA Fact Book.
So even if your figure of 10 million were correct, Muslims are still increasing in number.
I just don’t want to see more of them in the West.
mortimer says
Few Muslims will declare themselves apostates, when in fact they are. Too much risk. The quietly mullahs confirm there are more apostates than ever. The mullahs do not broadcast the bad news, because then, everyone would leave. .
mortimer says
Governments must start the deprogramming on the basis of national interest and they will have to do it covertly.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, I’m sure there are more apostates than announce the fact, given its danger. Still, those leaving Islam appear to be outnumbered by those Muslims flooding into the West.
If they were all apostates, we would not be facing the escalating Jihad that we are.
And now Muslims have to be “deprogrammed” covertly, as well? How would that work? Invisible rays?
underbed cat says
Excelllent point monty…..in a humorous way.
jewdog says
It’s obvious that jihadists are often crazy people who use Islam as a justification, but it’s less apparent, though also somewhat insane and certainly dangerous, to try and justify NOT taking strong measures to oppose jihadists. Such people are a danger to themselves and others.
Barry Donnelly says
Great Photo ! Definitely looks as stupid as the methane gas he farts out his mouth !
Campos Mário says
Socialism as ideology has failed all over the world. There is no single country that is socialist but dictatorships (North Korea, Venezuela).
The association with Islam was seen as a strategic outlet for Socialism to destroy Christian civilization, its main objective.
Backward, ignorant and unstructured, the Islamists receive the ideological backing of the left and grow thanks to this support. Otherwise, they would remain sunk in their poor and sad origins. However, they are the deadly weapon used by Socialism to dominate the West.
maghan says
Scandinavian nations, Japan, Australia, France, etc. are all socialist nations. North Korea, Cuba, etc are not socialist but communist. Socialism today can be defined as Keynesian theory/practice and democratic voting.
The issue with Venezuela is that its government is now trying to transform the country into another Cuba. The people are resisting.
mortimer says
Message to Frank Foley: “HOW WILL APPEASEMENT STOP A SUPREMACIST? WHAT IS IT THAT A SUPREMACIST WANTS?”
Koran 8.60 “TURHIBUNNA” (terrorize them). That is an ETERNAL command written before time in the ETERNAL Koran.
“C’EST L’IDÉOLOGIE, MONSIEUR IDIOT !”
BLOCKHEAD! Appeasement didn’t work before.
utis says
Appeasement is like that garbage mountain in Sri Lanka. Leave the problem alone, and it will grow until it crashes down on the people near it.
Humans need incentive. If the imams will not use their common sense and the faithful will not use theirs, then they need stronger incentives than good will and common sense to co-operate.
Foley uses a lot of “may”, “could,” and “might.” How many more French kids will have to die (they lost 10 at the Nice truck jihad) before he stops playing abstract scenarios in his head and starts thinking about a better tack than simple surrender?
Steve K says
The left fights the mainstream right tooth and nail…Look at how they oppose Trump and le Pen. They go after them 110%. But when it comes to islamists they say leave them alone, don’t provoke them. Appease, and give in to them. Fighting them will only make it worse
Very revealing
mike9a says
and this researcher is paid to spill out the nonsense like this?! Unbelievable! If he just started his research at the source: the brainwashing and killing manual: Quran, he would help himself and humanity.
nomoreexpert says
What is the logics of the ‘expert’ ?
Did the expert suggest that self-defense against violence increase radical rate ?
It is pretty counter intuitive.
Westman says
“Le Pen’s recent remarks deliver a representation of Islam, which could easily be perceived as incompatible with secular democracy…” – Duhh. Not only perceived, also true.
France is in decline, weighed down by heavy socialism, “pockets of privilege”, and a non-working segment of Islam that create very high taxes, unemployment, and general malaise.
Any social or economic change results in instant demonstrations. The only national goal that has universal support is breathing. 16 Constitutions? The political system is fractured to avoid serious change; voting for your candidate on the first presidential ballot and voting against a candidate on the second.
Le Pen will likely win in the first round. The system is designed to eliminate “political outsiders” in the second round, which will likely eliminate her. However, there is still time for political winds to change.
If Le Pen wins the second ballot, there will be rioting on a huge scale because many sacred cows will be going to the packing plant. For the survival of France, let’s hope for that miracle.
pdxnag says
The hot knife of Jihad cuts through butter easily but requires some work to cut through gristle. So, they say be like butter.
Richard Paulsen says
How stupid. Exactly the same was being said about the nazis, that you should not stop them, cause that could provoke them to start a war.
Michael says
we’re definitely damned if we DON’T fight them with force. then the world is theirs, and much sooner than later.
Michael says
The writer’s kind of ignorance is widespread — if it’s ignorance, and I suppose it probably it. Many very intelligent people have no concept of Islam. It is so far removed from civilization, that they can’t believe it truly exists — an ideology, in these times, that is barbaric and inhumane in every way.
People like the writer are everywhere. We’re taught, from early on, that love is the most powerful force … all you need is love … all we are saying is give peace a chance … violence begets violence. We’re taught to treat all living things with kindness. And if someone is violent, it must not be that person’s fault. Etc. We’re all familiar with it; we’ve been taught this since birth. it is part of every civilized and actual religion, neither of which Islam is.
WE cause the problem … and if we were dealing with something other than Islam, where basic kind of psychological tenets come into play, then there might be some merit to the discussion.
