Now is not the time for "knee jerk" reactions. The immediate priority must surely be with French people and helping them to return to some form of objective normality.
Every generation has had a challenge of this nature. In my generation I remember the the Northern Ireland conflict, the Belfast, Londonderry, London, Birmingham, Manchester, and more ad nauseam, IRA bombings. Interestingly the solution was political.
The threat has changed however, along with funding lines that supported the terrorist.
9/11 in New York, 7/7 in London, Russian passenger aircraft, and now Paris, twice in one year ( apologies to the many terrorist events that I've failed to mention).
The answer isn't simple and probably unknown to most of us.
In my opinion, the answer is not in halting the acceptance of refugees, many of whom are under extreme threat of death by the same terrorist. And possibly condemned to death if nationalistic hysteria prevails.
Nor is it nuclear EMP, Super Hornet, or relaxation in gun law!
My wife and family were "fortunate escapees" from the 7/7 London bombing. The idea of gun toting citizens confined on a tube train is bluntly horrific! More people killed by innocent gunslingers in a state of panic, shooting at any any ethnic target.
Here in the UK, our ethnic communities are vociferously rising to the threat in condemnation of ISIS. The rising interest of the UN, and international voice, an international force including Russia and MENA members, maybe the way forward?
On a final note, we have a football match at Wembley (London) tomorrow night. Between England and France. It is going ahead without thought of cancellation. In anticipation I urge you to watch it or at least be aware of it. The English fans will be singing La Marseillaise along with French supporters. The Duke of Cambridge has volunteered to be there, it will grow.
That's an initial European response to what is primarily a threat to Europe and the Middle East. I'm sure there will be a more measured and objective response. It won't be an ordinary and friendly football match. It will be a statement of European defiance.
Vive La France, and the families of those that were killed by ignorance.
SO.
