French Warplanes Strike Islamic State Militants in Syria

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/world/europe/france-islamic-state-syria.html?_r=0 ^ | NOV. 15, 2015 | KATRIN BENNHOLD and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

French warplanes struck Islamic State militants in Syria, two days after attackers carried out a coordinated assault on Paris killing 129 people.

Prior to the attack, France had been sparing in its strikes against targets in Syria.

News reports in France said the airstrikes were focused on Raqqa, the city in northern Syria that is the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State.

[okie01]

I wonder where those Rafales are taking off from. I don't recall their having a base in the Middle East.

Conducting the raids from metropolitan France would require what, two re-fuelings -- an expensive proposition.

[The Antiyuppie]

The UK paper said that the French dropped 20 bombs. To put that in perspective:

http://www.stratofortress.org/current-operations.htm

A fighter is not a bomber.

[Bogie]

Good point. The French screwed up fifty years ago.

[null and void]

France is a nuclear power.

21.4225^oN, 39.826181^oE

Just sayin'...

[okie01]

Actually, it's around 3600 miles round trip from SE France to Raqaa. The Rafale is said to have a combat radius of 1000 miles, so only one re-fueling would be necessary (though two would provide for a greater margin-of-error...and combat load).

[justa-hairyape]

Go get you some Frenchy’s. And stop threatening Asad. He never bombed Paris.

[etabeta]

I read they are taking off from the Emirates and Jordan.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

20 bombs are a good start—need 200 bombs! That or one Nuke! Should be 24 hours of bombing. Fire bombing might be nice! Netron Bombs might be a good touch.

[virgil]

I’m gonna make me some French fries.

[1035rep]

Shortly after the 9/11 attack French President Chirac flew to the U.S to meet with President Bush. After his meeting at the White House, he flew to New York, where he said the scene made him “feel like crying.”

“France will not stand aside in a fight against a scourge that defies all democracies” “Today it is New York that was tragically struck, but tomorrow it may be Paris, Berlin, London”

He was right.

[PIF]

Bring in the B-52s and carpet bomb the place with dumb bombs until the rubble bounces, and then, if anything moves, nuke it.

[litehaus]

Do think that is what the French Prez told Putin...Outa my or you are a target....

[ought-six]

I think you mean Ramstein.

[PIF]

Putin laughed and said, “You are an idiot, froggy. You don’t have any bombers, let alone anything like a B-52 or our TU-22Ms or TU-95s. Take your puny strike force and go home. And don’t try any funny business with those so called fighter jets you are do proud of flying, if you can call that flying.”

[litehaus]

U R rite...

[litehaus]

U R rite

[petenmi]

[okie01]

I read they are taking off from the Emirates and Jordan.

Makes sense. Thanks.

[litehaus]

Where’d jewgit that pic of my uncle???? LOL...

[bigtoona]

Sounds like its more for show than actual effect. The French will go back to wide open borders again in two weeks once the press creates a new set of pro immigration talking points.