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| Europe |
| French MP: US hit hostages' convoy |
| 2004-10-03 |
| A French MP has accused the US of scuttling his unofficial attempt to secure the release of two French journalists held in Iraq. Didier Julia, an MP for French President Jacques Chirac's ruling party, said his efforts to release reporters Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot failed after US troops opened fire on the convoy attempting to bring them out of Iraq en route to Syria. Six of the French journalists' Iraqi escorts were killed in the US bombing barrage. Julia's assistant, Philippe Brett, had persuaded the kidnappers to release the Frenchmen and they all left in two separate convoys from their place of detention, both of which had come under US fire, the MP said. "They set up 20 roadblocks and six members of the team protecting the journalists were killed," said Julia, whose mission enjoys no backing from the French foreign ministry. The ministry said it had no comment on the release effort or Julia's report of the US attack. The MP said Brett learned of the mission's failure as soon as he arrived separately at the Syrian border and headed straight back to the journalists' captors. "The three Frenchmen are still in Iraq in the hands of the resistance," he said. "The Americans increased their bombardment and deployed two divisions to fire upon all terrorists who pass." Julia, 70, is vice-president of the Iraqi-French Friendship Group. The two journalists have been held hostage by the Islamic Army of Iraq since August 20. The US military on Friday rejected Julia's accusations that US troops had fired on a mercy mission to extricate the two kidnapped French newsmen, killing six escorts. "I'd say that none of that is true. I have not seen any reports that would indicate any of these stories showing up are accurate or true," said senior spokesman Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #12 "unofficial attempt" "en route to Syria" "Six of the French journalists' Iraqi escorts protecting the journalists" "headed straight back to the journalists' captors." "to fire upon all terrorists who pass." Translation: "unofficial attempt" My government cannot acknowledge what I'm doing but once I 'free' the 'captives', I'm running for President. "en route to Syria" Hezbolhah is funding my campaign. "Six of the French journalists' Iraqi escorts protecting the journalists" Six of the thugs paid off by Hezbollah funds have been smoked. "headed straight back to the journalists' captors." So I went back to the 'captors' to explain what happened and try to explain why I can't give them the money yet. "to fire upon all terrorists who pass." Um, I'd like to rephrase that. |
| Posted by: Pamela 2004-10-03 10:20:34 PM |
| #11 ack - should have read: Syria screwed Chirac BY tipping off the Americans |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-10-03 7:31:44 PM |
| #10 hmmm...while I buy the idea of Chiracs treachery, the Debka article is full of holes.... 1. Chirac would want to disavow Jule's efforts - not just because he was unsuccesful but because the French paid money to the terrorists. and this: After the American bombardment, US troops surrounded the damaged vehicles. The passengers, including the two journalists fled and have not been heard of since. Yeah, riiight! Surrounded by US troops - the ournalists fled - never to be seen again *snicker* It could happen. The only way I could believe this would be if the American war commanders have a great sense of humor and intend to make Chirac deal with the US to get these guys back. OOOh...ouch. That would hurt. Just for kicks, I'd be willing to believe that Syria screwed Chirac tipping off the Americans, who bombed the convoy but captured the journalists - just to toy with Chirac. But it seems highly unlikely. The truth may be in here somewhere - but Debka is clearly missing a few details. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-10-03 7:30:08 PM |
| #9 If we can hit two lousy forgs being hidden by the Arabs, how come we keep missing the French Assembly? |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-03 7:27:43 PM |
| #8 From the Debka link: Sadr himself is reported by our Iraqi sources to be living under the protection of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani at his residence for fear of assassins. If this is the case, isn't it time for some legbreakers to pay Sistani a not-so-friendly visit? Sadr's apprehension should remain a top priority until he is brought to trial. If Sistani is sheltering this thug, he needs to have his credibility tainted by such duplicity. His alleged harboring of Sadr calls into question Sistani's sincerity with respect to establishing a functional Iraqi government. Rivrdog, when they say "escorts," think "escort service," as in rebranded whores. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-10-03 7:25:55 PM |
| #7 So they're not even "insurgents" anymore, they're "escorts". A platoon of them is a "team"....rrrright. They're terrorists, bandits, gangsters, the enemy, f**kfaces. |
| Posted by: Rivrdog 2004-10-03 7:15:34 PM |
| #6 Debka has an interesting, and possibly even true angle on this. |
| Posted by: Lux 2004-10-03 6:39:43 PM |
| #5 Zee Franch are sooch naifs. Zey zink it was zee mistake. |
| Posted by: Thugh Shult6855 2004-10-03 4:19:42 PM |
| #4 Hostages must be assumed to already be dead. Killing the " The French have proven themselves beyond redemption with their constant betrayal of anti-terrorist efforts. They can suck hind tit and like it. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-10-03 4:15:01 PM |
| #3 Tough titty France! Now you can take this opportunity to remove the last 20 french in the country...and send them to the Congo, where they'll be appreciated! |
| Posted by: smn 2004-10-03 3:59:04 PM |
| #2 I'm sure the convoy was appropriately marked with Red Cross emblems, not. Sounds like good intelligence to me. Could just as easily been a convoy for a high level commander. I'm sure they'll be transporting the hostages at least 10-15 times. |
| Posted by: Anonymous5019 2004-10-03 2:27:29 PM |
| #1 Let's see here - we're going to start seeing a spate of reports about how US attacks on Iraqi guerrillas are foiling attempts to ransom hostages. What is it about the French government? First, they fake up the WMD materials and now this? |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-10-03 11:45:40 AM |