Chronology of a kidnapping

A very interesting chronology of the French Hostage kidnapping can be found at Pave France. Damien is quoting from newspaper headlines: bq. Monday August 30, 2004: Paris panic after journalists kidnapped in Iraq Tuesday August, 31 2004: Hostages plead: Lift headscarf ban Friday September 3, 2004: Hopes rise for French hostages Friday September 3, 2004: French FM awaits liberation of hostages in Jordan Friday September 3, 2004: French hostages 'no longer held' Saturday September 4, 2004: Hopes rise sharply for quick release of French hostages Saturday September 4, 2004: French journalists 'about to be freed' Sunday September 5, 2004: Hostages' release stalls Monday September 6, 2004: France sounds note of caution over hostages Monday September 6, 2004: France Hopes Stance Aids Captives in Iraq Thursday September 9, 2004: France wants U.S. out of hostage crisis Friday September 10, 2004: Liberation of French hostages still possible: French FM Monday September 13, 2004: French try to answer Iraq's anarchy with charm Monday September 13, 2004: Paris fears long wait possible for hostages Tuesday September 14, 2004: Journalists' Iraqi captors say France is "enemy of Muslims" Friday September 17, 2004: If Chirac can't deliver on hostages, who can? Monday September 20, 2004: De Villepin optimistic for release of Iraq hostages Tuesday September 21, 2004: Chirac in fresh appeal for kidnapped journalists Tuesday September 28, 2004: Report: French Hostages in Iraq to Be Freed Soon Wednesday September 29, 2004: Group holding Iraq hostages pays �tribute� to French stand on Iraq Friday October 1, 2004: Uncertain negotiations: Confusion surrounds efforts to secure the release of the French journalists and their Syrian driver Sunday October 3, 2004: Chaos grips bid to free hostages held in Iraq Monday October 4, 2004: France Riled by Failed Iraq Rescue Mission Monday October 4, 2004: France Calls Crisis Talks Over Iraq Hostages Farce Tuesday October 5, 2004: France vows 'discreet' bid to free journalists in Iraq Tuesday October 5, 2004: Private talks collapse for 2 French hostages bq. To get this far France has sought and obtained intercessions from Sheikh Youssef al-"Shoot-An-American" Qaradawi, Hamas, the Little Chairman, the Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah of Hezbollah, and terrorist Shiite Moqtada Sadr, among others. Nice friends. bq. France has abandoned the practice of diplomacy between plenipotentiaries and will now talk with anyone who can throw a little weight around by virtue of having cut a little throat. M. Barnier thinks France should arrange tea parties for terrorists, while M. Raffarin thinks terrorists are France's best allies. bq. To be French is to awake newly contemptible everyday. There is a lot more - Damian has some very apt comments and links to yet more information. And these are the people that Kerry wants to have decide our Foreign Policy?