While often accused of kowtowing to Islamist regimes overseas, the French do not equivocate when defending their home turf. Their latest success came yesterday, when French police – acting on a tip from Algeria authorities – arrested 9 men who were apparently planning terrorist attacks against the Paris metro and the headquarters of the French internal security agency, according to MSNBC: (thanks to Jeff)
Authorities fear that a suspected Islamic terror cell broken up in France was plotting attacks on the Paris subway, an airport and an intelligence agency's headquarters, newspapers said Tuesday.Police arrested nine people Monday in the sweep, including an Islamic militant previously convicted on terrorism charges and freed from prison two years ago, officials said.
Le Figaro and Le Parisien newspapers said the alleged cell's suspected targets included the Metro, a Paris airport and the Paris headquarters of the Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, or DST, a police intelligence and counterterrorism agency.
DST agents launched the raid after receiving a confidential note from Algerian authorities summarizing the questioning of a suspect arrested Sept. 9 in Algiers, the Algerian capital, Le Parisien said.
The suspect, identified by the newspaper only as "M.B.," was an alleged group member who indicated that the attacks were being planned in France, the report said. His wife was among the nine arrested.
The U.S. and the U.K. would have the same results in an anti- terror campaign if they questioned suspects effectively like the Algerians. Bon chat, bon rats. (Good cats, good rats).
And when not on their home turf, the French are - well - French.
French ambassador dismisses Hizbullah ban
Hilary Leila Krieger, THE JERUSALEM POST Sep. 28, 2005
French Ambassador to Israel Gerard Araud belittled efforts to have Hizbullah placed on the EU's list of terrorist organizations as "feel-good diplomacy" that "wouldn't make the slightest difference."
He also said that Israel had refused an EU offer to send peace-keeping troops to Gaza, and that France stands poised again to push to bring Iran before the Security Council to keep it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Araud made the comments during a lecture he gave on "France and the Middle East" at Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies on Tuesday.
Israel has long urged the EU to put Hizbullah on its list of terror organizations, but Araud questioned the benefit when asked by a member of the audience why France doesn't do so.
"What would be the consequence?" he asked. "Nothing."
Instead, he said, labeling the party a terror group would only give it an excuse to rally the Arab world with the claim that "all the world is against us; it's an American-Zionist plot."
France, he said "doesn't want to give them that pleasure."
What it does want, Araud explained, is to give Hizbullah "a share in the democratic process and [to understand] that in this democratic process there's no place for weapons and for terrorism."
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mark Regev differed with Araud's view.
"Our assessment is that by putting Hizbullah on the terror list, we would be effectively hampering that organization's ability to organize itself in Europe," he said, pointing to Hamas's limited capacity to raise money and function in Europe after the EU put it on the list.
Araud stressed that Israel and France shared the same aim of seeing Hizbullah disarmed, but it's a goal only the Lebanese could actually achieve.
He also said the countries shared a common interest in preventing Iran from becoming a militarized nuclear power, which "could mean the collapse of the non-proliferation system throughout the world," and that France wanted to see the UN take action.
Unless Iran's policy changed, he warned, in another month or two months, "we are going to try again to go to the Security Council."
He called the Iranians "very bright, shrewd negotiators" and described the European team engaging them as "not naive," noting his own sense at the outset of their discussions that France had only "a one in ten chance of success."
Asked about Iran's calls for Israel to abandon nuclear weapons, Araud responded: "It's a joke... It's a distraction. That simply is not in the game. The game is between the international community and Iran."
After his formal lecture, Araud mentioned that both France and the EU had brought up the possibility of putting peace-keeping troops in Gaza, but Israel had indicated it didn't want an "international presence between Tzahal and the terrorists."
Regev concurred that Israel had not acceded to "a third-party security presence" at the Egypt-Gaza Rafah crossing due to fears it would limit their ability to fight terror, among other concerns.
When it comes to the chaos in Gaza, Araud said that the Palestinians needed "more time" and Western bolstering of the moderates led by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Throughout his lecture, Araud stressed that Israeli and French relations had recovered since their nadir in 2002 and pointed to ties in culture, science and intelligence gathering.
