France is at war against terrorism, not Islam, PM Valls says

[webfact]

France: Terror funding, attack weapons came from abroad
LORI HINNANT, Associated Press
ANGELA CHARLTON, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — France's prime minister demanded tougher anti-terrorism measures Tuesday after deadly attacks that some call this country's Sept. 11 — and that may already be leading to a crackdown on liberties in exchange for greater security.

Police told The Associated Press that the weapons used came from abroad, as authorities in several countries searched for possible accomplices and the sources of financing for last week's attacks on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher market and police. A new suspect was identified in Bulgaria.

"We must not lower our guard, at any time," Prime Minister Manuel Valls told Parliament, adding that "serious and very high risks remain."

Lawmakers in the often argumentative chamber lined up overwhelmingly behind the government, giving repeated standing ovations to Valls' rousing, indignant address — and then voted 488-1 to extend French airstrikes against Islamic State extremists in Iraq.

"France is at war against terrorism, jihadism, and radical Islamism," Valls declared. "France is not at war against Islam."

He called for increased surveillance of imprisoned radicals and told the interior minister to quickly come up with new security proposals.

French police say as many as six members of the terrorist cell that carried out the Paris attacks may still be at large, including a man seen driving a car registered to the widow of one of the gunmen. The country has deployed 10,000 troops to protect sensitive sites, including Jewish schools and synagogues, mosques and travel hubs.

Several people are being sought in connection with the "substantial" financing of the three gunmen behind the terror campaign, said Christophe Crepin, a French police union official. The gunmen's weapons stockpile came from abroad, and the size of it, plus the military sophistication of the attacks, indicated an organized terror network, he added.

"This cell did not include just those three. We think with all seriousness that they had accomplices, because of the weaponry, the logistics and the costs of it," Crepin said. "These are heavy weapons. When I talk about things like a rocket launcher — it's not like buying a baguette on the corner. It's for targeted acts."

Speaking to legislators in London, the head of the European police agency Europol, Rob Wainwright, said that 3,000 to 5,000 European nationals have gone to fight in the Mideast, calling it a "startling figure" and "the most serious threat Europe has faced since 9/11."

He urged better intel sharing, saying later to the BBC: "The way the network is diffuse in nature, not homogenous, not centralized, but a gathering of thousands of independent and semi-independent actors makes it very, very difficult for the security agencies to monitor it wholesale."

In a sign that French judicial authorities were using laws against defending terrorism to their fullest extent, a man who had praised the terror attacks while resisting arrest on a drunk driving violation was swiftly sentenced to four years in prison.

While the attacks have left France in jitters, some warned against going as far as a French version of the U.S. Patriot Act passed after Sept. 11.

"This must not lead to the renouncing of fundamental freedoms, otherwise we prove right those who come to fight on our soil," former Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on France-Inter radio.

The investigation spread to yet another country: A Bulgarian prosecutor announced that a Frenchman jailed since Jan. 1 had ties to Cherif Kouachi, one of the brothers who carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack.

The man, identified by French prosecutors as Joachim Fritz-Joly, was arrested as he tried to cross into Turkey. He was facing two European arrest warrants, one citing his alleged links to a terrorist organization and a second for allegedly kidnapping his 3-year-old son and smuggling him out of the country, said Darina Slavova, the regional prosecutor for Bulgaria's southern province of Haskovo.

"He met with Kouachi several times at the end of December," Slavova said. The child was sent back to his mother in France.

At a hearing in Haskovo on Tuesday, authorities decided to keep Fritz-Joly in custody until another hearing to determine whether he will be extradited to France. The Frenchman told the court he had known Cherif Kouachi since childhood.

"A man can have friends and they can do whatever they want, but I am simply going on vacation and have nothing to do with it," he told the court.

Kouachi and his older brother, Said, killed 12 people at the satirical paper's offices on Jan. 7, while their friend, Amedy Coulibaly, killed a French policewoman Thursday and four hostages Friday in a Paris kosher grocery. All three claimed ties to Islamic extremists in the Middle East — the Kouachis to al-Qaida in Yemen and Coulibaly to the Islamic State group.

