Islamism: fear has changed sides
René Andron, Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Our society is objectively corrupted by Islamism; it is not playing into the hands of populism to say so when the ordinary population no longer dares to discuss the subject in the public space for fear of reprisals, when the forces of order hide to prevent their families or themselves from being threatened, when the limits of living together are tested every day. The opportunistic solicitation of “left” populists and the cowardice of the elites make them guilty before History. However, I would like to pay tribute to the quality of the reflections of Abnousse Shalmani and Anne Rosencher in L’Express. I never thought that the French extreme right would provide a credible solution to the rise of Islamism, but it is high time that the democrats face the facts, as some northern countries are doing. Europe because we are approaching a breaking point. (Attack against Charlie Hebdo: they killed Cabu and I lost my voice, by Abnousse ShalmaniL’Express of January 2.)
Freedom for Boualem Sansal!
Jean-François Capéran, Fouras (Charente-Maritime)
The quality of your articles, your independence of mind, your refusal to remain subservient to popular ideologies reassure me in my conviction to remain a loyal reader of L’Express. As further proof, I cite this interview with Pascal Bruckner on the fate reserved for the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, recently imprisoned by the Algerian authorities. Having lived for eight years in this country, I subscribe 200% to the philosopher’s analyzes concerning the “soft reaction” of the French authorities to this arrest, the cowardice of a part of the so-called left-wing intellectuals and thinkers of our country and the procrastination of a political class incapable of taking the true measure of the harmfulness of this Algerian power subservient to business generals and their Islamist cronies. (Pascal Bruckner: “It is indeed the Algerian power which is obsessed with France and not the other way around”L’Express of January 2.)
The Rafale and its savior
Lucien Robineau, former director of the Air Force Historical Service.
The Rafale chapter of the file devoted to the “Dassault empire” gives a good account of the tumultuous genesis of this device. Except for one big detail: those who know a little history will be surprised that the name of General Bernard Capillon, chief of staff of the Air Force from June 1982 to October 1986, is not mentioned , while he was the solitary and fierce defender of the ACX program (precursor to the Rafale) and ultimately its rescuer. It was he who persuaded the government of the viability of a single French rider on the essential condition that the aircraft equip both the flotillas of the National Navy and the squadrons of the Air Force, while the sailors wanted to buy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s for their two aircraft carriers without delay. We know the rest. (And the Rafale took offL’Express of January 2.)
France degraded
Claire Rodriguez, Poitiers (Vienna)
The Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s agencies have started to downgrade France’s rating, and this is only the beginning. Given the catastrophic state of our economy and our public finances, it is even surprising that this deterioration did not start earlier. If Emmanuel Macron and the government can continue to lie to the French, they can no longer fool international agencies. (Six months later, the true cost of Emmanuel Macron’s dissolution for the French economyon Lexpress.fr)
Tribute to Olivier Todd
Vincent Mahy (Belgium)
Thank you for disseminating the article on the condition of women in Iran, written in 1979 by Olivier Todd, this great visionary journalist. (Olivier Todd in L’Express in 1979: women at the heart of the Iranian “counter-evolution”on Lexpress.fr)
“L’Etat-Major”, the new defense podcast from L’Express
In addition to your daily podcast, La Loupe, L’Express now offers you “L’Etat-Major”, devoted to military issues and available on all platforms, every other Tuesday. From Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, the world is marked by conflicts and tensions. Defense stands out as an essential prism for reading current geopolitical issues. To enlighten you, Clément Daniez, journalist in the world service, will receive researchers, soldiers and experts to discuss army models, new technologies, the law of war… Available to listen to since January 14, the first episode, Trump against American spies, looks back at the tumultuous relations between the Republican president and the American intelligence services.