French terror attacks

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The editor, Charb, has reportedly died. He was one of the most brilliant pens of the journal (I used to read it a couple years ago), truly an unrelenting defender of liberty and justice. I really hope this isn't true.

His last cartoon ever, published this week:



Still no terrorist attack in France
-Wait, we have until the end of January to deliver our wishes

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Cabu:



His last cartoon (published today):



Charb:

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Absolutely horrible. The cowards and terrorists behind this need to be shot or locked up forever.

However, at the same time, I hope (a futile hope, mind you) that people don't overreact respond with hatred, intolerance and mindless knee-jerk xenophobia. I'm sure the last thing these free-thinkers would have wanted is for people to embrace Panzergirl's hatred and racism. Alas, it's France and not Canada.

Yes. Today more than ever, we need to come together as a people. All those who believe in the values of liberty and justice - the values these people died for - must join. The barbarians will have won if communities continue jumping at each other's throats.

At some point, the sane majority, neither terrorist nor racist, will have to do something...

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It's difficult to say. Again from my experience, I find a country like the Netherlands more racist than France. Germany does not have FN, but France does not specifically anti-Muslims demonstrations or parties (like PEGIDA in Germany or the Pim Fortuyn list/PVV in the Netherlands). I think we lack information to compare among countries.

Insulai Dei, you are trying to single out one explanation, but there can be many other reasons, like the one cited by ingemman. Another possible reason for Al-Qaeda to strike France and not Germany may be that France is involved against Al-Qaeda in Africa and ISIS in the Middle East while Germany is not. Remember that 10 years ago they striked the two European countries (UK and Spain) that were the most involved in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Finally, in that specific case, the attackers has a clearly defined target and did not kill random people. If you look at Al-Qaeda magazine (https://info.publicintelligence.net/InspireWinter2013.pdf), the boss of Charlie Hebdo has been on the wanted list for a while:

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The next edition of Charlie Hebdo will come out next week and a million copies will be printed, the magazine’s lawyer has said. It’s weekly circulation is normally around 45,000.

Meanwhile, Francois Hollande is meeting the leaders of the different parties. He met Sarkozy today and published his planning for tomorrow: 10 h Dupont Aignan; 10 h 30 Marine Le Pen; 11 h Hue; Bayrou 11 h 30. Afternoon: Mélenchon et Chevènement

And a few images:






Seen today in the Netherlands:

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18 000 people in Amsterdam yesterday according to the press, including Mark Rutte.

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It may take hours now. They will try to get them alive to save the hostage.

And:

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Something probably happening in Trocadéro (the square in front of the Eiffel tower).



False alarm apparently.

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Nice:


Pau:


Orléans:

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It was a good day. Nice to see people like Netanyahu and Abbas, Lavrov and Poroshenko marching together, or the flags from all around the world (Turkish flags next to PKK flags, Algerians next to Kabyles, Israeli flags next to Palestinian and Syrians, etc.). Many thanks to everyone in France and abroad who walked today.
There will be a time to talk about consequences of the events of the last days, but we can keep that for tomorrow.

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Amusing fact: the press is reporting that Hollande had asked Netanyahu to stay in Israel because he didn't want this day to be overshadowded by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu insistence on attending prompted the French authorities to invite Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, as a counterweight, reported the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11339483/Benjamin-Netanyahu-ridiculed-over-appearance-at-Paris-solidarity-march.html

And: http://je-suis-nico.tumblr.com/

And the next Charlie Hebdo cover:

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That cartoon is so obnoxious. The issue here is the the funding, and propagation of a violent political movement by the Saudi royal family and the ayatollahs of Iran -- and its appeal to certain dispossessed young people in Europe.

They should know how to pick their targets. What would Muhammad know or care about any of that?

Why do you think it's obnoxious? Some people thought that there was a 'war' between the journal and Islam. It's good that they remind them, with this drawing, that it's not the case.

I mean, being obnoxious is the purpose of Charlie Hebdo, but this particular cover may be the only one in their existence that is not obnoxious.

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They have to reprint the last Charlie Hebdo one more time... 7 millions, while usually they only print 60 000 copies.