If, as it is reported by British and other media, that 88,000 police and security personnel had participated in the pursuit of the supposed French-Algerian culprits of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, Said and Cherif Kouachi, then this would be a remarkable figure. In terms of ratio, each Kouachi brother warranted a manhunt consisting of 44,000 personnel. Obviously, these personnel are backed by one of the most technologically advanced states in the world as well as its European neighbours offering assistance, if required. Furthermore, the French state is not subject to any international sanctions which would have hindered the pursuit of this pair of inner-city jihadis.

There is also no sizable minority population in France which have any active sympathy with the Kouachi brothers and the western media outlets did not refer to the brothers as ‘moderate rebels’. Continue reading →