It seems the death total from the Paris attacks may range as high as 153, perhaps more. This is an horrendous crime. A crime perpetrated not just by religious fanatics but more significantly, ideological extremists, people who believe in a set of dogmas, principles, tenets and beliefs, beliefs not only worth dying for but killing far as well. The beginning of the 21st century has been known by income inequality, not only economic loss among the 99%, but a turn among many disenchanted individuals toward simple answers to issues that have no simple answer. And once you go down that road, the more extreme, violent elements in every society begins to sprout up, for the desire to find something or someone to blame is a strong trait among us. Though never a majority, ideologues rely on willingness among some of those living in these stressed populations, ideologues willing to accept violence as a remedy.
For example, the increase in fundamentalism among many disaffected groups, right or left and those beholden to religious explanations for their plight, as well.
Let me just say, less than 20 years ago, the worst terrorist attack in our country occurred (at least until 9/11 happened). The number who died at the hand a ideological extremist, Timothy McVeigh and friends, 165 people were killed and another 650 or so were injured. This is what our global economy, with its emphasis on exploitation and the treatment of human beings as commodities, has wrought. All across the world, the disaffected, the oppressed, those who suffer from mental instability, and those looking for a simple answer to their misery, will look to simple answers, answers of the most hateful, violent groups, movements, religious cults and sects, or simply right wing and left wing political radicals.
These acts in Paris, and also around the world today that did not receive as much media attention, are equally crimes against humanity. But we must remember, this issue is not linked to only one threat, or to one groups of extremists. That is all I want to say.
Paris is a big city, and France is not a police state.
The same could be said for, literally, a hundred other places.
The wonder is, there aren’t more events like this.
Latest report on the Bataclan concert venue is that 87 people were killed. Horrific but thirty fewer deaths than were reported earlier.
Was also a case of Right-wing domestic terrorism in 1961.
This had nothing to do with economics. This is about a struggle within one religion to come to terms with modernity.
Sorry that explanation just isn’t right at all.
I think that’s part of it, and economics plays a role too.
But fundamentally, it comes down to (typically young) men who are upset (for whatever reason) with their place in society.
Of course, that explanation doesn’t shed much light on individual motives, but those motives can be complex.
The more the secular west becomes more secular, the more it becomes a challenge to the fundamentalists.
Modernity is women’s liberation and gay rights.
These are an anathema to fundamentalists in Islam, who in some countries still execute gay people.
The internet means the secular west is everywhere in social media. This is a very real threat to theocratic Islam in a way that did not exist 20 or 30 years ago.
I’m not disputing that example — but Tim McVeigh, James Holmes, and Adam Lanza are the furthest thing from muslim. But I don’t suspect they’re all that different than the perpetrators of this attack.
Lanza was crazy. Holmes was a former psychiatric patients. Neither were part of an organized group.
McVeigh had some political motivation.
But this IS different. These attacks are part of an organized movement. Comparing AQ or ISIS to McVeigh doesn’t strike me as realistic at all.
yes, agree.
no, it’s ppl being recruited to carry out warlord agendas, absent other promising career paths
Global warming is a factor that cannot be overlooked. It keeps getting hotter and dryer in the middle east every day.
Given how interrelated economics is with “modernity”, your comment makes no sense.
What does gay rights have to do with economics?
Your comment makes no sense.
Prediction: the entire refugee discussion is now going to change, and things will very very strongly tighten.
Yes.
That is what is going to happen.
War is going to happen.
Watch.
AG
France is going to put boots on the ground in Syria, and the US will support them. This act in Paris is the last straw, and Obama will act. I don’t support placing troops, but ISIS is another kind of group, a group we have not seen since the invasion of the Balkans and Turkey by the Turks, who themselves came from the steppes to the east. These folks have brought back a style of warfare from 1400 – where attacks against civilians are a key feature of warfare, where no target is safe. France is now going to act, and the current conference taking place in Ankara will have a number of announcements. In 6 months, ISIS will be seriously diminished.
I agree with your prediction, but not your last sentence. This will strengthen ISIS everywhere.
And another prediction: The US based persons who are sympathetic to ISIS will find a new level of scrutiny. The ethiopian/somali/sudanese in MN have supplied a number of idiotic 18YO morons to ISIS, and the refugee community in MN is going to see a huge increase in police/FBI/CIA watchdogs.
Given how connected financial aspects is with “modernity”, your comment is unnecessary.
Dukan Diät Plan
Involved with the Verviers group, Jewish Museum attack and the foiled attack on the Thalys high speed train in France.
Allah blinded my ass … Did Turkey intelligence turn a blind eye?
Posted earlier in my diary – Europe Officially Declares War On the Islamic State.