Did the French screw up???

dallastigers · Dec 24, 2003

Before the French ministry issued its statement that the United States had requested the cancellations, U.S. officials in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, had said the United States had been "hoping that we would be able to lure some of these people in" and arrest them when they showed up for the flights.

The official said then that there was some frustration within the Homeland Security Department that the flights were canceled, thus allowing the word to get out about the security concerns.
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Sourdoughman · Dec 24, 2003

From what I read maybe the French cancelled the flights to soon,
It sounds like they wanted to nab some of them before they
boarded.

I also think its always possible that there are "insiders" working
at airports overseas that may be letting those individuals aware
of what was happening.

You never know

dallastigers · Dec 26, 2003

The actual people might not have shown up, which does make me wonder if they were tipped or not. I am glad they canceled the flights, but it does seem like the French are now minimizing the actual threat that may have been averted at least temporarily.

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Officials said they were particularly concerned about what appeared to be incomplete information from France about the fate of several men whose names had appeared on the passenger manifest of an Air France flight headed from Paris to Los Angeles early Christmas Eve.

The men were scheduled to board Flight 68 - one of three canceled Wednesday at the urgent request of the U.S. and French governments, based on what U.S. intelligence officials said were credible indications that they might have been targeted for attack. Air France announced that flights would resume today.

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that U.S. officials had told French authorities that up to six passengers on Flight 68 might be al-Qaida or Taliban terrorists, and that one was a trained pilot with a commercial license.

Yesterday, French authorities said they searched and questioned at least seven passengers who had checked in for Flight 68 at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and that they made no arrests and did not open a judicial inquiry.

"Some people were interrogated and their baggage was searched. But they are free," said the official, who asked to remain anonymous. "Nothing in particular was found. No terrorists were identified. There is nothing new today and no problems."

But a U.S. official said yesterday that some of the men whose names had been given to the French never showed up at the airport - including the man believed to be a pilot - and that he did not believe French authorities had questioned them.

"We haven't heard the full story," said the U.S. official, particularly the details about how many of the men identified by U.S. intelligence were questioned by French authorities, and what they said before being let go.

More information surfaced yesterday about why U.S. officials were so fearful that the three Air France flights might have been targeted for hijacking.

One U.S. official, quoting electronic intercepts, said terrorist operatives had been overheard discussing specific flight numbers and airlines without mentioning a specific day, while other conversations alluded to attacks on the Christmas holiday and other days.

"It was not just coincidence of names," the official said. "There were other indicators that raised concerns."
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Vincent4Heisman · Dec 26, 2003

Ze Frenchies, Zey are surrendering, what else would they do?

CalcoTiger · Dec 30, 2003

I wish Bill Clinton and Hilary would move to France.

That way all the people i hate would be in the same country.

Then Nuke em.

geaux tigers

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Did the French screw up???

dallastigers Founding Member

Sourdoughman TigerFan of LSU and the Tigerman

dallastigers Founding Member

Vincent4Heisman Freshman

CalcoTiger Live Long and Prosper IVI

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