One audience member questioned why France didn't have any Israeli art or artifacts in its Louvre Museum.
Araud assured her that the museum did have Israeli pieces. "We stole everything," he said with a smile.
What BS! If the French really don't have any doubts or concerns as to what Hezbullah really is, and the power it wields, why did they ban Al-Manure's satellite broadcasts from French airwaves?
Even after 'Palestinian' stamps honour Chirac.
Araud made the comments during a lecture he gave on "France and the Middle East" at Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies on Tuesday.
Israel has long urged the EU to put Hizbullah on its list of terror organizations, but Araud questioned the benefit when asked by a member of the audience why France doesn't do so.
"What would be the consequence?" he asked. "Nothing."
Instead, he said, labeling the party a terror group would only give it an excuse to rally the Arab world with the claim that "all the world is against us; it's an American-Zionist plot."
France, he said "doesn't want to give them that pleasure."
NOTHING BUT A COWARD!!!!
GUESS THE FRENCH HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN WW2 FOR GIVING UP THE JEWS TO THE NAZI??
SOME HOW I DON'T THINK THE CINDY CROWD WILL COME TO SAVE THEM THIS TIME??
WOULDN'T IT BE SOMETHING IF THE ISRAELIS TOOK OUT ALL THE OILFIELDS IN THE ARAB LANDS??
WONDER HOW THINGS WOULD CHANGE??
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
God Bless the USA and her Fighting Forces and ALL who Fight with her give them Sight, Wisdom, Strength, and Courage to Destroy ALL Islamic Terrorist and ALL who Support them LET NOT the World be Deceived by them Amen
PS
I still don't drink french wine or eat their cheese!!
Wotcha Catherine
:-)
:-)
Posted by: Granny Weatherwax at September 28, 2005 04:53 PM
SORRY JUST GETTING REALLY PISSED and I aint drunk yet??
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170632,00.html
Giant Squid Finally Captured on Film
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
NOW WERE TALKING LUNCH FOR ALL FRIED!!!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170609,00.html
Terror Database Led to Al Qaeda Suspect Arrest
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — New York City police were led to a possible Al Qaeda associate last month after a search of a federal terror database during a routine traffic search, National Intelligence Director John D. Negroponte (said Tuesday
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170710,00.html
Red Cross Criticized Despite Huge Hurricane Relief Effort
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
NEW YORK — The American Red Cross has become the latest target of criticism for its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The agency is being accused of waging a disaster response operation that was chaotic in some areas, and unequal in others. Some black activists say the Red Cross provided better services in white areas than in mostly black areas, especially in the first few days after the storm.
WHAT A BUNCH OF INGRATES WHY BOTHER TO HELP PEOPLE I WON’T GIVE MY HARD EARNED MONEY ANY MORE ??
MAYBE WE SHOULD LET THE UN=LON=AL TAKE CARE OF THEM PUT THEM ON PLANES AND SEND THEM OVER TO A UN CAMP I KNOW SUDAN HAS ONE??
WHAT ABUNCH OF INGRATES!!!
Remember Farakan went to Iraq and pledged his support to saddam [YELLOW COWARD FOUND IN A HOLE DON'T SHOOT I'M A YELLOW COWARD] could this be why they are trying to start a raise war they tried in Ohio last year that didn't work??
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170614,00.html
Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Arms Case
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
LOS ANGELES — A Pakistani man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of conspiring to illegally export U.S. military jet engine parts to the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Belgium.
OH MY??
And seams some Nuk-u-rail matrial has shown up was missing from Russia??
what was that about the saudi who cut in line for a liver transplant??
Just tired of all the PC crap?? I want to win this war!!
UN=LON=AL condemens the attempted murder of the Reporter in Lebonon??
Pakis catch a islamic terrorist??
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170717,00.html
Freedom Museum Axed From WTC Site Plan
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
cindy lost this one??
OKAY FEEL BETTER NOW!!
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM LET NOT THE WORLD BE DECEIVED BY THEM AMEN
Pouilly Fuissé. Catheirne, you make my mouth water.
And the lefties STILL believe that Islamic terrorism networks ONLY go after those who support Israel. Many French citizens probably still believe that also.
Some people never learn.