The Islamic State and The Façade of Civility

The attack perpetrated in the spring by a Chechen-born French confirms ISIS's ability to adapt to our vigilance by being able to strike anywhere, at any time and via individuals sometimes on the sidelines of the networks terrorists.

The ultimate reasons likely to explain the gesture of Khamzat Azimov are likely to remain unknown even if the claim by ISIS for the attack that bloodied Paris on May 12 last is sufficient to explain itself.

However, the gesture of this individual, certainly stuck us, questions not about the effectiveness of the device or the monitoring granted to those who appear in the national file, but the means allocated to the anti-terrorism.


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This is not about opening a case against the authorities in charge of internal security, a free trial that would make no sense and quickly turn into a controversy as sterile as unfounded. A precautionary statement is necessary however. Given the number of attacks foiled on the territory (78 projects [attempted terror attacks] have been thwarted on French territory since 2013), it would be false, even foolish, to cry out the inefficiency of intelligence or police services. (Read the article on lemonde.fr :)

Means, Freedom, Adaptation

But another reality is also necessary: ​​it is impossible to place a law enforcement officer behind each ISIS file. Lack of means and personal, possible attack on individual freedom and movement explain this evidence which, moreover , would not necessarily be the solution.

Because to this day, the terrorist threat, which has become protean, can, with Khamzat Azimov's proof, appeal or use the most discreet individuals whose involvement in terrorist logic was previously minimal or even nil.

This is the difficulty of the fight against terrorism led by many countries: it’s totally unpredictable, blind and unconscious nature. Certainly, let's repeat it, many attacks have been foiled in France and in the world.


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But how many are currently being prepared, attacks whose international intelligence services are not yet informed because fomented outside the traditional circuits or networks identified?

Far from being stupid, the perpetrators of attacks have also learned intelligence services and now know, if not mislead or at least outsmart or sufficiently muddy the tracks to slow their intervention. Khamzat Azimov, who did not present a particularly dangerous profile, yet committed the irreparable. When the Islamic State reigned supreme in the Middle East, in Syria and in Iraq, as violent as the actions could be, the latter were geo-localizable in their origins.


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From now on, with the disappearance of the Islamic State, it will be more and more difficult to locate not the authors but the space of tensions where the attacks are foment because this space will have taken a global and secret dimension. Will it be necessary to be wary of everything and anything? No ! Naturally! But we must keep in mind for a long time that the drowsy threat is able to wake up at any time because those who are the authors have adapted to our vigilance.

 

Bio: Olivier Longhi has an extensive background in European History, a seasoned journalist with fifteen years’ experience, he is currently a professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held varies positions within the publishing field including head of agency and chief of publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, columnist and editorial project manager he has trained and directed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant and communication consultant.

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