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?
Posted by DaveH at October 5, 2004 2:00 PM