“The Death of the West”
French lawmakers are largely downplaying the odds of civil war breaking out in France following two letters from retired military commanders and active-duty soldiers warning of such a conflict.
Two thousand active-duty soldiers backed a letter published Sunday claiming that the French government has “surrendered” to radical Islam. Last month, hundreds of retired military officers, including 20 former generals, signed on to an open letter warning of the increasing “disintegration and Islamization” of France.
The letters have become a flashpoint in a larger debate in France over the country’s response to Islamism and how to effectively deal with terrorist attacks in the country.
“[The letter] is a waste of time and offers no solution,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said Monday, according to Politico Europe. “There is no laissez-faire in France. Yes, there is a political Islamism that is trying to break up the country, and we are fighting it.”