07 January 2015

BREAKING NEWS: Military-Style Terror Attack Leaves 12 Dead 4 Critically Wounded At French Satirical Magazine "Charlie Hebdo" By Three At-Large Assailants Armed With AK-47s And Possible RPGs Manhunt Underway

                                                  "They came to kill not to die."
                                                                                              CNN Commentator

       Wednesday, 7 January 2015, PARIS - News agencies now are reporting a midday lunch hour (Paris time) military-style terror attack about two hours ago by what are believed to be three (3) at large gunmen armed with AK-47s (Automatic Kalashnikov 1947) and a possible rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) on French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo" (the "Magazine") with a history of "poking fun" at the absurdity of various religious groups of all faiths including since 2006 of satirical cartoons of the prophet of Mohammad resulting in a previous terror attack firebombing in 2011 on the Magazine. The Magazine's current issue featured a cartoon of ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi. This is the worst terror attack on French soil in two decades. France now has declared itself to be highest level of alert for terrorist attacks. The magazine's name is derived from a defunct French magazine named "Charlie" after Charlie Brown. "Hebdo" strictly means "daily" although the Magazine apparently was actually a weekly.
       The Magazine reportedly refused to be intimidated by either the 2011 terror attack nor continuing threats dating back to 2006 and was under 24/7 "heavy police protection" which just was recently scaled back for unknown reasons. Although journalist hostages previously have been executed by ISIS this is the first time that a news organization has been targeted by terrorists considerably widening attempts to stifle the voice of a free press. The gunmen apparently had significant intelligence as to the reduced security as well as the fact that they were attacking during the Magazine's editorial meeting. Nevertheless the gunmen first entered the wrong building at address number 6 where they were told it was not the Magazine offices at which point the gunmen went to number 10 and entered the Charlie Hebdo building.
       The two or more masked gunmen apparently entered the editorial board meeting and specifically targeted the editor-in-chief as well as four famous cartoonists including the previously firebombed targeted cartoonist of the famous Mohammad 2011 cartoon killing ten (10) journalists altogether. Upon leaving the gunmen in perfect French with no accent said "Charlie is dead".
       The black-clad masked heavily armed two (2) or possibly more gunmen were captured in "home" videos as well as a video briefly released then removed from the internet after they left the building. Although none of the videos or information developed so far show exact details of the killings of those at the Magazine's editorial meeting the videos do show the gunmen calmly firing their weapons in the street after apparently three policemen were engaged resulting in two wounded one of whom was wounded on the ground when a gunman calmly approached then executed with an AK-47 shot to head.
       The gunmen shouted "God is Great" in perfect French as the assailants stood in the street and according to Reuters also shouted "We have avenged the Prophet". One police car left in the street showed a tight pattern of bullet holes in the windshield indicating a relatively high degree of training including not setting an AK-47 on automatic but first set on semi-automatic firing a tight pattern of three shots. The gunmen in contrast to prior terrorist attacks were not suicidal as they calmly left in at least one black sedan with one gunmen calmly even first stopping to pick up a sneaker the gunman apparently had lost. The gunmen then slowly drove away.
       Although there were several lower profile attacks in Paris before Christmas as well as others thwarted before today's attack today's terror attack has "sent a shiver up the spine" of the French because of the attack's apparent military sophistication as well as the fact that the gunmen reportedly spoke perfect French. The French Interior Minister has assured the French that heavy security has been deployed to all critical French locations such as train stations, etc. Both he and the French Prime Minister assured the French that a full-scale manhunt is underway for three (3) "criminals" who he said will face a punishment commensurate with their crime.
       United States President Barack Obama through his spokesperson Josh Earnest as well as in a his own statement sent to French officials said among other things that the United States "Stood shoulder to shoulder with France" which the President referred to as the United States' "Oldest Ally" perhaps referring to French assistance to Americans in the Revolutionary War and especially the French naval presence role in bringing that war to a conclusion with the surrounding of the English in the siege at Norfolk, Virginia at which point Lord Cornwallis surrendered. Of the United States executive branch agencies the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been the first and most vociferously offered to make its resources available to the French government upon request.
       Meanwhile the Department of Homeland Security has taken the opportunity to complain that it has inadequate funding based on outdated needs of a few years ago. This has been attributed to the Republican government gridlock of the past couple years which has resulted among other things in the Republicans denying needed funding for perplexing reasons to the Department of Homeland Security meaning it is unable to be fully prepared to fulfill its duty in circumstances such as the present. The Ninth Amendment Editorial Board opines that hjopefully this strategy of shooting themselves in the foot will not continue to be the practice of Republicans now that they have taken control of the House of Representatives which many expect not to last for more than a period of two years during which time their ineptitude should become apparent to the American people from whom their limited power derives without causing too much more damage to these United States in the meantime.
       Of particular concern to French authorities and all Western intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies is the fact that France with its large north Parisian Islamic largely unpoliced currently is estimated to have has many as 3,000 citizens who have joined ISIS along with thousands more from other European countries who after receiving training from ISIS or other terrorist groups may return with their valid passports to their home countries to wreak havoc.

Copyright 2014 Martin P. All World Rights Expressly Reserved

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