Should French security have stopped this?

Readers discuss French security competence. Other topics: youth jobs, Kashmir killings and how to spend it.

Readers discuss whether the French security services are doing enough. Laurent Cipriani / AP

With regard to your report on the attack in Nice (France's national day turns into a day of grief as Tunisian rams lorry into crowds, July 16), this hideous and deplorable event was just one of many major terror attacks in France.

Clearly the country's security system needs to be reviewed and strengthened. French prime minister Manuel Valls has said France “must learn to live with terrorism”. Senator Nathalie Goulet, vice chair of France's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, said: “The question is: are we able to prevent it? And my answer would be, unfortunately no.”

The families of the victims of these terrorist attacks will be disappointed with such feeble responses from their national leaders. This defeatism and despondency may not be acceptable to French citizens.

It is the job of leaders to prevent such dastardly attacks. They are elected and paid to protect the citizens of their country. They cannot abdicate their responsibility.

If they cannot deliver, they should go and pass the mantle to those who can. French president Francois Hollande has a lot of strategic thinking and homework to do.

There is a great risk that, due to the frequent terrorist attacks, many European countries will tighten immigration policies and become more insular. This will affect the acceptance into Europe of refugees from strife-ridden parts of the world.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

This incident was a failure of French intelligence and French security. The leadership must take full responsibility for failure to protect its citizens.

This was a national event with thousands of civilians, making it an ideal target. Yet the roadway was left wide open for a full two kilometres. Where were the security checkpoints and why was a truck allowed to drive freely into a pedestrian area?

It may well be that identifying self-radicalised lone wolves is extremely difficult for intelligence agencies but they can prevent them from carrying out attacks by implementing tight security measures.

In the future, I believe technology will play a major role, and all suspects will be electronically tagged and chipped. We need to track them day and night with GPS and if they travel to Syria or Iraq, we need to stop them at the border.

This has turned into a world war which requires the world's resources in a coordinated effort.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

I am in France. Full security was involved but this guy just drove through it, destroying all the security checkpoints.

What can be really done in this kind of scenario? Build concrete walls?

Emmanuelle Ins, France

It has to stop. All the hatred has to stop.

However, simply coexisting won't do the trick. We have to learn to love each other despite and for our differences.

This violent world is not what I had in mind for my children.

Nicole Reischl Hughes, Abu Dhabi

Emirati youths aided by work

With regard to your article, Youths welcome chance to get work experience in the UAE (July 14), I believe this decree is potentially a groundbreaker in terms of offering practical steps to expose young Emiratis to the world of work and real life.

It will allow the private sector to more accurately gauge the positive effect of employing Emiratis and it will facilitate a smoother pipeline for Emiratis into the private sector, based upon their prior knowledge and experience in addition to the acquisition of the necessary technical and soft-skill competencies.

Peter Hatherley-Greene, Dubai

Kashmir killings warrant probe

With 35 killed and hundreds wounded by Indian security forces in Kashmir, it was insensitive of Modi to not even empathise or express sorrow.

Testimonies about those killed and blinded by the pellets and bullets fired by the security forces suggest they aimed above the waistline, which is unacceptable and needs to be investigated.

Ban Ki Moon's offer to mediate should be taken up immediately. It is sad to note the deafening silence of editorials and saner elements of society.

Mohammad Hamza, Dubai

How I would've spent Dh50m

After seeing your story, The Dh50m Dubai villa that comes with a Porsche, Range Rover and Rolls-Royce (July 15), if I had all this money, I promise I'd spend it building schools, hospitals, parks etc. I'd then post about it on social media hoping other rich people would do the same.

Nadia Magzoub, Qatar