I don't think so the critics of operationals come as a distraction in french politics. Exclusively designed to protect the politicians in charge. I don't know if you remember a wilde fire in south eastern france quite destructive, very rapidly, near by was a kind of base and an army unit came under fire for irresponsible criminal firearms training in very dry weather. Followed, deadful accusations from politicians and the officer in charge was taken into custody. Later, days later the officer was released without charge and much later, when everybody focus on something else, the cause of the wild fire was discovered, it had nothing to do with the offeicer or army unit incriminated. The Press didn't investigate the politicans accusations and that officer had a pretty bad time with very little or no protest but politicians were off the hook.

This time around it looks pretty much the same. Critics and debate of operational personnel job on the suspect home assault plays as a distraction. If you can't be held responsible for everything happening on your watch and if too early to declare the security policies the actual french president engaged in for the past five years a complete failure, they should be at least questioned thoroughly.

A lot more disturbing is why it took three shooting to see the security elevated to a meaningful level with at last security forces investing in numbers the region. Has politics played a role and have policians in charge deliberately put lives on the line after the second shooting which saw two french soldiers executed in the city of Montauban. After the second shooting, according to the Press and statements, authorities ignored the scale of the attack, the number of shooters and possible location and if multiple attacks in other cities were in the pipeline, still they won't make any security move on a big scale despite the suspect fleeing the scene screaming "Allah Akbar" leaving very few options on who they were dealing with.

Was the third shooting avoidable if the french "ecarlate security level" had been in effect is now to haunt candidate Sarkosy's bid for re election as well as many leading politicians incredibly silent. The attempt to hide behind "national unity" or operationals performance or lack of, is frankly pitiful.

The very uncomfortable feeling (I admit partially inspired by the horrible Treard...it is friendly) that the possible benefit the french national front could have made of a bold and large security move with security forces pourring all over the cities after the second shooting may have prevented it to happen allowing the third. Could these victims be today alive  if security had not been part of the french political wrangling?

What's yours for the week.