November 2015 Paris attacks

The November 2015 Paris attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks which occurred in Paris, France, and its northern suburb Saint-Denis on 13 November 2015. The attacks consisted of mass shootings, suicide bombings, bombings, and hostage taking. On 14 November, the Islamist terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were the deadliest to occur in France since the end of World War II and the deadliest in the European Union since the Madrid train bombings of 2004.

Quotes

Keep belieivng in the good in people. to not let those men win. Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and it is up to us to be better people. to live lives that the innocent victims of this tragedy dreamt about but sadly will now never be able to fulfil. ~ Isobel Bowdery

Sorted alphabetically by author or source

The Paris slaughter claimed by the Islamic State constitutes, as President François Hollande of France declared, an "act of war." As such, it demands of all NATO states a collective response under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. ~ Roger Cohen

I see no sign the French tend toward submission. ~ Amir Taheri

Paris was attacked not because of what the French do, as some Blame-The-West intellectuals claim, but because of what the French are: infidels who refuse to see the light of Islam. ~ Amir Taheri

• Anonymous from all over the world will hunt you down. You should know that we will find you and we will not let you go. We will launch the biggest operation ever against you. Expect massive cyber attacks. War is declared. Get prepared. The French people are stronger than you and will come out of this atrocity even stronger.
  • Anonymous, as quoted in "Anonymous declares war on Islamic State after Paris attacks in chilling video: 'We will hunt you down'", The Mirror (16 November 2015)

• It wasn't just a terrorist attack, it was a massacre. Dozens of people were shot right infront of me. Pools of blood filled the floor. Cries of grown men who held their girlfriends dead bodies pierced the small music venue. Futures demolished, families heartbroken. in an instant. Shocked and alone, I pretended to be dead for over an hour, lying among people who could see their loved ones motionless.. Holding my breath, trying to not move, not cry - not giving those men the fear they longed to see. I was incredibly lucky to survive. But so many didn't. The people who had been there for the exact same reasons as I - to have a fun friday night were innocent. This world is cruel. And acts like this are suppose to highlight the depravity of humans and the images of those men circuling us like vultures will haunt me for the rest of my life. The way they meticoulsy aimed at shot people around the standing area i was in the centre of without any consideration for human life. It didn't feel real. i expected any moment for someone to say it was just a nightmare. But being a survivor of this horror lets me able to shed light on the heroes. … to all of you who have sent caring messages of support - you make me believe this world has the potential to be better. to never let this happen again. but most of this is to the 80 people who were murdered inside that venue, who weren't as lucky, who didnt get to wake up today and to all the pain that their friends and families are going through. I am so sorry. There's nothing that will fix the pain. I feel priviledged to be there for their last breaths. And truly beliving that I would join them, I promise that their last thoughts were not on the animals who caused all this. It was thinking of the people they loved. As i lay down in the blood of strangers and waiting for my bullet to end my mere 22 years, I envisioned every face that I have ever loved and whispered I love you. over and over again. reflecting on the highlights of my life. Wishing that those i love knew just how much, wishing that they knew that no matter what happened to me, to keep belieivng in the good in people. to not let those men win. Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and it is up to us to be better people. to live lives that the innocent victims of this tragedy dreamt about but sadly will now never be able to fulfil. RIP angels. You will never be forgotten.
  • Isobel Bowdery, on her Facebook page (14 November 2015); also quoted in "22-year-old offers most vivid account yet of surviving Bataclan massacre" by Peter Holley, in The Washington Post (15 November 2015)

• Before we knew all that much about what had happened, before many Americans had even caught word of it, before the ones who were aware had moved past horror and numbness, Paris wasn’t just a massacre.
  It was a megaphone to be used for whatever you yearned to shout.
  That’s how it works in this era of Internet preening, out-of-control partisanship and press-a-button punditry, when anything and everything becomes prompt for a plaint, a rant, a riff.
  It all happens in the click of a mouse, its metabolism too furious to allow for decorum or real perspective.
  • Frank Bruni, in "The Exploitation of Paris" in The New York Times (14 November 2015)

