“Well, certainly as far as France is concerned, from my standpoint, this is the end of the French Republic, because when a government declares a state of emergency in response to a terror event, prior to the conduct of a police investigation…and then closes the borders, and then gives a green light to police and security personnel to conduct house arrests… without a warrant throughout France… this is a transition towards a police state.” -Professor Michel Chossudovsky (from this week’s interview)
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Length (58:59)
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On the evening of November 13, 2015, within the span of less than half an hour, a series of carefully coordinated terror attacks ravaged France. The shootings and suicide bombings took place in five areas of Paris as well as in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. The most deadly attack by far was at the Bataclan where 89 died. [1]
The death toll from the attacks stood at 129.[2]
In his address to the nation, and the world, French President François Hollande declared a state of emergency. Public demonstrations on Paris streets have been banned. Cinemas, stadiums and other public facilities have been closed, and 1500 military personnel have been dispatched in France’s capital. The French President ordered the shut down of the country’s borders, and for the first time since the Second World War, instituted a mandatory curfew. [3] [4]
Two days later, French military forces launched a massive aerial assault against the Syrian city of Raqqa, where Islamic State militants are believed to be headquartered. [5]
The incident is reminiscent of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which similarly resulted in the restriction of civil liberties and military aggression on the part of the United States.
These events are taking place in the wake of a fairly successful counter-insurgency by Russia in alliance with the Syrian Army.
As of November 20, a UN Security Council Resolution has passed unanimously called on “Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures…to eradicate the safe haven they (ISIS) have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria.” [6]
Newly minted Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing a revolt within his own caucus over his principled decision not to support military action against ISIS in Syria. [7]
How dramatically have these recent attacks altered the geo-political playing field? Who exactly is the enemy responsible? And where do the floods of desperate refugees fit into this picture?
This week’s Global Research News Hour attempts to shed a light into this latest flashpoint and how it is being used tom manipulate the masses.
First we hear from Canadian journalist, broadcaster, author and media critic Barrie Zwicker. He strongly suspects the attacks were fabricated and focuses his thoughts on the defecits he is seeing within mainstream media coverage and the contrast with what is available through the internet and independent media.
Then Professor Michel Chossudovsky, Emeritus Professor at the University of Ottawa and founder of the Centre for Research On Globalization, resurrects his own understanding of the formulation of the Extremist Islamist brigades as being supported by Western Powers and a smokescreen for further penetration of U.S./NATO powers into the Middle East. Professor Chossudovsky discredits the narrative of the War on ISIS and speaks to what the world may now be facing in the wake of the attacks.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Length (58:59)
Click to download the audio (MP3 format)
The Global Research News Hour airs every Friday at 1pm CT on CKUW 95.9FM in Winnipeg. The programme is also podcast at globalresearch.ca .
The show can be heard on the Progressive Radio Network at prn.fm. Listen in every Monday at 3pm ET.
Community Radio Stations carrying the Global Research News Hour:
CHLY 101.7fm in Nanaimo, B.C – Thursdays at 1pm PT
Boston College Radio WZBC 90.3FM NEWTONS during the Truth and Justice Radio Programming slot -Sundays at 7am ET.
Port Perry Radio in Port Perry, Ontario –1 Thursdays at 1pm ET
Burnaby Radio Station CJSF out of Simon Fraser University. 90.1FM to most of Greater Vancouver, from Langley to Point Grey and from the North Shore to the US Border.
It is also available on 93.9 FM cable in the communities of SFU, Burnaby, New Westminister, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Surrey and Delta, in British Columbia Canada. – Tune in every Saturday at 6am.
Notes:
- Marina Fang, November 18, 2015, “Timeline of the Paris Attacks and Aftermath”, Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paris-attacks-timeline_56490a09e4b0603773499133
- ibid
- ibid
- Gaumont Pathé, November 14, 2015, Le Monde, “Equipements publics fermés, manifestations interdites à Paris… mais trafic ferroviaire normal”; http://www.lemonde.fr/attaques-a-paris/article/2015/11/14/apres-les-attaques-a-paris-peut-on-circuler-normalement-prendre-le-bus-faire-ses-courses_4809969_4809495.html?xtmc=urgence&xtcr=3
- Marina Fang, November 18, 2015
- http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52623#.VlE8rcVdWvQ
- Toby Helm, Daniel Boffey et al, November 22, 2015, “Labour rift widens over intervention in Syria”, The Guardian; http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/21/jeremy-corbyn-defies-labour-colleagues-call-settlement-syria
