Hollande : "Terrorism will not defeat us; we will defeat terrorism"

Monday, November 16, 2015. ~~~~~ French President Hollande addressed the Senate and Assemblée Nationale, gathered in a Congress at Versailles. It is rare, happening only three times since the mid-1800s. As in the US, a French president must be invited and has no right to enter the legislature otherwise. ~~~~~ President Hollande said : "The Republic is not beyond the reach of contemptible, despicable killers." Nor is Europe or the Middle East, he added, ISIS concerns the entire international community. "We are not engaged in a war of civilizations, but in a war against jihadist terrorism that threatens the entire world....Friday's attacks were planned in Syria, organized in Belgium and carried out in Paris." He promised to intensify France's attack and its effort in Syria. He announced a meeting soon with Presidents Obama snd Putin. He called for a UN Security Council meeting as soon as possible. He called for systematic, coordinated EU border controls. "But, France remains an open, constitutional Republic. We must adapt to this war against terrorism." He will ask for constitutional changes to permit revoking the French nationality of dual-nationals convicted of terrorist acts. And he will ask for a new definition of legitimate self-defense by police..."We ask now for a rapid constitutional evaluation of our proposals." He said he will ask for a three-month State of Emergency by presenting a proposal to the Assemblée Nationale on Wednesday. He is increasing Justice Ministry and prison personnel by 2,500 and the border police and other police by 6,000. The military's strength will not be reduced before 2019. He said this will increase the budget deficit because "the security accord supercedes the stability accord [the EU maximum 3% of GNP as a budget deficit]....We must continue to work, to go out, to live...we are not hostages to terrorism....We are attached to our liberties...we will continue to shine as an example for the world. Vive la France! Vive la République!" The Congress stood, applauded, and sang the Marseillaise. ~~~~~ But, several of Hollande's proposals are controversial -- revising the constitution first among them. The conservative Républicain party of former President Sarkozy on Monday evening asked Socialist President Hollande to add the element they say is missing -- the only really valuable legal change -- to be able to detain and intern the 4,000 radicalized people in France before they actually carry out an act of terrorism. ~~~~~ Dear readers, there was a minute of silence all over France at noon Monday - even trains and cars stopped. The silence was also honored many places in Europe. Then, at 4 p.m., amid the formal but austere display of French military and political pomp and circumstance, French President François Hollande delivered a stirring, if surely to be debated, call to arms against terrorism. And Monday night the Eiffel Tower was again lit -- for the first time since Friday - in red white and blue. As has been the case since 9/11, France leads Europe's determination to destroy jihadist terrorism. Left and Right, every French president has acted and called for international support. Since 2008, France has often been left alone as the Obama administration would first declare its intent to act, only to retreat. On Monday, Hollande called for a "single coalition" against an ISIS he said is beatable. America's political leaders of both parties are excoriating President Obama's timidity. Perhaps this time, America will lead -- not because Obama's weakness has suddenly turned to strength, but because the alternative will undoubtedly be a war against jihadist terrorism led by Russia and Vladimir Putin, followed by a Russian Middle East ascendancy. This time, necessity for Barack Obama may be the mother, not of invention, but of necessity itself.