Last night, a Paris-based satirical magazine called Charlie Hebdo was the site of a terrorist attack, resulting in the murder of 12 people, including two police officers, with many others injured. Three gunmen entered the office building with machine guns and possibly a grenade launcher. The suspects fled the scene before more police could arrive.
Shockingly, a crude video posted on social media earlier today shows one gunman executing an injured police officer who was laying on the ground. The gunman can be heard chanting the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar.” AFP reports that the gunmen shouted “we have avenged the prophet.”
French President Francois Hollande told reporters that had been several attacks averted in recent weeks. The magazine ran a cartoon picture of the Prophet Muhammad in 2012, and was heavily criticized by radical Islamic groups. President Hollande vowed to respond with “firmness” and stated that the reason France is a target of attack is “because [France] is a country committed to liberty.” Nevertheless, no group has taken credit for the attack as of yet. President Hollande’s clarity on this issue is sorely needed in U.S. politics.
The attack was a direct assault on the principles of liberty that the French have held dear since the time of Montesquieu and de Tocqueville: freedom of speech, freedom from tyranny, freedom of religion, to name a few.
It can be easy to forget that the abstract ideals often taken for granted in free nations are anathema to those who seek subjugation over flourishing, tyranny over liberty. Disagreement among what James Madison labeled as factions is a permanent part of modern politics in free nations. This is likely a good thing. Factional conflict ensures that no one group becomes so powerful as to be able to infringe the rights and liberties of the other.
In difficult moments, it is crucial to remember that vigilance is the price of liberty. Vigilance is the shared duty of all free people. Montesquieu would put it this way: “The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.”
The George W. Bush approach to counterterrorism was far from perfect, but he did understand one truth that we ought to remember. Evil does exist in this world, and it must be confronted. This is not a call to war, or nation building, but a reminder that human nature is flawed, and that evil works to destroy that which is good.
Isolating ourselves from every other nation will not prevent future attacks nor abate the hatred some have of free society. It is imperative that we develop sound policies and practices to address terrorism in a way that protects innocent lives and the liberties we hope to safeguard for all.
The world mourns for France, but mourning is not enough. Evil requires indefatigable commitment to the cause of liberty, and the courage to act on those convictions.
Brandon James Smith is a lawyer working in Washington D.C., an adjunct professor, and holds an LL.M. in National Security Law from George Washington University. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions for editorials, available at this link.
