The Day of the Jackal

“In his own eyes he was a patriot, a man convinced that he would be serving his beloved country by slaying the man he thought had betrayed her.”

Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry believes that he is a good man. Like many members of OAS, he views himself as the hero in his own narrative and de Gaulle as the villain. This level of zealotry makes him more dangerous than someone who is interested only in financial gain or power, as he cannot be reasoned with. The danger of the OAS is established early, with Bastien-Thiry going to face a firing squad, still imbued with the belief that he is acting in the best interests of France.

“The sign was the familiar three-plus-two that made up the rhythm of the words Algérie Francaise that Parisian motorists had hooted on their car horns in previous years to express their disapproval of Gaullist policy.”

The OAS fear that their security has been compromised by their repeated failures to kill Charles de Gaulle. Though Rodin is attempting to maintain a high standard of security, their idealism hinders their effectiveness. Even in their secret code signs, they cannot help but show their true intentions. The way in which their idealism affects their security demonstrates exactly why they need to hire someone like the Jackal, so as to protect themselves from their own zealotry.

“Both Pont-de-Seine and Petit-Clamart failed because no one was prepared to risk his own life to make absolutely certain.”

The Jackal’s blunt assessment of the OAS does not endear him to Montclair or Casson. The OAS pride themselves on their commitment to their cause, but this commitment was not as strong as it might seem.