Only an understanding of what Islam is, will end what the writer is saying. And then there will be the understanding that force, violent force, is the only thing that will repel and crush Islam — and that Islam needs to be crushed, not tolerated.
davej says
Well said. A big part of the problem of understanding Islam is that many decent people cannot bring themselves to believe the extent and barbarity of the Islamic creed. It is so horrifying and repulsive that they automatically categorize it as outdated Old Testament style rhetoric, not realizing that it is actually still alive and acting out it’s stone age practises.
Of course they are aided in this self-deception by Muslim apologists, the Media and authority figures as powerful as the past Presidents who have described it as a “Religion of Peace”. As brainwashed as Muslims are, many Westerners are equally and blindly convinced of the equality and goodness of all religions.
It is the responsibility of those in the civilized world to investigate Islam themselves and take nobody’s word for it. A few hours of diligent study should be enough to convince any reasonable person that we are dealing with a pure Evil that wants to rule the world.
gravenimage says
davej wrote:
Well said. A big part of the problem of understanding Islam is that many decent people cannot bring themselves to believe the extent and barbarity of the Islamic creed.
………………….
Very true, Dave. Many civilized Infidels just cannot bring themselves to believe how savage Islam really is.
epistemology says
Foley should be called Fooley, he’s so stupid, he talks utter nonsense. We’re at war with practicing Muslims since 711 when they invaded Andalusia. For Muslims there is only peace when the whole world is Islamic, the same supremacism as the Nazis. I hope and pray that Fillon wins the election, he’ll fight against Islam, the French are the people in Europe who suffered most under terrorism they deserve some peace and that can only be achieved, when we get rid of Islam.
DRHazard says
It doesn’t matter what anyone does to try and prevent Muslims from becoming or supporting terrorists. If you do nothing, they are emboldened. If you take action then all that does is confirm what they have been told their whole lives, that they are at war with the rest of the World, especially Westerners and Jews.
gravenimage says
With all respect, I disagree. I believe that robust defense against Jihad does work.
It is just Muslim apologists who want us to believe that “resistance is futile”.
Jack Diamond says
If you take action maybe you confirm that you are someone to be respected and feared. You are not creating more enemies, just bringing your real enemies into the open.
Nor does the doctrine of darura/necessity obligate Muslims to fight when there is no chance of winning, another argument for taking action. If you take action, maybe you save your civilization. As opposed to guaranteeing you won’t.
Finally, if you kill them (jihadists) they die. No, there is not an infinite number of them in any given generation.
gravenimage says
Excellent points, Jack.
Martin says
It’s a testament to how rotten the left has made western culture that people spouting these ideas can find an audience or work. A sane society would shun them like the plague.
gravenimage says
France: “Terrorism researcher” says “invasive counterterrorist operations…may be contributing to jihadist radicalization”
………………….
In other words, the cause of Jihad terrorism is any attempt to protect against Jihad terrorism…
Georg says
“invasive counterterrorist operations…may be contributing to jihadist radicalization”
And they may not be. Traitorous idiot.
Stan Lee says
What of a non-Muslim French citizen who breaks the law and by his actions and threats poses similar danger to life and limb that Jihadis do?
Is the same “hands off” and please don’t rile such creatures or they may immediately turn to murder of innocents the logical policy? Will such a policy reduce crime or encourage crime?
In other words, let us,for a moment, consider anyone doing what Muslim terrorists have been doing.
If they may be motivated to attack and attempt murder due to a stringent law that affects all French citizens or guests of France, then they should be tried to the full extent of the law. There is no point in appeasing criminals or would-be criminals! A particular law metes out stiff penalties for homicide or attempted homicide. What is wrong with that? France should not blame itself for creating criminals, criminals are not created because a law is not agreeable to them.
If Jihadis become so irate that their crimes become compounded, then the law must protect the victims with more severe sentences to the criminals.
A French attitude seems to be careful not to anger homicidal perpetrators by court sentences that, in France, are far less severe than the crime of the perpetrator was. Murder or attempted murder cannot be considered too light a crime for “life imprisonment at hard labor or the death penalty.”
The criminal must learn that the law will be severe for taking of life, or attempt to take life. To do less gives the murderer or terrorist special status by the law.
The murderer’s injured feelings should be of no consequence in the law which has been established to be obeyed by all the people, and it is mandatory that the dispensing of justice be uniform.
El Cid 2 says
Mortimer – I usually like your comments. Not this one (about deprogramming). I know of no widespread attempt to deprogram adherents of “the religion of peace” . Though – God bless those who do see the light of reason, and leave Islam.
Thank you Gravenimage – it does seem that the birthrate swamps any deprogramming effort, as far as one exists.
There is little time to reverse this tide, and the existential threat Islam poses to Western civilization.
SK says
Problem is, if they weren’t as invasive as they were, we might not catch as many jihad plots.
People like the (outdated) statistic that slightly fewer people were killed by jihadists than any amount of right-wing extremists (with various ideas), but it’s currently 95/51, with the Orlando attack pushing jihadists up and over the threshold.
I understand that this might be upsetting to Muslims, but I don’t think we could get away with lowered levels of vigilance for them. People who are interested in terrorist plots would not immediately drop the issue, and I don’t see a reason to take the risk that people would stop at any stage of the plan independently.
Lioness says
On par with “We can only defeat ISIS with love” (JW 04/15). The ususal trash from leftists afflicted with cloudy vision and obstructed brains.