Soldiers on the streets is no effective response to terrorist threats

Yesterday I wrote about my concern to see inappropriate, excessive security measures being adopted as a follow-up to the dramatic events in France. Unfortunately, the politicians seem to prove me right. They have now decided to put something like 10,000 soldiers on the French streets. This increases the security paranoia, it sends the message that people should live in fear, and gives the military a role that it is not theirs, for which they are not prepared. Furthermore, it makes them an easy target for all kinds of crazies that hate military uniforms.

The politicians know that this is not the right approach but might think that the citizens appreciate this action. I am not even sure of that.

And let´s be clear. When there is a real problem – and the terrorist threat is real – the responsibility of the political leaders is to organise the right response. Not to engage in spectacular actions that have very little impact on the solution of the problem. 

After Charlie, many rays of hope

Impressive rally in Paris. Impressive popular demonstrations all over France. This should bring back hope and tolerance. And one should make sure that the security responses that will follow the Charlie drama are proportionate and unobtrusive.

Security cooperation

In the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo drama, there will be a high-level meeting in Paris on Sunday on internal security in Europe. I have not seen its agenda. But I believe it will have to discuss two basic things: improve intelligence and expand the exchange of information among the different police services of the EU countries. This means, in different words, more resources for prevention and a more cooperative approach among States. Both seem quite obvious. But they have not been very easy to implement. And I am afraid they will continue to face the same type of challenges. 

Charlie Hebdo and our tolerance level

On this day, when barbarians attacked the weekly Charlie Hebdo, in the heart of the city of Paris, one should just say two things. First, to express sadness. And second, to say that this type of criminal actions aims at the core of our values and tries to destroy our tolerance, our acceptance of the difference. And that cannot be accepted. We certainly come out of this in pain but at the same time strengthened in our capacity to accept the difference. What we cannot accept is terrorism, extremism, ideas of centuries ago, or any dog of God. And we have to be prepared to fight them. There is no place in our society, in 2015, for any group of mad, hallucinated terrorists.