The following is a translation of a now notorious letter penned by 24 retired French generals, as well as 80 colonels and captains this week warning the Macron government of the need to clamp down on Islamism. Co-signed by a thousand members of French military the letter mentions of the potential of military intervention should civic authorities fail to get a handle on the worsening situation.
Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Parliament,
This is a serious time, France is in peril, several mortal dangers threaten her. We who, even after retirement, remain soldiers of France cannot in the present circumstances remain indifferent to the fate of our beautiful country.
Our tricolour flags are not just a piece of cloth, they symbolise the tradition of those who, whatever their skin colour or creed, have served France through the ages and given their lives for her. On these flags we find in gold letters the words “Honneur et Patrie“. Now, our honour today lies in denouncing the disintegration that is affecting our country.
A disintegration which, through a certain anti-racism, has only one aim: to create on our soil a malaise and even a hatred between communities. Today, some speak of racialism, nativism and decolonial theories, but through these terms it is the racial war that these hateful and fanatical supporters want. They despise our country, its traditions, its culture, and want to see it dissolve by tearing away its past and its history. Thus they criticise, via the biases of statues, former military and civilian glories, analysing words many centuries old.
A disintegration which, together with Islamism and the hordes of the banlieue, is leading to the detachment of many parts of the nation, to transform them into territories subject to dogmas which are contrary to our constitution. However, for every Frenchman, whatever his belief or non-belief, all of France must be his home; there cannot and must not be any town or district where the laws of the Republic do not apply.
A disintegration because hatred takes precedence over fraternity, as it does in demonstrations where power uses the forces of order as auxiliary agents and scapegoats, against those French in yellow vests who are expressing their despair. Meanwhile hooded individuals infiltrate and ransack businesses, threatening these same forces of order. However, the latter are only applying the directives, which are sometimes contradictory, and are given by you, the rulers.
The dangers are growing, the violence is increasing day by day. Who would have predicted ten years ago that a teacher would one day be decapitated outside his school? We, the servants of the Nation, who have always been ready to put our skin in the game — as our military status demanded — cannot be passive spectators of such actions.
It is therefore imperative that those who lead our country find the courage to eradicate these dangers. To do this, it is often enough to apply without weakness the laws that already exist. Do not forget that, like us, a large majority of our fellow citizens are fed up with your wavering and your guilty silences.
As Cardinal Mercier, Primate of Belgium, said: “When prudence is everywhere, courage is nowhere.” So, ladies and gentlemen, enough procrastination, the hour is serious, the work is colossal; do not waste time and know that we are ready to support those policies which take into consideration the safeguarding of the nation.
On the other hand, if nothing is done, laxity will continue to spread inexorably in society, in the end causing an explosion and the intervention of our active comrades on the national territory, in a perilous mission to protect our civilisational values and safeguard our compatriots.
We see that it is no longer time to procrastinate, otherwise tomorrow this growing chaos will be put to an end by civil war, and the deaths, for which you will be responsible, will be counted in thousands.
The signatory generals:
Lieutenant General (ER) Christian PIQUEMAL (Foreign Legion),
Lieutenant General (2S) Gilles BARRIE (Infantry),
Major General (2S) François GAUBERT, former Military Governor of Lille,
Major General (2S) Emmanuel de RICHOUFFTZ (Infantry),
Major General (2S) Michel JOSLIN DE NORAY (Troupes de Marine),
Brigadier General (2S) André COUSTOU (Infantry),
Brigadier General (2S) Philippe DESROUSSEAUX de MEDRANO (Train),
Air Brigadier General (2S) Antoine MARTINEZ (Air Force),
Air Brigadier General (2S) Daniel GROSMAIRE (Air Force),
Brigadier General (2S) Robert JEANNEROD (Cavalry),
Brigadier General (2S) Pierre Dominique AIGUEPERSE (Infantry),
Brigadier General (2S) Roland DUBOIS (Signals),
Brigadier General (2S) Dominique DELAWARDE (Infantry),
Brigadier General (2S) Jean Claude GROLIER (Artillery),
Brigadier General (2S) Norbert de CACQUERAY (General Directorate of Armaments),
Brigadier General (2S) Roger PRIGENT (ALAT),
Brigadier General (2S) Alfred LEBRETON (CAT),
Doctor General (2S) Guy DURAND (Army Health Service),
Rear-Admiral (2S) Gérard BALASTRE (French Navy).
Some of their points seem valid : but threatening a Coup d’etat against a democratically elected government and doing so on the anniversary of an attempted Coup is way out of line.
Someone should have told the bureaucrats that importing millions of migrants into Europe is “way out of line” and decidedly “undemocratic” (were the French ever asked?).
Sorry, but the time for principles and ideology has past. What’s at stake now is the very survival of the French as a people. I sincerely hope the French generals follow through with whatever plan they have devised.
Years of governments ignoring the concerns of its citizens has led to such a threat I suppose.
Can’t disagree with any of that. France,and Western Europe has been long since been infiltrated by alien culture intent on it’s destruction. Ireland heading down the same way.
I applaud the military signatories of this letter, for this applies to almost European country.
After all, it won’t the politicians raising arms and risking their lives.
A teacher decapitated recently in France; here in the UK, a teacher gone into hiding. Upsetting the sensibilities of muslims is capital offence (if you didn’t know it).
Where are our patriotic statesmen and stateswomen willing to voice some very unpalatable truths.