Posted on 01/04/2008 4:25:26 PM PST by Cincinna
Al Quaida has struck again! A blow against Freedom, this time hitting the world of sports.
For the past thirty years, the Paris-Dakar race has been one of the highlights of the year in sports in France, and the French speaking world.
Designed to showcase the Continent of Africa, for better and for worse, it has now been cancelled, propbably for good.
The emergence and persistance of Al Quaida and Islamo-Fascism in Africa is an ever-present threat to the West.
I believe Sarko was right to ask that the race be cancelled. The recent murder of four French tourists by Al Quiada terrorists in Mauritania, which the Paris-Dakar race crosses, has made the race far too dangerous to risk the lives of so many people.
There is talk of retooling the race, and rescheduling, transferring it to South America.
:( The Dakar Rally, and the Barrett-Jackson auction are the 2 events that I look forward to every year.
The race actually starts in Lisbon, but the headline calls it the Paris-Dakar race. I’d rather start from Paris were I a driver. Apparently fun is not allowed under the koran. That and high speed vehicles.
It changes year to year, like most Rally events.
Goose: We need to get you out more! ;)
Caving to terrorist threats will always be the worst choice.
Sooner or later, the civilized folks of the world will have to declare ALL militant Islamic Groups as terrorists against mankind - and declare them pests to be eradicated..
A standing bounty - dead or alive - will go a long way toward riding the planet of these worthless depraved 7th century miscreants...
Re-tool to armored/armed vehicles and start again next year. Bonus points for every terrorist killed.
Now they’ve done it.
Will soccer be next?
Move it to Texas.
My ex-wife and I were going to do it in ‘91 (when we lived in Nice), but she chickened out at the last minute.
Sounds like I missed my chance.
Horrible to hear, I usually adjust my sleep schedule just to get the daily update shows of this rally.
This was talked about last year, the US military has been preparing for the rise of Al Qaeda in the Sahel for 4 years now,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flintlock_2005
Here is a pretty complete summary of the history of the problem over the last 2 decades, albeit written in French and somewhat sympathetic to local rebels:
http://www.conscienceresistance.org/memorandum_opposition_compl.htm
The Al Qaeda linked groups have almost free reign in Northwest Mauritania, and the rally has no way to move through the Sahel without crossing that area.
Always keep in mind that the localized strife in Mauritania existed before 9/11, but it was localized, and travellers were given safe passage as is customary in the region.
Now that is a great idea!
Thanks for your very informative post.
If you want to get the New Year off to a great start, FReepMail me to sign up for the French politics and Culture PING List,
I’m just suffering from racing withdrawal!
Landed in Dakar for refueling on a Johannesburg to Washington, DC flight on South African Airways. Middle of the night, but I can assure you Dakar looks very bleak.
Bad News Ping...
“I can assure you Dakar looks very bleak.”
Dakar was once one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Africa. Shows what African socialism can accomplish.
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