Terrorist Attack In Paris

[Anthony]

It's scary out there. These assholes will never stop until we wipe them off the fucking map.

[IronEagle]

It's scary out there. These assholes will never stop until we wipe them off the fucking map.

I agree we need to fight terrorism.

But really in New York I am more risk of getting run over by an out of control driver every day. Happened just the other day... I had to jump back or I would have been creamed.

So scary to me, no. In my opinion terrorism relies on a random nature to benefit BOTH the terrorists and the governments of people being frightened by a threat. So it's a win-win for terrorists and the government security organizations.

They scare us... we react.

Why here are we so afraid of terrorism but seem to let mass murder shootings slide?

Put in place responsible security measures and keep calm. Cut off the roots of the problem if possible. I'm not sure that is possible if we are allied with the people funding the terrorist organizations. We have been conditioned to believe that Iran is a big problem, but really are they the biggest problem?

Just went to Madrid and I would fly there tomorrow if somebody offered the opportunity to do so. It is unclear to me who demands the level of security there... In this case I think it might be the airline (Delta).

I went through the regular airport screening first and then went to the most distant gate at the airport (which is sprawling... IG can attest to that) I then had to undergo another screening at a cordoned off area at the gate where they examined everything in my carry on backpack and frisked me. No restaurants, bars in that area... only vending machines and a restroom. Kinda sucks but they can control that area very well.

[Maniac]

Just went to Madrid and I would fly there tomorrow if somebody offered the opportunity to do so. It is unclear who demands the level of security there... In this case I think it might be the airline (Delta). I went through the regular airport screening first and then had another screening at the gate where they examined everything in my carry on backpack and frisked me.

Fortunately this has nothing to do with terrorism but what's your opinion on Catalan independence?

[IronEagle]

Fortunately this has nothing to do with terrorism but what's your opinion on Catalan independence?

Mixed opinion. And the people from Catalonia have mixed opinions as well.

A lot of the problems and resentment from people in Catalonia have to do with the severe repression that happened to them under the Franco dictatorship, which was terrible.

It's kind of like the South vs. North thing in the US but different because in this case Catalonia did not succeed from Spain... the Civil War there came from another direction and many people there were tortured and/or killed.

The Spanish Civil War was pretty f*ed up. It was not one region vs. another. It was one philosophy or ideology against another.

My GF's family has part from Madrid and part from Barcelona. They seem to get along.

I can understand the desire for a succession from an emotional viewpoint but I don't think it makes sense over all. I think a lot of this stuff is politicians playing emotions.

[Mt Iggle]

very interesting. Last year when we went to Rome, We didn't have anything checked except passports. There was no customs. (except a sign to go there if you had anything to declare).

[Mt Iggle]

What? It could be due to Politicians? Say it ain't so!
But interesting observations. I liked Spain the only time we were there.
I do not understand this Catalonia thing, but do recall Franco and am aware of the Civil War's effects.

[TRENT]

I will not let my kids go Overseas

they are in College now and have had the Offers for Europe ect,,No way!

[Susquehanna Birder]

Or they us.

If this is ISIS linked (and I have little doubt that it isn't), this is just one move in a long term plan. It's gonna get uglier, and there is no easy solution.

[Mt Iggle]

yes, the Sunni/Shiite war. We will see it get worse.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Sunni/Shiite is small potatoes. Think the Islamic State crazies (and their sympathizers) against the rest of the world. They seek to hasten their vision of Armageddon with crap like this. And I fear that soon we will be all too eager to help their cause. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

[Brett27]

IE, you know your history, dude. I'm nerding out, now.

Mixed opinion. And the people from Catalonia have mixed opinions as well.

A lot of the problems and resentment from people in Catalonia have to do with the severe repression that happened to them under the Franco dictatorship, which was terrible.

It's kind of like the South vs. North thing in the US but different because in this case Catalonia did not succeed from Spain... the Civil War there came from another direction and many people there were tortured and/or killed.