All three gunmen died Friday in clashes with French police.

Authorities were searching around Paris for the Mini Cooper registered to Hayat Boumeddiene, Coulibaly's widow, who Turkish officials say is now in Syria. French police also sought the person or persons who filmed and posted a video of Coulibaly explaining how the attacks in Paris would unfold.

Earlier Tuesday, in ceremonies thousands of miles apart, France and Israel paid tribute to the victims of the terror attacks.

At police headquarters in Paris, French President Francois Hollande placed Legion of Honor medals on the flag-draped caskets of the three police officers killed in the attacks.

France will be "merciless in the face of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim acts, and unrelenting against those who defend and carry out terrorism, notably the jihadists who go to Iraq and Syria," Hollande vowed.

A ceremonial unit of the New York Police Department, including Muslim officers, was among those attending the service for the slain officers.

As Chopin's funeral march played and the caskets were led from the building, a procession began in Jerusalem for the four Jewish victims at the kosher store.

Defying the bloodshed and terror of last week, a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad was to appear Wednesday on the cover of the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo, weeping and holding a placard with the words "I am Charlie."

Criticism and threats immediately appeared on militant websites, with calls for more strikes against the newspaper and anonymous threats from radicals, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S.-based terrorism monitor.

Charlie Hebdo, which lampoons religion indiscriminately, had received threats after depicting Muhammad before.
___

Associated Press writers Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; John-Thor Dahlburg, Jamey Keaten and Nicolas Vaux-Montagny in Paris, and Aron Heller in Jerusalem contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-14

[Opl]

by photograph Martin Argyolo

[ABCer]

<quote>

"France is at war against terrorism, jihadism, and radical Islamism," Valls declared. "France is not at war against Islam."

This is exactly why all of Europe is at war against terrorism, jihadism and radical Islam.

If anybody thinks there will be no more victims - they are wrong.

There is no more stupid and stubborn people than those knowing 'what is right and wrong' - they refuse to see what reality is.

Until EU leaders like Hollande - "will be merciless in the face of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim acts, and unrelenting against those who defend and carry out terrorism..." -

their people will be at unending, impossible to win war. Europeans will get used to more and more innocent victims. And it will not be their first time.

NOTE! This stupid Hollande couldn't even mention anti-Muslim acts without link to anti-Semitism.

​Why? - He is 'politically correct'. What Jews have in common with Muslims?

When did Jews carry out terrorism in France?

Why? - Because he knows, France was not even nearly as relentless when its Muslims exercised many ugly acts of anti-Semitism against its Jews.

French are pragmatic people. When 5M Muslims terrorize 300K Jews it pays to keep a low profile...

I think Jacques Prevert would call him a Poor little Catholic boy! Lost in time, space and confusing thoughts.

Edited January 14, 2015 by ABCer

[arjunadawn]

It would be sheer comedy if it were not all so very tragic. Watching leaders in the west bounce back and forth, up and down, saying everything, clarifying nothing, and utterly missing every opportunity to define the nature of the vast problem of our time. France has been at war with whom prior to the Paris massacre? Who was France fighting in Africa? Who is France fighting in the middle east? France is at war with... but not... this is pure folly. France has been at war but will only ever be reactionary until the threat is defined.

[Jdiddy]

$50 says they'll surrender before the summer

[weegee]

What have the Western Leaders done that they havent told us about....What are they hiding????

Very soon, free living people will take things into their own hands, if the leaders dont act and do what they were put there for, in the first place.

[Jingthing]

I think his statement was much bolder than anything Obama has said about the specific threat of Islamic Jihadism. I don't see anything wrong with making it clear that the enemy is not an entire religion or all the believers of that religion. That sounds reasonable to me. But it's also reasonable to mention the Jihadist aspect which is indeed part of Islam today.

[onionluke]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/charlie-hebdo-free-speech_b_6462584.html?1421160931&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

I like this article . Je suis Ahmed anyone ?

