The Paris attacks and impending elections have forced moderate socialist French president to emphatically redraw his politicsFrançois Hollande’s historic Versailles speech – in which he hammered home that France was “at war” and promised to “eradicate terrorism” – was the most martial performance he has ever given. It marked the completion of an intriguing transformation that has taken place over several years: of the socialist who was once derided as a soft,clash-avoidant, blancmange-like “marshmallow” into a self-styled chief of war”.
Hollande’s blistering war-talk, and security clampdown,and vow to raze Islamic State across the world marks a sharp turnaround for the French left and will inevitably be compared to George W Bush’s political rhetoric after America’s September 11 attacks. But the Bush comparison does not stand up entirely – the French context of homegrown terrorism makes things far more complex and nuanced. “We’re not in a war of civilisation because these killers don’t represent one,” said Hollande. “We’re at war against jihadi terrorism.” Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com