France, incl. terrorism & counter-terrorism (catch all)
Quote:
PARIS – There's no French James Bond. But a new push may set the stage for one.
France's secretive international spy agency, the DGSE, is recruiting hundreds of people and getting a budget boost, despite frugal times, to better fend off threats like terrorism and nuclear proliferation. France's answer to the CIA is buffing its image as well, with its first-ever spokesman and a new website.
The move follows hostage-takings abroad, bomb scares at the Eiffel Tower and fallout from WikiLeaks' publication of secret U.S. diplomatic cables.
France is also set to ban face-covering Islamic veils, which has roiled Muslim extremists around the world and drawn threats from Al-Qaida.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_france...JhbmNlc3NweXNl
France, terrorism & CT (merged thread)
Over the past few days there has been a series of shooting's that have occured around Toulouse as well as elsewhere in Southwestern France.
The attacks at the moment appear to be commited by only one indivdual, and they have first targeted French military personnel mainly of African or Black origin. And yesterday there was a shooting at a Jewish school in the region that killed several people including teachers & schoolchildern.
The motives or even who the shooter might be is unknown at this time other then it probably is only one person. This comes at a bad time in France politically because of the French Presidental race.
Initial thoughts were focused on Islamic extremists committing these acts, but the police are also equally looking at the possibilty that Neo-Nazi's or other's on the right-right might be behind this. As well the possibilty that it could just be a lone nutcase with no agenda other then harming other people.
There is nothing else to suggest the motives of this gunman, other then the occupations or ethnicty of the victims, which in the latter aspect could only be concidental in the case of the French military personnel shot.
This is an interesting series of incidents though.
Any thoughts on it?
http://www.france24.com/en/20120320-...iller-toulouse
Excluded as suspects & a note
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AdamG
Focus fell Tuesday on three paratroopers who had been expelled from their regiment near Toulouse in 2008 for neo-Nazi sympathies, a police official said. The killer on Monday handled large-caliber guns with expertise, leading some to suspect he had a military or police background.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-...-paratroopers/
I heard / read that these three have already been arrested and excluded from the investigation.
Earlier today much was being made of the murderer wearing a high risk sports camera on his chest, as recommended by a Mr Brevik,
Why people do not denonciate such crazy crimes?
Tueries de Toulouse et de Montauban : une femme activement recherche
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/tuerie-toul...192000359.html
Montauban and Toulouse killings: Police is actively searching for a woman.
Since several days, the police is looking for a woman who was on the phone with the suspect just few minutes before the attack on the school. She was in a train in the Paris area. Apparently, according to another article, she was in tears asking the suspect to stop killing. She is now wanted for non denonciation of a terrorist crime.
A tossout for discussion - if anyone wants
According to the media, we had a French citizen Mohammed Merah, who racked up 7 KIA. Based on a 5x multiplier, that's equivalent to 35 KIA in the US.
Let's posit that 13 French citizens (or whatever country you want, preferably your own) join together into 3 fire teams with a leader. Looks something like a USMC rifle squad.
At what point (if at all) do the rules re: that group move from law enforcement rules (apparently employed by RAID in this case) to military rules allowing the members of the group to be treated according to their status as combatants ?
I believe this question is important because we probably will see future home-grown organized Mombai events somewhere in Le Monde. The question is fundamentally a policy question. The answer to that policy question will drive both military and legal COAs.
I've declared my position in a conversation with Bill Moore, I can't see any material difference, so far as killing is concerned ...; and will keep my mouth shut if there is a discussion (...Have a good cup, etc....).
If no one else thinks the question is worth discussing, then silence in itself will be feedback.
Thanks in advance
Mike
A tossout for discussion - if anyone wants: riposte
JMM99 asked, in part:
Quote:
At what point (if at all) do the rules re: that group move from law enforcement rules (apparently employed by RAID in this case) to military rules allowing the members of the group to be treated according to their status as combatants ?
This is an issue that appeared in the Mumbai thread, when discussion turned to what if it happened here (US & UK). I expect that the police remain in command when the threat is contained and is within the capability of the police. Note in France there was a much clearer and closer political role, the Interior Minister was there at the scene.
Mumbai thread:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=6345
The military role is when the threat is mobile, cannot be contained and not within the police's capability. In the UK the threat's legal status remains that of a criminal suspect, even when signed over to the SAS for example for a few minutes, as we saw in Princes Gate in 1980 - seventeen minute period and in Gibraltar in 1988.
JMM, would a handover to the US military change the attackers legal status if an incident happened today?
Can't Hear Well - Cone of Silence in Use
:D:):D
David: I'll think about this question:
Quote:
JMM, would a handover to the US military change the attackers legal status if an incident happened today?
and ("coin"cidentally), have been looking at some related "stuff" [e.g., here, Steve Vladeck is a centrist, left side; my "Mumbai" question is, in the US, an Ex Parte Quirin question; or, in today's parlance, a Title 18 (Dept. of Justice) vs Title 10 (Dept. of Defense) + Title 50 (National Security) question]. It strikes me that the topic would be useful as a comparative policy, military-civil courses of action conversation. In a separate thread, of course, in the appropriate forum - not Law Enforcement (IMO) because it goes beyond that; and not AQ-GWOT because it goes beyond that as well. Maybe you, Lagrange and I can kick this around privately.
Not to discourage anyone from answering the question here (as Marc-Andre did and well), but I said I wouldn't butt into those responses. So, I won't.
Regards
Mike
Online Attribution of the French Killer
A very interesting aspect covered by KoW Blog, which opens with:
Quote:
Mohammed Merah, the culprit of the killing of 7 people in France last week, was found using a mix of traditional and online forensics. This case highlights that online attribution/identification is possible with a sound Internet governance model, but it also raises a few questions.
Link:http://kingsofwar.org.uk/2012/03/onl...french-killer/
Issues often pushed out of sight
An interesting commentary on the wider issues in France, which are often seen in other places, that opens with:
Quote:
In 'sensitive urban zones' where a third of residents live below the poverty line and unemployment among young people is over 40%, it is difficult to see how people like Mohammed Merah can become part of France’s social fabric.
Which ends with:
Quote:
Just as the riots which took place last summer in the UK were a symptom of youth unemployment and disengagement from society, so Mohammed Merah’s actions were an indication that people like him need to be provided with opportunities for employment and be made to feel a part of their country of birth as opposed to a discriminated-against minority. France needs a real debate about why these attacks were carried out as opposed to focusing on cosmetic solutions which deviate from the problem entirely.
Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/elena-g...ulouse-attacks
At the same time it is possible to see other French Muslims have taken steps to leave 'sensitive urban zones', like the murdered paratroopers and Merah did seek to join the French Army.
Afghan Blowback in France
Afghan Blowback in France
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.