[Andre0720]

"France is at war against terrorism, jihadism, and radical Islamism," Valls declared. "France is not at war against Islam."

Getting more and more difficult to distinguish one from the other...

[sanuk711]

You can say what you like about the French but the beret shows how clever they really are.

Who else would design a hat that can't fall off while running away.................

[Bakeman]

What have the Western Leaders done that they havent told us about....What are they hiding????

Very soon, free living people will take things into their own hands, if the leaders dont act and do what they were put there for, in the first place.

Agreed

Jihad = Crusade

[bob6130]

You are at war with Islam. No questions asked.

First you must identify the radical preachers, then listen in on what they are saying.

When caught preaching mass murder execute them and bury them in pig offal.

There is nothing worse than a man that will tell others to do his bidding, AND IN THE NAME OF GOD.

Pathetic.

[Kitsune]

<quote>

"France is at war against terrorism, jihadism, and radical Islamism," Valls declared. "France is not at war against Islam."

This is exactly why all of Europe is at war against terrorism, jihadism and radical Islam.

If anybody thinks there will be no more victims - they are wrong.

Nobody says this or even thinks this.

[nelson bunker]

Islam is sleeping islamism.

Islamism is islam in action.

[Jingthing]

Islam is sleeping islamism.

Islamism is islam in action.

Well I don't think a significant segment Islam had to be this way today. People can be very creative about changing with the times and finding ways of adjusting the way they interpret holy books. But it is. So now what?

[Kitsune]

Moment of silence at UN security council

http://www.itele.fr/monde/video/charlie-hebdo-minute-de-silence-au-conseil-de-securite-de-lonu-106990

[Tchooptip]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/charlie-hebdo-free-speech_b_6462584.html?1421160931&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

I like this article . Je suis Ahmed anyone ?

Yes I could say Je suis Ahmed, but also Je suis Cabu or Je suis Wolinsky. Je suis Charlien, no, simply because never did I liked this ultra leftist paper. No offence its only a private opinion.

Also I do not like too much those carricatures of Muhammad for the same reasons I read in this good link.

[Tchooptip]

You can say what you like about the French but the beret shows how clever they really are.

Who else would design a hat that can't fall off while running away.................

Paratroopers the world over wear berets, not sure its for running away

[Don Aleman]

He's wrong because the perpetrators of terrorism are supported by other so called "Good Muslims". Where else would they find shelter/food/transportation/

medical aid, etc. if not for those disassociating themselves publicly but not privately form terrorism ? Watch some tapes re the "Good " Muslims dancing in the Streets when tragedies like the Towers and Benghazi occur.

[ABCer]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I think his statement was much bolder than anything Obama has said about the specific threat of Islamic Jihadism. I don't see anything wrong with making it clear that the enemy is not an entire religion or all the believers of that religion. That sounds reasonable to me. But it's also reasonable to mention the Jihadist aspect which is indeed part of Islam today.

Islam is sleeping islamism.

Islamism is islam in action.

Well I don't think a significant segment Islam had to be this way today. People can be very creative about changing with the times and finding ways of adjusting the way they interpret holy books. But it is. So now what?

Dear Jingthing,

please stop jinging-a-linging. It's well past X'mas time and the occasion is not a happy one.

It is a high time to openly recognize the unpalatable truth.

The West had been fighting Islam from X to XIV Centuries. Big time.

A peace/equilibrium was reached whereas Islam kept its conquered territories in ME and N.Africa.

Six Centuries of relative peaceful co-existence followed (with minor skirmishes between Greeks and Turkey and in Balkans).

A number of very bad mistakes on part of Western Civilizations were made:

N.African colonization wars;

Unilateral surrender of the West in form of democratization, liberalization, tolerance, political correctness towards unchanging Islam;

Multiple meddling in local wars in Islamic countries (practically all of them) under guise of democratization;

France is not alone in its troubles. All of Europe is in it. And USA together with Russia are not far behind (though for various reasons).

