Will The Terrorists See Their Recent Action As A Bit Of An Own Goal?

[ToraToraTora]

Among the moving scenes in Paris and the avalanche of cartoonists doing their work, will the extremists realise that their action has increased what was a few cartoons in a fairly minor rag to a world wide phenomenon. From their point of view their "cure" must seem like 1000 times worse than the "disease".

[sandyRoe]

Sadly, they'll see it as a victory. An insult to the 'good name' of The Prophet has been avenged. They'll also think that people will think twice before publishing anything that might draw the anger of the faithful.
It would make you weep.

[wolf63]

I don't comment on news stories normally but I actually agree with you.

If anything they has alienated themselves from law abiding Muslims, especially as the shot a Muslim police officer.

More wars can be fought with peaceful negotiations than firepower - perhaps too simplistic but killing each other solves nothing.

[ChillDoubt]

I doubt it, their message will still be one of 'satirise and pillory the prophet at your peril'. Though adversely, it will only make many more than before view Islam with suspicion and disgust.

[Peter Pedant]

goggling " charlie hebdo cartoon muhammed " will get you what they died about. - a typical one is a turbanned man on a Freud Couch saying, 'it is difficult to be a leader when ones supporters are mad men'

Other surprises ( or should that be 'surpreez' ? ) I think I have just seen President Bongo ( yes there is one) of Gabon a noted supported of the free, walking arm in arm with President Hollande

One charlie ebdo-iste had already tweeted - why havent we see Assad of Syria on this march ?

[ToraToraTora]

but sandy they've had the opposite effect, there are thousands of cartoons from all over the world, I don't think they have made anyone "think twice".

I must admit to being effected with the way the moderate muslims have joined the action when I see the flags of lebanon, turkey and israel being waved along side the French flag it does give hope were previously one could be forgiven for thinking that the modrates gave tacit approval to the loonies. This never happenned like this after london/bali/madrid/new york. The French seem to have found a way to inspire thier public. Well done.

[bazwillrun]

I wait to see the list of names provided by the peace loving muslims of those they suspect of being involved in terrorist activities.

Theyre hardly the first to condemn these actions when they happen, theyre not exactly queuing up to make their condemnation known, you dont hear them shouting out condemnation from the highest hills do you...

[trt]

Dont think so Tora, they are so brain washed to their non existent God, it will give them more of an excuse to cause evil again.

[jim360]

Sometimes it takes one tragedy too many to force people into action. It is indeed very encouraging to see support from so many Muslims and Muslim countries. Sadly, the terrorists aren't going to think logically about this and we can expect more attacks (and even more attempts) on Western life.

[Gromit]

If they were rational people they might feel the attack was an own goal. But al qaeda, who this group were affiliated to, are not rational. They are indoctrinated zealots, many hardened by fighting in Bosnia, Chechnya, Afghanista, Syria or Iraq. To them, bringing the fight to the heart of a western city will be seen as a terrific success.
I am not saying the response to the Paris atrocities have been an over reaction, but the attention the terrorists actions have got, might actually encourage them to do more of the same.

[ichkeria]

"why havent we see Assad of Syria on this march ? "

Lavrov is there, which is bad enough.

[gness]

I can only imagine how I would be viewing this if I were one of the extremists, Tora....but I'd be more than miffed that my actions had brought about such unity.
However they see it....a bit of an own goal.

[New Judge]

I have to agree with Gromit. Their thought processes are not rational (for if they were they would never have undertaken their attacks in the first place). They care not a jot how the infidels react to their atrocities so long as they get a reaction and it's all on the telly.

The only good that may come from it is that people in Western Europe (and indeed elsewhere) may begin to wake up to realise that these extremists are born from a religion that is posing a huge threat to the way of life in the West. Threats, whilst not so severe in terms of death and injury posed by extremists, are just as severe in terms of attacks on the culture and habits of westerners posed by those more moderate. Hopefully it will be realised that no further appeasement in the name of diversity or multiculturalism would be wise.

[mushroom25]

//Threats, whilst not so severe in terms of death and injury posed by extremists, are just as severe in terms of attacks on the culture and habits of westerners posed by those more moderate. //

interestingly, Al Jazeera (English) Executive Producer Salah-Aldeen Khadr is said to have written, in response to last week's events:-
“Was this really an attack on 'Free speech'? Who is attacking free speech here exactly? Does an attack by 2-3 guys on a controversial magazine equate to a civilizational attack on European values..? Really?”

[vulcan42]

The terrorists will see this as neither a victory or a setback, it is just one more incident in their campaign for world domination.

[naomi24]

No, they won't see it as an own goal. They have having an impact upon the west - exactly as they intend.

[gness]

The impact they desire, Naomi? Listening to the people on the streets of Paris I don't...x

[Old_Geezer]

They will see all publicity as being 'good' publicity. And all increased terror levels being to their advantage also. Recall they don't even find the ability to distinguish between revenge and shame. They won't be able to think clearly on other moral matters either.

[jourdain2]

I rather fear that more young muslims will become radicalised by the publicity and seeing the cartoons spread worldwide. Car-chases, shoot-outs and so on can be glamorous to young idiots - even if the terrorists were killed, that's not so bad after all in their ideology.

[gness]

Well I shall take hope from witnessing people of different races and beliefs coming together.........normal people as the Italian Prime Minister calls them .....uniting....♣