We’ll always have Paris
Monday, November 16, 2015 @ 3:45 AM
By Bill Phillips
It’s impossible not to be moved and outraged at the events in Paris Friday night.
Such acts are incomprehensible to those us who have grown up and lived away from such a world. We are abhorred by it.
The sense of outrage is palpable. While we grieve over what happened in Paris, we should also remember that Beirut was also hit with a terrorist attack last week, which didn’t quite get the worldwide attention as Paris.
The first gut reaction of man to the Paris attack, including myself, is to mass a huge army, go in and wipe ISIS off the map. I would endorse that if I believed it would actually do any good. I’m not so sure it would. Large military interventions haven’t worked all that well in Iraq or Afghanistan. In fact, most Middle East experts believe that the United States’ toppling of Saddam Hussein in Iraq was the catalyst that created ISIS.
Canadian author Gwynne Dyer, who has a Ph.D in military and Middle Eastern history, delivered a lecture at Simon Fraser University in March where he opined that actions, such as the bombing runs now underway in northern Syria and Iraq actually help ISIS because it fosters the ISIS propaganda the West is attacking Islam. The result is ISIS gets more recruits. For example: You might not support ISIS, but when your town gets bombed, you’re more willing to pick up the fight.
In addition, we’ve been bombing northern Iraq and Syria for some time now and yet ISIS apparently managed to get a bomb on a Russian plane flying out of Egypt and slaughter more than 100 people in Paris.
What we’re doing now doesn’t seem to be working so a change is definitely needed. So should we (the West) send a million soldiers into the area? It might stop the carnage on our streets, but will that be replaced by years of endless ramp ceremonies? We’ve been down that road already.
Do we ignore ISIS? Certainly not.
But the world shouldn’t be held hostage by what amounts to a very few people. To put things in perspective, the ISIS controlled area in northern Syria and Iraq is home to about five million people, not many more than the province of British Columbia. As Dyer pointed out in his lecture, it has very little in the way of resources. It’s a desert. And yet it is succeeding in terrorizing the world.
While we shake our heads and wonder why, we don’t seem to be wondering how. How can a few people with so few resources do so much? How do they manage to always have arms? Maybe we should look at choking off that supply first.
I certainly don’t profess to having any answers, but I do know we need to take a different approach.
Bill Phillips is a freelance columnist living in Prince George. He was the winner of the 2009 Best Editorial award at the British Columbia/Yukon Community Newspaper Association’s Ma Murray awards, in 2007 he won the association’s Best Columnist award. In 2004, he placed third in the Canadian Community Newspaper best columnist category and, in 2003, placed second. He can be reached at billphillips1@mac.com
Comments
My first reaction to this tragedy is consternation. Its just something that should not be happening, but for a lot of idiocy to be shared by a lot of stakeholders everywhere.
There is a lot of blame to go around for the circumstances involved on the motivation front, the failure in security; and disdain for the actual perpetrators; but what of the ring leaders that set this kind of ideology in motion?
I disagree with Bill that isis gains recruitment’s from their towns being bombed. The vast majority of isis hard core come from places like Chechnya, Libya, Turkey, Georgia, or Egypt and Pakistan… all foreign fighters that would be just as motivated for the fight whether we took the fight to them in Syria or not. These foreign fighters fight because they would be losers in their own countries otherwise; and they don’t know how to deal with creating a better future.
The thing is access to free movement and area to operate from is something that isis thrives on. When they have a convoy of 200 modified Toyota’s setting out on atrocities then they should be hit when they are in the open. They shouldn’t be given any space.
IMO someone needs to tell Turkey the gig is up. Let them know that Canada will be backing the Kurds to use as boots on the ground in containing isis. The recent battle for Sanjar is what should have been happening a year ago. The Sauds and their financing I think are less of a problem because that money well can run dry and they will then have their own problems. Israel can be brought to heel with some sunshine on their activities (some real media reporting)… but getting Turkey cut isis off and stop their vendetta against the Kurds is key to stopping isis.
Obviously only elections can remove Assad with Russia’s backing; but isis controlled areas lack the votes, and will need decades to recover before one could expect that population to handle democracy. I think the international community will have to appoint a caretaker of the isis controlled areas when it comes to any political solution, and that the population will have to earn back its right to self determination.
France has been warned for years that this would continue to happen, how can anyone be shocked? Mass immigration of middle eastern people have taken over many parts of Paris. It is so bad that the locals are warned not to to travel to many neighborhoods in Paris, as you will be attacked. Your crime? Not being a muslim.