Stop playing stupid, irresponsible games with Islam!

Who has let 45 M Muslims into Europe?

Who said they are good, bad, militant or peaceful? They are Muslims... Living by Koran... In their VII Century. Doing exactly what they must do by Koran.

Who said the majority of them are quiet, neighbourly, friendly, non-militant? Does the silent majority mean anything? - Never!

It is the militant minority that is always the problem!

And the fact that this minority comes from majority of silent ones is the problem!

And the fact that this supply of militants is inexhaustible is the problem!

And the fact that you cannot tell the militants from the 'good' ones is the problem! (until they kill you)

These 17 dead French victims are only the beginning. They are not even the first victims. And they are definitely not the last.

When I see those faces of politicians marching together - I see people responsible for letting 45 M of Muslims in EU.

They call on the Europeans to fight terrorism, not Islam! They are simply scared. They don't know how to reverse the situation.

And when 17 will soon become 17,000 - they will still be sure that their political correctness is the right thing.

They are wrong. And you, Jingthing are wrong repeating their lies.

West is fighting Islam! Fighting it the wrong way! Losing battle after battle. Killing lots and lots of people! This is totally immoral and not necessary!

Edited January 14, 2015 by ABCer

[Guest]

islam?? terrorism ?? same thing

[Guest]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I think his statement was much bolder than anything Obama has said about the specific threat of Islamic Jihadism. I don't see anything wrong with making it clear that the enemy is not an entire religion or all the believers of that religion. That sounds reasonable to me. But it's also reasonable to mention the Jihadist aspect which is indeed part of Islam today.

Islam is sleeping islamism.

Islamism is islam in action.

Well I don't think a significant segment Islam had to be this way today. People can be very creative about changing with the times and finding ways of adjusting the way they interpret holy books. But it is. So now what?

Dear Jingthing,

please stop jinging-a-linging. It's well past X'mas time and the occasion is not a happy one.

It is a high time to openly recognize the unpalatable truth.

The West had been fighting Islam from X to XIV Centuries. Big time.

A peace/equilibrium was reached whereas Islam kept its conquered territories in ME and N.Africa.

Six Centuries of relative peaceful co-existence followed (with minor skirmishes between Greeks and Turkey and in Balkans).

A number of very bad mistakes on part of Western Civilizations were made:

N.African colonization wars;

Unilateral surrender of the West in form of democratization, liberalization, tolerance, political correctness towards unchanging Islam;

Multiple meddling in local wars in Islamic countries (practically all of them) under guise of democratization;

France is not alone in its troubles. All of Europe is in it. And USA together with Russia are not far behind (though for various reasons).

Stop playing stupid, irresponsible games with Islam!

Who has let 45 M Muslims into Europe?

Who said they are good, bad, militant or peaceful? They are Muslims... Living by Koran... In their VII Century. Doing exactly what they must do by Koran.

Who said the majority of them are quiet, neighbourly, friendly, non-militant? Does the silent majority mean anything? - Never!

It is the militant minority that is always the problem!

And the fact that this minority comes from majority of silent ones is the problem!

And the fact that this supply of militants is inexhaustible is the problem!

And the fact that you cannot tell the militants from the 'good' ones is the problem! (until they kill you)

These 17 dead French victims are only the beginning. They are not even the first victims. And they are definitely not the last.

When I see those faces of politicians marching together - I see people responsible for letting 45 M of Muslims in EU.

They call on the Europeans to fight terrorism, not Islam! They are simply scared. They don't know how to reverse the situation.

And when 17 will soon become 17,000 - they will still be sure that their political correctness is the right thing.

They are wrong. And you, Jingthing are wrong repeating their lies.

West is fighting Islam! Fighting it the wrong way! Losing battle after battle. Killing lots and lots of people! This is totally immoral and not necessary!

What is the right way??

[Kitsune]

Je suis voltairienne

[ABCer]

jewell49 , #22, <quote> "What is the right way??"

