About is that the values we share with the french people a belief, a universal believe in freedom of expression is something that cant be silenced
because of the senseless violence of a few. Good morning. It is thursday january 8th. Welcome to morning joe. With us on set we have david igoumenitsaig ignatius. Obviously, mika every front page. Not only in this country, across europe across the world all telling the absolutely terrible terrible events that unfolded yesterday morning in paris. Look at this. Heres the financial times. Usa today i tell you what a picture that symbolized in a great way the protest last night a cold chilly night in paris. Not afraid. And, of course the local tabloids, no mercy, the daily news right before the horrific moment we saw online and then showed you. But, mika it continues. There was a lot of information last night, some of it correct, some of it not correct. Lets get everybody up to date with the very latest including, unfortunately, another death this morning of a Police Officer in pa rice. Were following that breaking news. Its in the suburb of a paris after the Charlie Hebdo attack. Nbc confirmed a Police Officer was shot and seriously wounded while investigating a traffic accident. Now there are reports, other reports saying that officer is dead. A street sweeper was also shot. The shooter was wearing dark clothes and was not wearing a mask. He ran away on foot and at this
hour still at large. However, Officials Say theres no known link to yesterdays terror attack and warned people against jumping to conclusions. Having said that france is in a national day of mourning for the 12 People Killed at Charlie Hebdo as the manhunt is under way for a pair of French Brothers considered armed and dangerous. The front page of usa today sums up the response. Je suis charlie, translation, i am charlie. Right now these are the two men police are doing all they can to find cha arrive and said kouachi. Cherif may have ties to al qaeda. He was convicted 7008 of helping funnel militant fighters to iraq and spent 18 months in prison. And at this hour police say several others are in custody including an 18yearold who surrendered after he was named as a possible suspect. A staff meeting was under way
when the carnage began just about 23 hours ago. Masked men with assault weapons called out specific names of Staff Members first targeting the editor. One said they thought the gunmen were part of an antiterrorism squad. This video shows two armed men casually exiting the building just before they shot that wounded Police Officer point blank in the head. Officials say the suspects car jacked a vehicle after their initial getaway car crashed. Eight journalists and two Police Officers are among those dead. 11 people also wounded. Four in serious condition. The magazine frequently faced threats for its depiction of islam and was fire bombed in 2011. The papers last tweet before the attack was a political cartoon of the leader of isis. Get a sense of the background as we were pieces this together. Terrorist groups are reaching across borders to incite and recruit others with their own propaganda. Heres Richard Engel with his report the. Were waiting for richards report which is just being filed right now. But as we piece together what happened a sense of the perspective given yesterdays massacre in paris. Heres richards report. [ gunshot ] reporter dressed in black, masked determined cradling their weapons the gunmen look like seasoned veterans who stepped right off the battlefield of iraq syria or yemen or at the very least mimicking the propaganda videos to a tee. Isis places a great value on propaganda. Not just as advertising but to turn their supporters into deadly weapons. Both groups publish slick competing online magazines in
english. Both have been telling would be recruits not to come to the front lines in the middle east any more but to stay at home and attack civilian targets. Al qaedas branch in yemen the same group that killed an american reporter last month specifically marked the editor of Charlie Hebdo for death in 2013. His magazine has infurirated islamic militants and some moderates for resistanting antiislamic material repeatedly. They said they would make the magazine pay for it. On the hit list other critics of islamic including sal ron rashdi. There has been a spate of recent attacks. The gunman in kentucky, the man with an axe in new york. The attack on a cafe in sidney
all inspired authorities say, by islamic militants to take matters into their own hands. The more innocents who are killed in these attacks the great terrify impetus for others to carry out similar attacks. Reporter this time a magazine that radicals thought was an affront to their intolerant ideology. The pace seems to be picking up. Problems worse in france. Lets take a closer look at the role of Frances Muslim population and just the situation thats going on there. According to npr france has the largest Muslim Population in europe. The estimates range between 5 million and 6. 5 million. That represents at least 8 of the french population. If you take the conservative estimate, by comparison the number of muslims in america is at 3 million or 1 of americas
population. Recent survey shows 74 of french citizens view islam as intolerant and incompatible with french values. 70 said too many foreigners were in the country. While no official data is available to estimate exactly how many inmates or of what makeup, estimates say half of all inmates in france are muslims, that of course some terror experts say make them easy prey for jihadists. In january of 2013 more than 1,000 cars and trucks were torched across france in a single day by government counts more than 40,000 cars are burned every year. Officials stopped publishing the number because it was encouraging competition between rival gangs of muslim youth. Last year there were several tweets translated about al qaeda and included the hash tag paris burning and paris is a
