A night of horrors unfolded in Paris last Friday, leaving Europe and a number of other countries shocked and threatened. As soon as the attacks had been identified with ISIS, the media named them a “act of war”, or perhaps a “wake up call”. The atrocity occurred two weeks after a Russian plane crashed over Sinai’s skies. Even though Russia and Egypt haven’t yet admitted the crash was a act of terror, most of the media implies the multiple attacks on France and Russia, are an ISIS response to the involvement of the governments in Syria.
On Thursday, ISIS released a video threatening future attacks against Russia (Huffington Post). The video mentioned the plane crash in Sinai and even the Charlie Hebdo’ cartoons which refer to the tragedy. The video has been running across the media, transferring a clear message from ISIS that whoever chooses to get involved and to fight against ISIS, will see reprisals. The very next day, ISIS appeared in one of the biggest terrorist attacks Europe has ever known, killing 129 French citizens. Ian Black, the Guardian’s Middle East editor, has described France as the most active Western Country in Syria. As appeared in the media over the weekend, the Paris’ attacks and the plane tragedy are part of a big ‘wake up call’ or ‘red notice’ for any country who attack Islamic State in Syria.
Today, two days after the horrors in Paris, the media as a whole seems to be united over a message of strength and common intention of the world’s leaders. The panic that appeared across the global media over the weekend has been replaced with an intention to defeat the group who managed to threaten the Russian and the French governments. The Independent, Reuters UK and Russia Today, all published today (Sunday) efforts by the nations concerned to combine their power to defeat the threat.
“We all understand perfectly well that coping with the terrorist threat and helping millions of people who have lost their homes, is possible only b
y combining the efforts of the entire world community,” Putin has said during an informal meeting of the leaders of the BRICS countries (Russia Today). Putin has not yet identified the plane crash tragedy as an act of terror. However, following the attacks in Paris last Friday and the global discussion searching for a solution to the threat posed by ISIS, Putin seemed to confirm the threat Russia is dealing with. After the increased bombing in Syria over the last week, Putin now seems more confident to call other leaders to unite for a bigger solution against the deadly group.
According to The Independent, Cameron also urges Vladimir Putin to use Russia’s military power to help destroy ISIS, “once for all”.
The media over the weekend showed us it’s strength, rapidly transferring emotions of sadness and panic into unity and international strength. The media response is that the two horrifying events, in Russia as well as in Paris, are both folded under one big threat which we should treat as a common target.
Adi Cohen 