Eastern Washington University’s Political Science and International Studies Department held an open panel Nov. 24 to discuss the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, the motivation behind them and the impact on politics in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
Dr. Kristin Edquist, associate professor of political science and director of International Affairs who specializes in European politics, reviewed the details of the attacks. She said the attacks were politically significant not just for France but also for the European Union and the United States.
“The events are not surprising to those who have watched ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) lately in response to France’s involvement in the Middle East,” Edquist said. “They also reflect the domestic tensions in France and the European Union. This is a problem for France as it is for the Middle East or everywhere else.”
Edquist noted there is an increase of homegrown terrorists that are making it hard for agencies to track. Of the 10 attackers, six were French and one was from Belgium. Several of the attackers went to Syria for training. She added that Belgium has been a site for fermentation of Islamic extremism. Is in close proximity to France, which allows for a lot of networking to happen easily.
“There’s an increasing pattern of homegrown extremists,” Edquist said. “They are petty criminals who are far more radicalized than their parents. They start out as gangsters and become terrorists.”
She added that French Muslims are in a difficult place, with many of them being viewed as suspicious, although she does think the Paris attacks will have a backlash for extremism among them. She said that France is alone in viewing ISIS as a global threat as far as the EU is concerned.
“Attacks against Syria will be difficult and it will be hard for France to galvanize support,” Edquist said.
Associate professor Dr. Kevin Pirch, who specializes in American politics, said he had his talk planned for the panel until he learned the Turkish forces shot down a Russian warplane flying over its airspace that morning.
“It’s a very fluid situation, especially for the United States,” Pirch said. “The U.S. has to be concerned with Russians bombing Syrian targets. If Turkey invokes article five of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, any attack on Turkey is an attack on the United States.”
Pirch added that the U.S. “hopes calmer heads prevail” and that the concern is what will happen to Syria after the military goes there. He noted three groups in control of Syria: Bashar Hafez al-Assad’s regime, ISIS and free Syrian forces.
“We honestly don’t know who we are supporting but we are looking for someone to support,” Pirch said.
Dr. Majid Sharifi, an associate professor who specializes in Middle Eastern politics, sees the Paris attacks “as a slide in a long painful movie.” He brought up the attacks in Beirut and Baghdad which did not receive coverage from Western media nor did they receive condolences from world leaders.
“We should see it as a long, tragic, bloody film,” Sharifi said. “This is a world where millions have no voice and they have become instruments of great power and the failure of the states. If Syria is considered a failed state, we should look at why it is considered a failed state.”
Sharifi clarified that ISIS does not represent Islam and only a narrow segment of the Muslim population believes in war against the West. He also said the media has exaggerated ISIS’ large numbers.
“This (ISIS) is not a big army,” Sharifi said. “It is a threat, but it is a criminal organization. Is the U.S. government really treating ISIS as a threat or a balancer? I would argue as a balancer.”
When asked what impact it will have on upcoming elections, Pirch hasn’t heard any evidence the Paris attacks will affect them.
Sharifi’s opinion differed from Pirch’s. He said there is a trend where the United States tries to look tough with no rational behind it. He explained that the intellectual community knew the United States was going to create a vacuum when it invaded Iraq and left it a failed state. He added that the West has the military capability to defeat ISIS.
“This is how we dealt with al-Qaeda,” Sharifi said. “So as long as we are on a campaign for political toughness, we are pretty much repeating a mistake.”
Al-Assad’s regime in Syria is another factor. Sharifi said some people will support al-Assad because there is “no alternative.”
“Al-Assad is more popular among his social base than he was six years ago,” Sharifi said. “Russia wants Assad to go, but not the institution. Russia and the United States are on the same page, but President Obama hasn’t shown backbone on this issue.”
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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