The Spanish Civil War was pretty f*ed up. It was not one region vs. another. It was one philosophy or ideology against another.

My GF's family has part from Madrid and part from Barcelona. They seem to get along.

I can understand the desire for a succession from an emotional viewpoint but I don't think it makes sense over all. I think a lot of this stuff is politicians playing emotions.

There was a boatload of outside interventionism that muddied the waters as well. Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin all used Spain as a testing ground for their newly built military toys in the mid-late 1930s. Basque country got nailed too. It's almost like every Early-modern, Absolutist, Enlightenment, 19th and 20th century radical thought system had a role in this thing. I've read at least 4 or 5 books about this conflict (because hardly anyone knows anything about it in the US--WWII gets all the airplay), and it's still so multi-layered, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. One of the worst wars in terms of atrocities not called a world war in the last 200 years.

I feel like we're seeing a more global version of this civil war played out along religious lines in the Muslim world today. Every degree of moderate to insane fanatic group is represented. It also mirrors the violent period of Christian fanaticism in Europe from the first Crusade to the mid-1700s. I just hope this radical Muslim era doesn't last 600 years.

In the end, though, I'm not sure if I'm more confused about Catalonian self-determination or Chip Kelly's plans for QB next year. Just sayin'.

[muggz]

I think that's a fairly naive view of the situation.

The only way that terrorism continues as random, one off hits is if radical Islam is contained by western intervention.

Given the vision and progress of the last few years for the radicals it's much more likely that we are heading towards a pronounced conflict. Maybe not within the next few years, but I think that's the direction it's heading.

I watched an interview earlier this week (before the Paris attacks) with Dianne Feinstein where she stated that we either fight them now or we will fight them later when they are much stronger.

[Loki]

Excellent article on ISIS in Atlantic online mag

[IronEagle]

The only way that terrorism continues as random, one off hits is if radical Islam is contained by western intervention.

Given the vision and progress of the last few years for the radicals it's much more likely that we are heading towards a pronounced conflict. Maybe not within the next few years, but I think that's the direction it's heading.

I watched an interview earlier this week (before the Paris attacks) with Dianne Feinstein where she stated that we either fight them now or we will fight them later when they are much stronger.

I don't think I am being naive.

I just refuse to give into fear. We must fight them when smart but not go overboard and encourage stupid moves like the US made after 9/11

Just to piss off right wingers, I will note that FDR said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

And guess what... WE WON after he said that.

If you recall, after 9/11 the French were cautioning against going into Iraq and the conservatives here started calling anybody who disagreed with them bad things. ("Traitors" may have come up but I know for sure the change from "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries" did. Sickening)

Baltimore just passed 300 murders this year... that is something to be equally afraid of or to more be afraid of.

I am not saying we should ignore ISIS. We need to fight them in a smart manner. I am just saying we have equal or bigger problems at home.

[IronEagle]

There was a boatload of outside interventionism that muddied the waters as well. Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin all used Spain as a testing ground for their newly built military toys in the mid-late 1930s. Basque country got nailed too. It's almost like every Early-modern, Absolutist, Enlightenment, 19th and 20th century radical thought system had a role in this thing. I've read at least 4 or 5 books about this conflict (because hardly anyone knows anything about it in the US--WWII gets all the airplay), and it's still so multi-layered, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. One of the worst wars in terms of atrocities not called a world war in the last 200 years.

I feel like we're seeing a more global version of this civil war played out along religious lines in the Muslim world today. Every degree of moderate to insane fanatic group is represented. It also mirrors the violent period of Christian fanaticism in Europe from the first Crusade to the mid-1700s. I just hope this radical Muslim era doesn't last 600 years.

In the end, though, I'm not sure if I'm more confused about Catalonian self-determination or Chip Kelly's plans for QB next year. Just sayin'.

Yes, I agree the Spanish Civil War laid out the groundwork and was the predecessor of WW II.

I would have a lot more to say about how it relates to today but I believe it is inappropriate to post here. But I will say I agree with your post overall.

.