Who said there must be a war? I didn't. It was absolutely not necessary.

But the war will be inevitable now, that 45 M of Muslims are in Europe! It will be bloody. It will be hard. It will be unfair.

Who allowed this to happen? Just look at their faces - they are all marching together - the Criminally Tolerant Ones!

This war was not supposed to be if the policy of Isolationism was not played with by the Criminal Tolerance.

[Friendly Stranger]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I think his statement was much bolder than anything Obama has said about the specific threat of Islamic Jihadism. I don't see anything wrong with making it clear that the enemy is not an entire religion or all the believers of that religion. That sounds reasonable to me. But it's also reasonable to mention the Jihadist aspect which is indeed part of Islam today.

Islam is sleeping islamism.

Islamism is islam in action.

Well I don't think a significant segment Islam had to be this way today. People can be very creative about changing with the times and finding ways of adjusting the way they interpret holy books. But it is. So now what?

Dear Jingthing,

please stop jinging-a-linging. It's well past X'mas time and the occasion is not a happy one.

It is a high time to openly recognize the unpalatable truth.

The West had been fighting Islam from X to XIV Centuries. Big time.

A peace/equilibrium was reached whereas Islam kept its conquered territories in ME and N.Africa.

Six Centuries of relative peaceful co-existence followed (with minor skirmishes between Greeks and Turkey and in Balkans).

A number of very bad mistakes on part of Western Civilizations were made:

N.African colonization wars;

Unilateral surrender of the West in form of democratization, liberalization, tolerance, political correctness towards unchanging Islam;

Multiple meddling in local wars in Islamic countries (practically all of them) under guise of democratization;

France is not alone in its troubles. All of Europe is in it. And USA together with Russia are not far behind (though for various reasons).

Stop playing stupid, irresponsible games with Islam!

Who has let 45 M Muslims into Europe?

Who said they are good, bad, militant or peaceful? They are Muslims... Living by Koran... In their VII Century. Doing exactly what they must do by Koran.

Who said the majority of them are quiet, neighbourly, friendly, non-militant? Does the silent majority mean anything? - Never!

It is the militant minority that is always the problem!

And the fact that this minority comes from majority of silent ones is the problem!

And the fact that this supply of militants is inexhaustible is the problem!

And the fact that you cannot tell the militants from the 'good' ones is the problem! (until they kill you)

These 17 dead French victims are only the beginning. They are not even the first victims. And they are definitely not the last.

When I see those faces of politicians marching together - I see people responsible for letting 45 M of Muslims in EU.

They call on the Europeans to fight terrorism, not Islam! They are simply scared. They don't know how to reverse the situation.

And when 17 will soon become 17,000 - they will still be sure that their political correctness is the right thing.

They are wrong. And you, Jingthing are wrong repeating their lies.

West is fighting Islam! Fighting it the wrong way! Losing battle after battle. Killing lots and lots of people! This is totally immoral and not necessary!

I've said this a couple of times already and don't condone it but it's coming. Mark my words, organized militia will start to avenge this, especially if what happened in France happens in America. What a mess..

[simple1]

You can say what you like about the French but the beret shows how clever they really are.

Who else would design a hat that can't fall off while running away.................

The French government has authorised some very aggressive military action against a number of Islamic extremist organisations in Africa and M.E. In recent times, unlike some other Western governments, authorised boots on the ground for actual combat e.g. Mali.

For sure there will be ongoing actions by French security agencies within France and elsewhere. The French are not 'running away'.

Edited January 15, 2015 by simple1

[Mosha]

Hollande showing some common sense. According to BBC he is considering isolating jihadist and islamist prisoners. I hope he goes from considering to doing. Other countries should do the same.

[monkeycountry]

"France is at war against terrorism, not Islam, PM Valls says"

Potato, potato

[godden]

Just send all the muslims back to their muslim countries, problem solved.

[Morch]

Just send all the muslims back to their muslim countries, problem solved.

The terrorists who carried out the Charlie Hebdo were French citizens, born in France.