• There are countless offenses and injustices that pale beside the bloodshed in Paris — what doesn’t? — and there’s absolutely no reason to believe that the people articulating those offenses and injustices would claim otherwise. Using Paris to delegitimize them is puerile. It’s also tasteless, cheapening what happened there.
  At this point it’s our ingrained habit to rush with dizzying speed into hyper-political overdrive and treat any shocking new development as fresh fodder for an old argument.
  • Frank Bruni, in "The Exploitation of Paris" in The New York Times (14 November 2015)

• What I think Paris did do, which was important, is galvanize, especially European opinion, and that's important, because the Europeans have a big role to play here in two ways. First, they can help us in Iraq and Syria.
  • Ashton Carter, interview with Charlie Rose (February 2016)

• The Paris slaughter claimed by the Islamic State constitutes, as President François Hollande of France declared, an "act of war." As such, it demands of all NATO states a collective response under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. This says that, "An armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all."
  Alliance leaders are already debating what that response should be. Hollande has spoken to President Obama. Other NATO countries, including Germany and Canada, have expressed solidarity. Indignation and outrage, while justified, are not enough.
  The only adequate measure, after the killing of at least 129 people in Paris, is military, and the only objective commensurate with the ongoing threat is the crushing of ISIS and the elimination of its stronghold in Syria and Iraq. The barbaric terrorists exulting on social media at the blood they have spilled cannot be allowed any longer to control territory on which they are able to organize, finance, direct and plan their savagery.
  • Roger Cohen, in "To Save Paris, Defeat ISIS" in The New York Times (15 November 2015)

• The cities of the whole world continue to express their support to the people of Paris. … Once again, a big thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are united.
  • Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, as quoted in "Paris Mayor Thanks Cities of the World for Showing Support" in TIME (15 November 2015)

• My dear compatriots,
  As I speak, terrorist attacks of unprecedented proportions are underway in the Paris area. There are dozens killed, there are many injured. It is a horror.
  We have, on my decision, mobilized all forces possible to neutralize the terrorists and make all concerned areas safe. I have also asked for military reinforcements. They are currently in the Paris area, to ensure that no new attack can take place.
  • François Hollande, as quoted in "French president Hollande's televised address" Reuters (13 November 2015)

• In these difficult moments, we must - and I'm thinking of the many victims, their families and the injured - show compassion and solidarity. But we must also show unity and calm.
  Faced with terror, France must be strong, it must be great and the state authorities must be firm. We will be.
  We must also call on everyone to be responsible.
  What the terrorists want is to scare us and fill us with dread. There is indeed reason to be afraid. There is dread, but in the face of this dread, there is a nation that knows how to defend itself, that knows how to mobilize its forces and, once again, will defeat the terrorists.
  • François Hollande, as quoted in "French president Hollande's televised address" Reuters (13 November 2015)

• You get used to terrorist attacks. France will hold on. The French will hold on, without even needing a “sursaut national,” a national pushback reflex. They’ll hold on because there’s no other way, and because you get used to everything. No human force, not even fear, is stronger than habit.
  • Michel Houellebecq, "The New York Times - The Opinion Pages", commentary about the November 2015 Paris attacks (21 November 2015)

• Peace for Paris
  • Jean Jullien, in his witter posting of "Peace for Paris" (13 November 2015)

• This attack will harden the resolve of the French against the savagery of the Islamic State, as it must the world’s.
  • The New York Times Editorial Board, in "Terror in Paris" (14 November 2015)

• I just want to make a few brief comments about the attacks across Paris tonight. Once again, we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.
  We stand prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance that the government and the people of France need to respond. France is our oldest ally. The French people have stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States time and again. And we want to be very clear that we stand together with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
  Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberté and égalité and fraternité are not only values that the French people care so deeply about, but they are values that we share. And those values are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision of those who perpetrated the crimes this evening.
  We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people.
  • Barack Obama, in his "Statement by the President on the Situation in Paris" (13 November 2015).

• Paris was attacked not because of what the French do, as some Blame-The-West intellectuals claim, but because of what the French are: infidels who refuse to see the light of Islam. The hope is that just as the Prophet forced the Arab tribes to accept Islam in exchange for protection, the “infidel” nations will also decide that it is in their best interest to submit. Today, however, I see no sign the French tend toward submission. As always, the terrorists may end up like the man who, having won a great many tokens at the roulette table, is surprised when the casino tells him his winnings cannot be cashed.
  • Amir Taheri, "The jihadis’ master plan to break us" in the New York Post (15 November 2015).