a new book from an authoritative writer on islam in france says islamic state is targeting the murder of 35 individuals to accelerate france<u+2019>s collapse, and with it <u+201c>the caliphate<u+2019>s construction in the ruins of a defeated europe.<u+201d> gilles kepel, a professor at sciences po and an arabic-speaker, is the author of <u+201c>la fracture.<u+201d> he has been writing since 1987 about the conflicts embodied in many french-arab enclaves at the edges of big cities where he years ago identified <u+201c>a rupture in values with french society, and a will to subvert it.<u+201d> now, following his book<u+2019>s disclosure of an aug. 10 islamic state manifesto called <u+201c>targeted attacks,<u+201d> which takes aim at nine separate categories of activity such as politics and culture in a fractured france, mr. kepel foresees <u+201c>the launch of a war of enclaves leading up to a general civil war.<u+201d> a prophesy? best call it the jarring factual analysis of a unique observer. mr. kepel<u+2019>s investigation announces a new world of french and european fragility. it also points to the national front<u+2019>s marine le pen as a useful idiot for islamic state. this role has been enhanced now that her chances of winning the french presidency in may 2017 have been given an element of plausibility on the heels of donald trump <u+2019>s election. mr. kepel reports that islamic state is seeking provocations<u+2014>its own targeted attacks by european-based jihadis<u+2014>that will stir up white revenge and set off a chain reaction leading to civil war. with such a plan described as active (i was told its specific targets have been offered police protection), just the vague prospect of a le pen victory encourages the self-described holy warriors. the manifesto hit list<u+2019>s first priority, according to mr. kepel, is eliminating four french muslims who have been branded <u+201c>collaborators<u+201d> because of their willingness to engage other muslims in finding a place for islam in france. that means accommodation to french society<u+2019>s laws, customs and values. but this weak project, according to mr. kepel, is being challenged by the collective against islamophobia in france, headed by a french muslim and fueled by a faction that mr. kepel describes as islamo-leftist. the group says france is racist and colonialist, and obscures jihadism as islam<u+2019>s essential danger to france by casting muslim victimization as society<u+2019>s core issue. in line with this, the academic olivier roy argues that jihadist barbarity is a <u+201c>gore<u+201d> phenomenon, closer to the columbine high school massacre or the mexican drug-cartel wars than to any inspiration reflecting holy scripture. how did france get here? mr. kepel<u+2019>s answer: as a result of years of refusal by the french political class to grasp the implosion into radical islamism of muslim enclaves in the country. and via the fact that <u+201c>most of the politicians looking for our votes are primarily interested in perpetuating their own privileges.<u+201d> this persists against a background of monstrous islamist terrorist attacks in france, its continuing state-of-emergency laws, and a president who has declared war against islamic state. gerard larcher, president of the french senate, talked last year of the birth of a <u+201c>peripheral france,<u+201d> grouping 65% of the white majority in a community of disaffection and drift. <u+201c>our sometimes cowardly silence,<u+201d> he said, was nourishing the national front. a broad, concrete response is missing. because of its ideologically rigid politics and microscopic partisan tiffs, france has failed for nearly a generation to come up with a unifying charter of national civilization. it ought to combine official muslim allegiance to both the republic and french society<u+2019>s ethos with extensive muslim responsibility for the islamic community<u+2019>s adherence. but france<u+2019>s best shot at inclusiveness, based on an affirmation of muslim loyalty in exchange for affirmative action on muslim jobs and schooling, is now a foregone conclusion. whites see it as a potential reward for islamist terrorism. nicolas sarkozy, when he was interior minister, created the french council of the muslim religion in 2003 to be an emblematic voice for the community. after the homegrown jihadist attack on nice in july, the enfeebled council issued a condemnation<u+2014>without even a mention of the word <u+201c>terrorism.<u+201d> now, france<u+2019>s mainstream parties go into next year<u+2019>s presidential election minus a unifying plan or a joint notion about to how to deal with homegrown islam. <u+201c>the challenge,<u+201d> mr. kepel writes, <u+201c>is immense.<u+201d> with islamic state perversely heartened by better presidential chances for the national front candidate, france<u+2019>s democrats are confronted with an uncertain next step: putting aside their tortured divisions to form a common front behind a candidate, yet to emerge, who can beat ms. le pen on election day may 7.
the fragility of a fractured france - wsj
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