[November 15, 2015] A nation’s best leaders rise to the occasion when their skills are needed during a crisis. Such was the need for French President François Hollande to quickly and clearly establish that he could show strong leadership in uniting France during the latest Islamic terror in Paris and in that, he was successful and more.
The terror attacks on the citizens of Paris where over 120 were killed this past Friday night were conducted by those who are members of or sympathetic to the terror group Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL). There is a link to the fight in Syria against the Assad regime; although the relationship is not yet completely clear.
Yet much of the Western world remains somewhat ignorant about the battle within the Islamic faith that is the real engine for much of the terrorism. The Islamic State is Sunni in origin and Sunnis greatly outnumber Shias. While there is no clear Western strategy to deal with this struggle, our appearance of supporting one over the other makes us appear inconsistent, two-faced, and to supportive both … thus angering and alienating both.
The good news is that Hollande was quick to condemn the terrorism and established himself as an effective leader. He also took immediate, concrete actions to find any accomplices or supporters of those directly involved in the murders. He said “It is an act of war that was committed by a terrorist army, a jihadist army, Daesh, against France.”1
His comments are exactly what should be said; the words, the inflection, and the timing. But the challenge is that a real leader must follow up with strong actions otherwise his words will be taken as empty and he will be considered ineffective and France a paper tiger. He will also have to explain how his counter-terrorist agencies missed the plot that was well-coordinated and resourced. He will also have to deal with France’s liberal immigration policy and its participation in the Syrian war.
Our condolences go to the people of France. The civilized world will stand with them. Let us hope that other nations who are free to give their sympathy to France will also provide real support that translates into the defeat of the Islamic State and its supporters. That however requires real leaders and they are hard to find.
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