The French Find Themselves Alone In Their Fight Against The Islamic State

French President Francois Hollande walks in the courtyard of the Hotel des Invalides during a ceremony in Paris, France, November 19, 2015 after last Friday's series of deadly attacks in the French capital. Reuters/Philippe Wojazer

Yaroslav Trofimoc, WSJ: In Terror Fight, France Feels Increasingly Isolated

Paris worries its allies may not have the will to confront militant threat head on.

PARIS—The world seems awash in sympathy with France’s tragedy, from candlelight vigils to stadiums illuminated in tricolor. But, when it comes to action against Islamic State, there is growing fear in Paris that France may be in this fight dangerously alone.

French officials are particularly frustrated with their European Union partners over what they see as insufficient cooperation in intelligence, security, and defense. “Everyone must understand that it’s urgent for Europe to recover, to organize itself, and to defend itself against the terrorist menace,” French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said this week.

In one way, the U.S. has responded much more quickly than France’s European partners after the Nov. 13 attacks, boosting intelligence-sharing with Paris. But Washington hasn’t signaled that a more determined military effort against Islamic State lies ahead. President Barack Obama reiterated this week that the current U.S. approach of limited military engagement is working, and ruled out the use of ground troops.

French officials and politicians worry that the U.S. is underestimating the threat Islamic State poses to the international community.

WNU Editor: The French assessment on their allies is correct. My prediction .... French President Hollande is going to find out this week that he has only one serious ally in this fight, and it will not be the U.S. .... Kremlin sees Hollande's visit to U.S., Russia as step to anti-terrorist coalition creation (Reuters)