[little jeremiah]

So WE KNEW some of the passengers were questionable and France allowed them to book flights? Why didn't France pick them up?

I realize I'm late on this thread (I read it every day but don't post much because I have nothing to add!) but here is my take on your statement above:

Muslims are so numerous in France, and Chiraq was so buddy-buddy with Sadam, I speculate that since apparently AQ has people legitimately employed with Air France (read that in an article on FR today) it is entirely plausible that AQ has people in the French government and/or media. That might be why cancelling the flights because public before the US wanted it to, thus foiling any attempt to capture whichever dubious people were to be on the flights.

[JustPiper]

You signed up the day the thread was borne -g- Welcome to FR and posting!

[Calpernia]

If there is any truth to your thoughts (and unfortunately there is a lot of supportive facts to it), I say we send the Statue of Liberty back. Send it back airborn armed! Ready to blow on impact.