We can expect “more” of that here.. very soon.
Just watched a video on Islam taking over Europe. Perhaps JT should allow some Swedes, Germans or Norwegians to immigrate rather than Syrians. They will be begging us to come here within 10 years!
Bill,
You are misguided and are comparing bombing ISIS to Iraq or Afghanistan invasions. The Iraqi’s and the Kurd’s are begging for help. ISIS doesn’t target western countries in particular and the glaring lack any mention of the 42 people in Beirut last week goes to show the scales of decision are poorly loaded in your article. An air campaign that is conducted legally (with the blessing of Iraq) against the most evil thing to appear in the world in decades is the most logical method of eliminating this despicable group from controlling a vast area and calling all the extremists of the world to their new homeland.
To me the saddest thing of all is that when H Bush pushed Saddam out of Kuwait he was justified and it was a logical thing to do. Next Clinton spends the next 8 years not invading anybody but chasing down Bin Laden and Al Quaeda with logical attempts to keep the weed from gaining roots. Dubya goes into Afghanistan not because he wants oil, but because he let Bin Laden off the hook and he created a stable area where he could plan attacks. Dubya takes away this area and Al Quaeda loses it’s ability to attack. The next thing and the saddest thing is that Dubya invades Iraq and topples an evil ruthless dictator which despite the obvious reasons was illegal, Iraq had not threatened the US. If Dubya had not done this the world would come together to wipe out ISIS abilities to perform acts of terror that have killed over 300 people in the last 2 weeks. Force is something that should only be used to stop a bully. Iraq was an extremely bad move. What’s worse is letting ISIS establish in an area where they kill Shia Muslims, put women into slavery, and plan to attack and kill anyone who does not follow their narrow Sunni vision.
I get sick to my stomach hearing JT tell France that we stand them while simultaneously pulling our planes from their LEGAL mission of helping Iraq fight off an evil group. Gwynne Dyer should reread the events in Europe of 1936 to 1939 to see what happens when the world lets a bully attack without responding in Kind.
So you get sick to your stomach that trudeau wants our jets home… You do realize he is leaving military behind to train their soldiers.. that perfect. it teaches them how to fight these terrorists..but keeps our guys safe. Outstanding decision, that way the training will always be there even after all the allies pull out..
Then again that area knows no life but war.. cant see it ever ending.
What I realize is the hollowness of comments when he says he “Stands with France” and then immediately pulls out our boys who are legally there and who have been asked to come by Iraq and the Peshmerga.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/france-shooting-idUSKCN0T40F420151116
Is it any surprise that Obama pulls the plug on keystone which dooms us to be selling our oil at a 20 dollar cdn discount? We are the laughing stock of the world right now. Countries that are attacking ISIS.
1. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, US, France, UAE, Quatar, Russia, Britain and list goes on.
Pval if you value Canadian health care, education and public services you should pay attention. Obama is a moderate and Justin’s snub has serious consequences.
The troops on the ground have to be Arab troops! We can assist them by instructing them in how ground troops can win with modern tactics and modern weapons. THEY have to carry the fight! It is their part of the world! Freedom and democracy don’t come for free! They never have. If they firmly believe they are worth fighting for they will fight and not run! Bombing does not take lost territory and control back again! That is the job of troops on the ground! City by city, street by street and house by house! Canada will make a big difference with its training contribution!
cupricity.. you should read the news.. he is only recalling the jets.
I used to value all the above..till harper screwed them all up.. hope trudeau can fix the HUGE mess he was left.
oh I see how this all works!! Isis come’s into the free world and kills our free people. So Canada trains Iraqi, Syrian fighters to go and kill Isis. I guess there must be millions of fighters signing up to fight for the free world. I think not. Actually who ever thinks this is not looking past their nose. JT is not experienced enough to lead our country at this time. He should give Stephan Harper an apology when he accused Harper of fear mongering and step aside.
Thought you might like to read this letter to the editor. Ever notice how some people… just seem to know how to write a letter?
This one surely does!
This was written by a Canadian woman, but oh how it also applies to the U.S.A., U.K. and Australia.
THIS ONE PACKS A FIRM PUNCH
Written by a housewife in New Brunswick, to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady…
“Are we fighting a war on terror or aren’t we? Was it or was it not, started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?
Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the capitol of the USA and in a field in Pennsylvania?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn’t they?
Do you think I care about four U. S. Marines urinating on some dead Taliban insurgents?
