Flights From Paris to U.S. Cancelled

MSNBC | December 24, 2003

[Fabozz]

"By the time a flight from France got to the US they would not have all that much fuel to blow something up with."

It looks like some (many? all?) of these flights were scheduled to stop, refuel and continue on. Perhaps the plan was to smuggle weapons on board through the lax security of Paris—remember, French police escorted Richard Reid and his plastique-packed sneakers onto that plane—wait for the planes to be refueled in the US and then hijack them right after the second takeoff. That's the only way this really makes sense.

Without refuelling, you're right—the planes wouldn't be bombs as much as they'd be bullets, still destructive and horrible but not in the same league as 9/11.

[tort_feasor]

"Secretary of State Colin Powell had spoken personally with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to discuss airline security, including specific flights. "

Besides not having him loose credibility by making him call with weak Intel, the only reason for him to call was some French weenie deputy minister wouldn't act on a call from one of our deputy state department officials.

[mhking]

CNN just repeated that one of these flights was supposed to land first in Cincinnati before going on to LAX.

Checking the AF website, in addition to the non stop flights, there are flights going through Cincinnati and Atlanta; most of which appear to be delayed "due to technical concerns" FWIW...

[RandallFlagg]

I'm surprised she lasted this long. (Little more than 2 years.) Sleeper?

Possibly. I also noticed that every single post in all the other threads had the words "French" or "France" in them. Possible sleeper. Definite troll.

[Sunsong]

"Nope, it's me who belongs on a conservative website, not people who want to use America's military to further Israel's interests (Wolfowitz, Perle, Feith). Those are neoconservatives, and they're welcome to join a website of their own. I'm on an American website."

Oh. My. God. You are sick. You need professional help!

[blam]

"I would think that if the chatter about the French flights was diversionary, the real operation would already be underway. So if we don't hear anything bad soon, perhaps the French flights were indeed the targeted ones."

I was thinking along the same line.

[RabidBartender]

"Most flights from LAX and SFO to London and Paris are Trans Polar flights. They don't fly over the states."

So they were planning to take out Santa's workshop? Those bastards!!! =)

[CWOJackson]

I "believe" that was a different Lafayette (a cajun).

A good measure of France's support of us during the Revolution can be found just a year later. They offered to assist Ireland in freeing itself of their English master in that same way they helped us. They promising an invasion army, artillery and to arm the Irish.

Unfortunately for the Irish they believed the French. On the side France and England had started playing kissie face again. On the appointed day the Irish rose up, and the French arrived with only a token force (they had to defend their honor I guess), no artillery and no arms for the Irish.

So the Irish ended up fighting the English with pikes and clubs. At the final battle, upon mutual agreement, the token French force was allowed to retreat from the field whereas the Irish were slaughtered to the man.

The English wined and dined their French friends for a couple of weeks then sent them home on parole...while the slaughter of the Irish continued.

Never trust the French!

[LikeLight]

Based on all I've read in last couple of weeks, I'd say there is a good chance these flights were the first wave, fully loaded with fuel, planned to hit LONDON . . . then the second wave would be cargo flights originating closer to U.S. for the second wave American targets . . .

[mhking]

Don't tell me I'm a troll -- I'm the most conservative guy in the room.

You're a troll.

[Dont Mention the War]

As a country where almost 90% of the inhabitants don't have passports,

If you're going to lie about that, why should we believe anything else you have to say on this subject? And don't think we aren't fully aware that you're intentionally ignoring other major factors affecting passport registration numbers in the US such as geography, economics, the fact that passports are not required for travel anywhere in North America, the high cost of obtaining a passport in the first place (currently $85, an insane amount of money to spend on something you have no intention of using anytime soon), etc.

By the way, Canada's passport-ownership rate is only around 25%. Do you consider them a bunch of insular xenophobic idiots as well due to that "embarrassingly" low percentage of passport holders?

[Lurking in Kansas]

Lisa Myers, reporting a few minutes ago on MSNBC, made it sound like the U.S. really had to strong-arm the French to cancel these flights....

Why am I not surprised?
(/sarcasm)

[LikeLight]

Sorry seamole, I was writing while you were posting . . . yes, we're thinking the same way . . .

[God luvs America]

air france and Delta are partners (while anyone would want to partner with anything-french is beyond me).

My wife and I took our honeymoon in July/2000 through Italy & Greece but flew on air france from NY-Paris-Venice and same back...on the way home we were re-routed to a Delta flight.

[Shermy]

I would think that if the chatter about the French flights was diversionary, the real operation would already be underway.

Romiyya?

[Cultural Jihad]

No, the shoe-bomber was British. But let's say he was French!

Okay, if you say so! Down with saboteurs!

[Dane]

Lisa Myers, reporting a few minutes ago on MSNBC, made it sound like the U.S. really had to strong-arm the French to cancel these flights. It sounds like our people were very very concerned that these flights not take off

"Strong-arm" the french??

Oh yeah, I forgot, we're evil Americans, while saddam is the most benign person in the world to the french.

Sorry, I forgot for a moment about the frenchie mindset.

[God luvs America]

lol!