The Paris Attacks- Mettle Amidst Death

It is ironic that the deadly terrorist attack in Paris on 13 Nov 2015 was at the Bataclan concert hall where the US band ‘Eagles of Death Metal’ was giving a performance. Death Metal is a rock music genre which typically employs heavily distorted and loud music. Songs sung in this genre feature growling vocals and screams. Its lyrical themes rest on violence, religion, horror, and occultism and may describe violent acts which cause extreme pain. Death Metal bands have macabre names like ‘Cannibal Corpse’, ‘Decapitated’, ‘Morbid Angels’, ‘Obituary’ etc.[i]Little did the audience to this event know that they would become a live cast in this performance which would end with the deaths of a large number of them.[ii] The metal from bomb shrapnel and bullets truly became ‘Death Metal’.

After the attack a statement purported to be from ISIS lauded the action of the attackers but gave no details that could authenticate its originators. However, as reported by Jason Burke, the ‘Guardian’ newspaper’s expert on IS militancy, it seemed convincing. He states that it is written in the standard style of ISIS and is framed by a worldview that has become wearily familiar over recent years.[iii]The 13 Nov terrorist attacks may be a catalyst to the war against ISIS in the manner that 9/11 was to the war against Al Qaeda. It is likely to bring the various forces which have an interest to see the defeat of the ISIS, into a cohesive coalition. In the same manner that ideologically opposed Western powers and the USSR could ally against Nazi Germany,West European countries may motivate the US to ally with Russia to decisively defeat the ISIS. It would be naïve on the part of Europe to continue to imagine that ISIS is the lesser of two evils when compared to the regime of Bassaral-Assad.Assad’s Syria like the erstwhile Ba’athist Iraqi regime is more secular than most Muslim states and poses no direct threat to European values and way of life. The ISIS however, by espousing extreme Sunni Islamic fundamentalism, is a direct threat to liberal, democratic and secular values not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world

President Barak Obama’s statement post the attack mentioned about France being its oldest ally.[iv] This is true because the assistance given by France to the newly independent United States of America in the war of Independence in 1778 was crucial to its success. However, US support to the war against ISIS will not be balanced in case its own aim of the war remains ambiguous. President Putin’s statement post the attack in which he conveyed his condolences to the French people included the words “It’s obvious that an effective fight against this evil demands a real unity of the forces of the international community. I would like to confirm the readiness of Russia for the closest cooperation with our French partners in investigating the crime that took place in Paris.”[v]France may not seek Russian help to ‘investigate the crime’.However, in case it is as serious about punishing the perpetrators of the Paris carnage as Mr Hollande has stated, then it is logical for it to seek Russian support. The heart of ISIS is in Syria, a former French colonial possession in which the Russians have a decisive presence and say at present. The Russianshave more ‘boots on the ground’, albeit Assad’s/Iranian boots, and presently a greater national will to engage in an expeditionary war in Syria. The Russians are concerned about the radicalization of their Muslim populationevidenced by the large number of ISIS recruits from Russia. They also want to give reason to the West to lift the sanctions imposed post their actions in Ukraine. These factors give the Russians the motivation tobe the more capable partner to punish or eradicate ISIS. The Paris attacks give one more opportunity to the USA to get in partnership with Russia to fight the ISIS without annoying some allies who may see this as a reneging of US commitment.John Kerry stated at Vienna on 14 Nov 2015 that defeating ISIS, getting order to Syria and containing terrorism in the Levant are President Obama’spriorities. These priority aims can only be achieved in collaboration with the Russians.

The Paris attacks also are an indicator of the declining power of ISIS in its home turf where it had attempted to carve out a Caliphate. It is now settling into the mould of being just another terrorist group. France provides it opportunities because of the large dissatisfied African/Arab Diasporawhich is a legacy of its colonial past. This is exacerbated by the French policy of clamping down on public display of religious differences especially dress mores. The most prominent of these policies is banning of burqas or headscarves in schools since 2004 and in public places since 2010 (a ban also existsfor the miniscule Sikh community in France from wearing turbans). France believes that such dress mores undermine integration and resultantly social cohesion.

France is among the few countries in the world which has a very robust organization to combat terrorist activities within its population. This is in the form of the Gendarmerie Nationale. This is a French paramilitary force which like our Assam Rifles is officered by the Army and headed by the equivalent of an Army four star general. With a strength of 98,155 and an additional 26,000 reserves[vi] it is more than twice the size of the Assam Rifles. It is by statute a part of the French armed forces. Like the Assam Rifles,it is under the Interior (Home) ministry. It has its own military police and Special Forces component. This is akin to the Assam Rifles having51 and 52 SAG of the NSG[vii]under its fold and a mandate to operate throughout the country. The Gendarmerie Nationale is in charge of public safety with police duties among the civilian population, along with the National Police. Resultantly they have a far greater quantum of police powers than the Assam Rifles has. It is interesting to see the tasks of the Gendarmerie, which are the following:[viii]

·         The policing of the countryside, rivers, coastal areas, and small towns with populations under 20,000, that are outside of the jurisdiction of the French National Police. The Gendarmerie provides policing for approximately half of the population of France;

·         Criminal investigations under judiciary supervision;

·         Crowd control and other security activities;

·         The security of airports and military installations, as well as all investigations relating to the military, including foreign interventions;

·         Participation in ceremonies involving foreign heads of state or heads of government; and

·         Provision of military police services to the French military; Army, Navy and Air Force.

The Gendarmerie which is a ‘light’ military force has in the past dealt very successfully with the terrorism within France associated with the Algerian insurgency in the period 1954-1962 and the activities of the OAS[ix] in the 1960’s. It is likely that given the strong tenor of the speech by Mr Francois Hollande post the attacks where he mentioned that terrorism will be dealt with “ruthlessly”, very concrete measures will be taken to deal with the current fundamentalist terrorism let loose by the ISIS. The Gendarmerie will have the lead role in this within France and the French armed forces (if used) outside France.

Henceforth ‘Death Metal’ will have a different word association for those who have anobserver’s view of terrorist events in the future. This article provides food for thought for a number of issues as under:

• Does curbing of religious freedom and mores lead to greater or lesser social cohesion in a country?
• Are heavy militaries required by a country whose primary threat is from terrorism?
• Are army units with army ethos and with police powersessential for curbing large scale terrorism?
• And lastly, will we see the world closing together in military and political solidarity to defeat the ISIS?