battlefield. David ignatius weve known for over a decade theres a strain in france and many people in france oppose large groups of muslims coming in. It looks like it boiled over yesterday. And this may be the beginning of a very long battle internally politically and, unfortunately, as we saw militarily at times. This is a severe problem for france because of the size of the Muslim Population is so large. 5 to 6 million. And because the tensions of the very secular french Mainstream Society and very religious largely north african french Muslim Population are so sharp and Charlie Hebdo, the magazine had become a focal point for that. This is a long running problem. Just a few things joe, that i
learned in my conversations with people over the last 24 hours. First, i was told last night by a u. S. Official that there is some evidence of contact between the kouachi brothers and french algerians, one in particular who had been trained long term by al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, al qaeda affiliate in yemen behind so many terrorist attacks. This attack did not have the hall marks of an aqap attack. Those are usually meticulously prepared suicide bombing. This was a running shooting gun battle. But im told theres evidence of that aqap link that authorities are looking at. For french people today, one question will be why were there internal security authorities their fbi known as the dst not more attentive to these kouachi
brothers, in particular Cherif Kouachi who was arrested held in jail wanting to join to the jihad, wanting to go to iraq in 2005 06, 07. Why was there not a better surveillance of him and his activities. How did he get with his brothers. Ak47s to blow in the door of a place that was supposed to be guarded and do such carnage. Guarded and on the al qaeda hit list. They would have to be seen as one of the most likely targets. Michael sheehan whats your takeaway of whats happened in the past 24 hours. This is not a typical al qaeda hit. Joe, last time i was here with you, after the australian killings we talked about that being a tragic one off event. This is more strategic. This is targeting the media that attacks or criticizes islamic
radicalism and also if this other attack is associated this killing in the streets associated with this attack on charlie we have the beginnings of a strategic attack by al qaeda or its associates on france. So this is ratcheting up the level of attacks to a degree that weve not seen in many years. Frances terror alert is at its highest level. Theres extra security at transportation hubs and at places of worship. French president Francois Hollande called those killed or wounded in the terror attacks heroes who were killed in an act of exceptional barbarism. He urged the country to stand together. President obama called his french counterpart to offer condolences and strongly condemned the gruesome attack on journalists as did secretary of state john kerry. The fact that this was an
attack an journalists, attack on our free press, also under scores these terrorists fear freedom of speech freedom of the press. Those who carry out senseless attacks against civilians, ultimately they will be found and we stand with the people of france. They may wield weapons but we in france and the United States share a commitment to those who wield something more powerful not just a pen, but a pen that represents an instrument of freedom not fear. Free expression and a free press are core values. They are universal values principles that can be attacked but never eradicated because brave and decent people around the world will not give in to the intimidation and terror to
those seek to destroy those values employ. Lets talk about the attacks. Lets talk about the magazine. Obviously this magazine was not only provocative as you know towards muslims, very provocative towards christians in fact a cartoon a couple of weeks ago mocking jesus on the cross. A lot of things, a lot of things people would find deeply offensive. Yesterday i was reading some of the commentary about nag. One issue is some people viewed the commentary by that magazine as hate speech. They felt it was extremely inflammatory. That does not justify what happened yesterday. But they were not ridiculing a single religion they did it
across the board. But they mocked in a way religious icons across the board. Its not that they were going after islamic radicals so islamic radicals went after them. Thats an important point to make because youre offending and mocking entire religious mocking us then widen the base at which people can be offended and carry out these attacks and i think thats what we saw yesterday. These individuals were born in paris thats the assessment. That also goes back to the point david was making about why this home grown terrorism is the biggest threat now that many of these countries are facing both in europe and including elsewhere. And David Ignatius you look what happened in paris and the debate in sweden where you actually have the swedish people going to vote and trying to cut dramatically immigration into their country and then political
leaders coming together and saying were going to ignore the will of the people and were going to continue fairly aggressive immigration levels. It seems to me that this is a moment not just for the people of france who have been debating this for quite some time this is now a moment for all of europe to figure out exactly what their immigration policies are going to be going forward. And when they decide they are going to have to cut immigration back significantly and i suspect thats going to determined within a lot of local and state elections coming up. Joe, i think you put it exactly right. A very delicate moment for europe. You had before this terrible attack with 12 dead rising nationalism, angry nationalism in france where people are saying weve been too open to immigrants, they are take our jobs, destabilizing our way of
