France releases men from canceled U.S.-bound flights

[MGKrebs]

; finds no evidence of plot
PARIS (AP) — French investigators questioned seven men pointed out by U.S. intelligence but found no evidence they planned to use a Los Angeles-bound jet to launch terror attacks against the United States, French authorities said Thursday.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-12-25-france-terror_x.htm

Who knows what to think anymore.

[GURUving]

1. I know what to think, but

I won't say it. This is a family demo underground.

[tbeatty]

2. I would like to know

if these men were on the watch list before they bought tickets. The fact that 7 people on a watch list all had tickets for the same flight from Paris to Los Angeles is scary.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. With the boys in charge

who knows? THey may have just gone on the list after they boughht them

Remember we have the capacity to pull this stuff, ECHELON

[stumblnrose]

8. Welcome crossdresser tbeatty

er...cross-poster, Free Republic is that away. I seen you there many a time.

[velocity]

4. This statement tells it all

"said. None of the passengers on the canceled flights, including those questioned at the airport, were known to French intelligence authorities or found to have links with Islamic extremist groups, the official said. "

[54anickel]

5. Franco-American...Uh-oh, Spagettios

Sorry, couldn't resist when I saw that in the article. :evilgrin:

Seems US has some egg on its face again.

[toopers]

10. That's egg nog . . .

since it is Christmas.

[Shadder]

6. Of course they found no evidence

We never had the chance to plant it.

[otohara]

7. They Had To Justify Alert

which screwed up a lot of flights for a lot of folks. In Denver the traffic was backed up Monday for 5 miles. Many people missed their flights and were pissed off.

[Ernesto]

11. Make that Thousands of people

maybe tens of thousands of people's holiday screwed up.

[MGKrebs]

9. On any given day,

US intelligence probably has a thousand (or more) pieces of terrorist related information that they could pursue. Can one help but wonder whether the administration selects those that further their political agenda?

This one continues the French bashing theme, punishes France's economy (albeit only slightly), gives the admin an excuse for poor holiday retail sales, and sets up a tit-for-tat "our intelligence is better than yours' catfight.

I don't think I am expressing any original thought by saying that skepticism on the part of our citizens is what keeps them (us) from participating more fully in the political process. In my lifetime, this goes back to Sputnik, then JFK's murder, then MLK's and Bobby's, then Kent State, and then Watergate. This administration adds to our skepticism of politics EVERY DAY.

Either:
A. They are too fanatical to realize the damage they are doing.
B. They don't care,
C. They are doing it on purpose.