A welcome show of spine. "France and Mauritania raid Al-Qaeda kidnap gang," from AFP, July 23 (thanks to Maxwell):
NOUAKCHOTT -- French-backed Mauritanian forces attacked and killed six members of an Al-Qaeda affiliated gang allegedly holding a French hostage in the North African desert, officials said Friday.The French defence ministry said the group was refusing to negotiate the release of a 78-year-old French aid worker kidnapped four months ago, and had been responsible for the murder of a British hostage last year.
Asked about the raid -- which some French and Spanish media portrayed as a failed hostage rescue bid -- President Nicolas Sarkozy refused to comment.
There was no word on the fate of the French captive, who does not appear to have been present when Thursday's pre-dawn assault was launched, and Mauritania said that the operation was not intended as a rescue....
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is the North African affiliate of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden's loose network of Islamist groups.
In Paris, the defence ministry confirmed "that the French military provided technical and logistical support to a Mauritanian operation designed to thwart an attack on Mauritania by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb."....
If there where more Jihadis there, and only six where killed, yes I agree it was a failure
I agree with "lan astaslem" (I won't surrender). Jihadists should be hunt down and killed on the spot "wherever you find them".
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/07/perfect-man.html
The French can act swiftly and decisively when they want to, and damn any adverse publicity. They are particularly likely to intervene in former French possessions, like Mauritania, when called upon.
They came in for a lot of criticism in 1986, when Reagan ordered the bombing of Libya in retaliation for the Libyan-organized attack on the nightclub in Berlin, and France refused to allow the American planes to use French airspace, forcing them to take a much longer route to Libya. But some insiders said the French refusal was based on the attack not being strong enough; they didn't want to support half-way measures.
I also remember that a French destroyer rammed and sank a Greenpeace boat that was interfering with French nuclear tests in the South Pacific. My reaction at the time was "Vive la France!"
Now if only they'd show similar resolve in dealing with the Islamic "no-go" zones in the Hexagon.
Excerpts on Mauritania from the 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom:
MAURITANIA
"The 1991 Constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and recognizes Islam as the religion of its citizens and the state. The Government prohibits the printing and distribution of non-Islamic religious materials and proselytizing by non-Muslims..."
"...Shari'a provides legal principles upon which the law and legal procedures are based..."
"...NGOs must agree to refrain from proselytizing or otherwise promoting any religion other than Islam. ...
"...In awarding an indemnity to the family of a woman who has been killed, the courts grant only half the amount that they would award for a man's death. ..."
The French defence ministry said the group was refusing to negotiate the release of a 78-year-old French aid worker kidnapped four months ago
................
Ah, the brave Mujahideen, holding an elderly charity worker hostage. This tells you just about everything you need to know about the "glory of Islam".
clearly, the attack should have occured four months ago.
Why did the elderly man even go to such a place? It is bizarre.
Update.
The Muslims killed the hostage.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/26/2964807.htm?section=justin
'Sarkozy confirms Al Qaeda hostage dead'.