life. Youve had push back in france in belgium, in the netherlands, in sweden as you say. The danger is as these populations react angrily to what they perceive as a home grown terrorist threat in their midst the authorities will do things to crack down on those Muslim Populations that drive a much sharper wedge between the native born traditional european populations and new muslim arrivals. I fear thats precisely what the jihadists would like to see. They want to drive that wedge. They like to see a polarization a battle between the muslims and secular europeans. The authorities have to be careful they dont make this situation more polarized. Im told immediately after this attack the french authorities were in every Muslim Community, working their sources, talking
to people turning over rocks looking for evidence and the questions whether you do that in a way that the community perceives as friendly or whether you do it in a way thats seen as insulting and further polarizing. All right. Before we go to break we want to look at some of the people confirmed by nbc news as among those lost. As we mentioned earlier the gunman targeted is stephane charbonnier. He was in charge of the paper since 2012 and said he was not phased by possible threats. He was once quoted saying i dont have kids i dont hatch a wife, no car no, credit. It may seem pompous but i rather die standing than living on any knees. Jean cabot was a french cartoonist. The 76yearold had his first drawings published when he was just 15 years old. Another victim french economist
and author bernard maris. He was 68 years old. 80yearold George Wolinski was killed. He drew cartoons in the 1960s and known for his takes on politics and sexuality. His wife wrote a memoir. One other victim a 49yearold, one of the Police Officers killed in the attack leaves behind a young daughter. According to french media he was a member of the special Protection Service and part of charbs protection team. Well have more on that ahead and many different angles. Coming up on morning joe well be following the developments in paris as closely as officials are hunting down the remaining two at large gunmen. General Michael Hayden joins us to discuss the link to other
terrorist organizations. Bill bratton meats with nypd union bosses. And a story thats gone under the radar a bit an explosion outside an naacp office and the question this morning is whether that is a case of domestic terrorism. Those details straight ahead on morning joe. So,as my personal financial psychic, im sure you know what this meeting is about. Yes, a raise. Im letting you go. I knew that. You see, this is my amerivest managed. Balances. No. Portfolio. And if doesnt perform well for two consecutive gold. Quarters. Quarters. Yup. Then amerivest gives me back their advisory. Stocks. Fees. Fees. Fees for those quarters. Yeah. So, im confident im in good hands. For all the confidence you need. Td ameritrade. You got this. Mmm mmm mmm mm mmm mm mmmmmm here we go, here we go here we go. Fifty omaha set hut losing feeling in my toes nothing beats that new car smell chicken parm you taste so good nationwide is on your side mmm mmm mmm mm mmm mm mmmmmm
welcome back. We take a look at the morning papers for you today and a lot to talk about especially as mika went to break, talking about the naacp story. Right. Whats happening with that whether or not this is domestic terrorism. Right. No doubt about it. The usa today actually the fbi is investigating an explosion outside of an naacp office in colorado. It was a case of domestic terrorism. Thats the question. Officials say the home made pipe bomb detonated outside of a barber shop in Colorado Springs and gasoline canister placed next to the device didnt explode. No injuries and the damage was minimal. Officials havent named any suspects but looking for a potential person of interest. Well go the dallas morning news. New details emerging about the tuesday shooting at a va clinic in El Paso Texas that left one doctor and the gunman dead. The psychologist killed in the attack had filed a complaint against the alleged killer in the past. An army veteran who had worked at the clinic in 2013 as a desk clerk reportedly made a verbal threat to the doctor in a Grocery Store last year. Police say he killed the doctor tuesday with a handgun before taking his own life. The complaint is the only connection they found between. From the New York Daily News a second meeting between bill bratton and the head of the citys five Police Unions has filed to the end feud between the nypd and city hall. Union leaders dont criticize mayor bill de blasio who was not in attendance and a source said somebody other than bratton warned consequences would come if arrest numbers continue to be on the decline. Some accused police of engaging in a slow down as the rift
between place and mayor continues. Arrests were down 56 and ticketing down 92 . We can park wherever we want . Thats right. This is a real problem. Go where you want. I like it. The daily beast the Gates Foundation released a video of former microsoft ceo bill gates Drinking Water processed from human waste. I heard about rich people like that. The bill unanimous philanthropist is working to bringing clean Drinking Water to the world. Its a machine developed in seattle that turns sewage into clean Drinking Water and electric power. This is amazing. In his blog a survivalist. He said the water tasted as
good as any bottled water. Other than tasting like crap. Joe, stop. This is good what hes doing. Its amazing. You should support it. In fact i would like to us do a taste test here on the show. Lets get some of that water here alex. Will you coordinate that . Well have joe drink a gallon. I dont know. Are you dehydrated. Yes. So can we do that this week . Thomas, next paper. You