HotAir has the translation of a story from Le Monde, about a threat against the Eiffel Tower, now picked up by Reuters:
The newspaper said Portuguese air traffic authorities had intercepted a “vague and confused” short wave radio message apparently describing a threat on Thursday, but were not “panicked” by the message, according to a police source.
Coincidentally (or not), CBSNews.com’s Tucker Reals reports from London:
Recent postings on a Web forum commonly used by al Qaeda and its worldwide supporters threaten a terrorist attack on Paris, a European capital that has so far avoided the ire of radical Islamic fundamentalists.
Nevertheless, my favorite part of this story may be learning that while Paris is on Red Alert, that is only the second-highest level of sercurity alert. The highest level is the Scarlet Alert.
It is just like the French to go with more fashionable security alerts than we heathens in the U.S.
Shouldn’t that be “Rouge Alert”?
Rouge Alert!? Baton down the hatches!
Frankly, I don’t give a damn.
“…a European capital that has so far avoided the ire of radical Islamic fundamentalists…”
Flaming cars? What flaming cars? Nothing to see here, move along.
B Moe,
Those rioters weren’t radicals. They were just misunderstood teenagers. Don’t you ever feel like throwing a labatt bottle full of unleaded at a parked Renault?
No, “Scarlet” is only the third-highest level. Next is “Urine Yellow”, and the highest is “Flag White”.
Europeans have, objectively, been facing regular terror attacks (in a public and one would have expected a well-understood way) for longer than we have. I’m talking “public awareness” here, partly because everybody seems so far away to Americans because, well, frankly, they are far away.
This being said, I am constantly amazed at how bone-shatteringly clueless Europe comes across in the face of terror. It’s like someone who walks down the same alley every night after work and gets mugged by the same thug, and he always gets up afterward and says “what hit me?”
Skip the alley tonight, Europe, and use the savings to buy a freakin’ clue.
Paris would face a much higher terrorist threat if their terrorists weren’t forced to work no more than 30 hours a week, with regular mandatory rest breaks and monthly three-week work stoppages.
Here’s a transcript of the radio communication they intercepted:
French Puppet: Sacre bleu. Dans la putaaan. Ah. Oui? Bon. Helleu….
French mother: Jean-François?! Jean-François?!
Jean-François: [Singing] Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques. Dormez-vous? Dormez…
[Arab music Jo, de Siddhiiii sounds as Jean-François bumps into some middle-eastern looking sinister types]
White Turban Grey Beard: Baka derk. Jihad sherpaha.
White Turban Black Beard: Allah kaderka-derka. [Activates the suitcase bomb]
French Mother: Jean-François! Pauvre garçon!
Jean-François: Regardez-le, maman. On volez en pepipe.
French Mother: Mon Dieu!
[Sirens sound followed by the Team America theme]
Terrorist: Bakala! Bakala!!!
Joe: [Through the PA system] You in the robes: put down the weapon of mass destruction and get on the ground. You’re under arrest!
Terrorist: Bakalakalaka!
That cracks me up.
It also reminds me — appropos of nothing — that “Frère Jacques” is sung in the background of “Paperback Writer.”
MayBee – That was an insta-classic.
Rob C – Flag White. I have to buy some paint tonight, and I will see if they carry that color.
I found it in a set of French military colors for the European theater of WWII.