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Europe
Al Qaeda plotting attacks in La Belle France
2007-02-10
French intelligence has produced a dossier saying that Al-Qaeda plans an attack on France during the forthcoming presidential elections, the Arabic-language al-Hayat daily reported on Friday.

There were “several indications of a plot to copy the Spanish scenario in France,” a reference to the explosions which rocked Madrid in March 2004, the London-based daily wrote. It quoted mainly “messages posted on Internet sites close to Al-Qaeda carrying threats against France, accompanied by pictures from the campaigns for the presidential elections” slated for spring this year. The newspaper said the eight-page intelligence report took three months to prepare and included contributions from the different French intelligence services, which identified “four sources of threat.”
Posted by:Fred

#13  At my local package store they don't even stock their wine anymore -- there a sense of loathing when it comes to La Belle France. The Islammers are taking over, over there? Faster please. DMFD.
Posted by: regular joe   2007-02-10 21:55  

#12  FOTSGreg, I saw no insult to me whatsoever, and still think the world of you. I'm yet recovering from your gallantry at my last tea party, you know. :-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-02-10 21:28  

#11  Folks, I never said anything about the French military although I did not specify exactly who it was I was aiming at. However, the snark was aimed at the French government which certainly will roll over and surrender if they ever get hit by al Qaeda along the lines of the way Spain did.

In addition, while French SF may be operating in Afghanistan and doing a fine job, it's the French government I have issues with and the European attitude that "for europeans, it is the US soldier who can't fight" and the comment "how the USA got their colective ass handled in Viet Nam".

US soldiers most certainly do fight and the USA won every single battle in Vietnam, but lost the war at home when our own cheese-eating surrender monkeys defunded the troops just like they want to do now.

As to certain people's delicate sensibilities about the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" comments, well, I did not make that comment and have not used it in quite some time until now and this time it was not used to describe the French.

In addition, anon5089 and tw are members of this online community and thus deserve fair and respectful treatment. At no point did I persnally intend or imply any insult in their particular or specific direction. If insult was taken, I humbly apologize.

Regardless, perhaps I'm being an asshat in this regard, but I'll be saying "I told you so" when the French roll over.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-02-10 19:46  

#10  Forgive me, but the French DID lose in Vietnam. They got their asses handed to them because their generals planned and fought stupidly, and the Viet Minh fought well.

I don't question the military men and women of France -- they're first world, educated, courageous, hard working people who will defend their country.

Their generals and leaders? Feh.
Posted by: Steve White   2007-02-10 18:12  

#9  #7 tw: "Fifth Republic, or whatever number they're up to now"

Oooo, that's gonna leave a mark! ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-02-10 17:14  

#8  I'm with tw here. The Free French in North Africa fought very well. The French troops didn't loose in Vietnam, they were torpedoed at home by the politicians just as we were.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2007-02-10 14:37  

#7  FOTSGreg, I like a good snark as much as anyone. And I'm not arguing that the French government won't roll over should such a thing happen. But there are French Special Forces quietly doing things in Afghanistan, apparently, and several Rantburgers who've had dealings with them have commented positively on their mettle and that of the French Army professionals, if I recall correctly. Look, a5089 has mentioned his discomfort with the theme repeatedly recently, and since he's a friend and on our side, why not? There's plenty else to mock in the doings of the Fifth Republic, or whatever number they're up to now.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-02-10 13:33  

#6  Aw, c'mon anon5089 & tw! You know darned well what'll happen if al Qaeda pulls a Spain in France. They'll roll over the same as the Spanish did.

While to the Europeans it's the US soldier who won;t fight, what's the truth of the matter? Who's doing the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world? Spain? France? Who's pulling the load here?

I call a spade a spade and the heck with all the PC BS.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-02-10 13:19  

#5  a50089 is being really tactful saying that, guys. A word to the wise, please?
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-02-10 13:09  

#4  Why not? Could boost pépé Le Pen, not that he's the right answer.

Btw, the cheese-eating-surrendering-monkeys bit is equally as lame a our own comedy guys making tv crowds laugh about how the USA got their colective ass handled in Viet Nam (remember, for europeans, it is the US soldier who can't fight).
For what it's worth.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2007-02-10 13:00  

#3  Al Qaeda Plotting Attacks In La Belle France: France Distributing White Flags

There, fixed that for ya'.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-02-10 12:41  

#2  Nobody is all bad.
Posted by: gromgoru   2007-02-10 12:02  

#1  There were “several indications of a plot to copy the Spanish scenario in France,”

The French have somewhere they can retreat from? AQ needs to raise the bar with its war goals when it comes to the Frogs.
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-02-10 01:24  

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