And I’m supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of a nation they are fighting against in a brutal Insurgency.
I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East, start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which, is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan.
I’ll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg’s head, while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I’ll care when the cowardly so-called insurgents in Afghanistan, come out and fight like men, instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in Mosques and behind women and children.
I’ll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of Nirvana, care about the innocent children within range of their suicide Bombs.
I’ll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of Speech on stories, is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home, to hear about them when something happens.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don’t care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don’t care. Shoot him again.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed ‘special’ food, that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being ‘mishandled,’ you can absolutely believe, in your heart of hearts: I don’t care.
And oh, by the way, I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s spelled ‘Koran’ and other times ‘Quran.’ Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it: I don’t care!!
What an irrational extremist rant!
Why did we hear nothing about the bombing two days earlier in lebanon that killed people…or the slaughter of 150 people in Kenya.. its all disgusting but why do we only care about or hear about the attacks on Paris ?
this is why Pval
The most recent study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, found that approximately Lebanon’s population is estimated to be 54% Muslim (27% Shia; 27% Sunni), 5.6% Druze, who do not consider themselves to be Muslims, 40.4% Christian (21% Maronite, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Melkite, 1% Protestant …
happy13 you didnt mention a thing about Kenya..more killed there than in paris.. 147 dead. media didnt mention much about it either.. didnt see people using Kenyas flag in their background once.
Wake up Pval
Islam is the religion of approximately 11.1 percent [1] of the Kenyan population, or approximately 4.3 million people. The Kenyan coast is mostly populated by Muslims. Nairobi has several mosques and a notable Muslim population.
The vast majority of Muslims in Kenya follow the Sunni Islam of Shafi school of jurisprudence. There are also sizeable populations of Shia and Ahmadi adherents.[2] In large part, Shias are Ismailis descended from or influenced by oceanic traders from the Middle East and India. These Shia Muslims include the Dawoodi Bohra, who number some 6,000-8,000 in the country
ah so its okay for the slaughter in Kenya.. silly me
Like I said Pval wake up.
The bloodshed has only begun.
And your answer Pval
France is a country where freedom of religion and freedom of thought are guaranteed by virtue of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The Republic is based on the principle of laïcité (or “freedom of conscience”) enforced by the 1880s Jules Ferry laws and the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State. Roman Catholicism, the religion of a majority of French people, is no longer the state religion that it was before the 1789 Revolution and throughout the various, non-republican regimes of the 19th century (the Restoration, the July Monarchy and the Second French Empire).
Major religions practised in France include Catholic Christianity, Islam, Judaism, various branches of Protestantism, Hinduism, Russian Orthodoxy, Armenian Christianity, and Sikhism amongst others, making it a multi confessional country. While millions in France continue to attend religious services regularly, the overall level of observance is considerably lower than in the past.[2][3] According to the Eurobarometer Poll conducted in 2010,[4] 27% of French citizens responded that “they believe there is a God”, 33% answered that “they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force”, and 40% answered that “they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force”. This makes France one of the more secular countries in the world.
Thoughts from the chosen one
Trudeau’s answer: “You know, there’s a level of of admiration I actually have for China …”
Hold it right there.
China?
Where the administration routinely administers capital punishment. And when I say routinely, I mean 10 a day or more than 3,000 a year, many of them ethnic minorities like the Uighurs of northwestern China. Where human rights are routinely violated, where political corruption is endemic, and where political rights are nearly non-existent. That China?
“You know, there’s a level of of admiration I actually have for China because their basic dictatorship is allowing them to actually turn their economy around on a dime and say ‘we need to go green fastest . . . we need to start investing in solar.’ I mean there is a flexibility that I know Stephen Harper must dream about of having a dictatorship that he can do everything he wanted that I find quite interesting.”
Well, that’s clear. The “basic dictatorship” of China is to be admired for its environmental record. Solar panels and all that.
seamutt.. did you read the headline.. or just decided to abuse the cut and paste sue to your secret love of justin ?
“…the chosen one…” Yes, chosen by his party to be its leader and chosen by the voters in a democratic election to lead the country by merit of a majority in our parliament!
You seem to have a problem with that. Too bad!
Not so fast…
You must be new to the internet…
Get to test letters like that against “snopes”
The letter has been around for some 10+ years
snopes.com/politics/soapbox/illcareif.asp
notsofast are you aware that the USA was bombing areas of the middle east prior to the 9/11 attacks? To say terrorism was started 9/11 is laughable.
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