France sends elite troops to help free yacht hostages

Associated Press ^ | April 7, 2008

[kingattax]

In fact, they just dramatically increased their deployment to Afghanistan.

france has 1,500 troops currently in the afghan theater and president sarkozy recently offered to send 700 more.

i guess a 50% increase is very dramatic

[Alter Kaker]

What interests me more is why GIGN and not Commando Hulbert? I thought Commando Hulbert trained more often for maratime CT? Or has GIGN been training for that?

Commando Hubert specializes in underwater insertion and demolition. GIGN is specifically trained for hostage rescue situations. The naval commandos do have their own specialized hostage rescue unit, but it is much smaller than the GIGN.

[ricks_place]

Elite Forces Prepare!

[MediaMole]

Cut them a break. The French just elected a better president. Sarkozy has a lot of work ahead of him.

They are fighting in Afghanistan, they have ships along side out ships supporting operations in Southwest Asia.

[lormand]

"Why? They're sending troops to the region, not giving away operational details."

I guess a surprise visit is now out of the question. Since this group is small and light, the French should just explain things after the fact, not telegraph it ahead of time.

[ASOC]

Also interesting that the GIGN are ‘backing up’ the 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère, AKA 13e DBLE).

How does that song go...”Bad Moon Rising?”

BTW, these are the same chaps that trained the folks in Chad to defeat the far more modern and better equipped Libyans some years back. A rough lot, to be certain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Foreign_Legion_Demi-Brigade

[Cowboy Bob]

.."don't you try to be funny with me, monsieur"

Does your dog bite?

[kingattax]

that’s not my dog

[NormsRevenge]

Good!

YouTube - French Commandos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is0aGpB1WY0
3 minutes 15 seconds

[Ax]

Back in 1982 I spent some time in Djibouti. The 13eDBLE pretty well ran the bars down by the port. If one was inclined to get in a bar fight, there was probably not a more fertile field on the planet. These boys were not to be messed with.

At that time, we didn't have a Marine Security Guard Detachment at the Embassy. As in N'Djamena, the French were committed to provide security to our Embassies in those two capitals. I have often wondered how our forces in Djibouti are getting along with their French hosts.

[Rebelbase]

“what exactly are “elite” French Troops anyway?”

Hostage rescue and bim squad.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

what exactly are “elite” French Troops anyway?

U.S. Navy SEALS

[exit82]

They are know to carry and use: Grey Poupon.

[ricks_place]

France betrayed the US in Iraq, the UN, and elsewhere. The US must question French allegiance for an extended period. French support in Afghanistan under Sarkozy's leadership is important.

French soldiers with NATO-led
International Security Assistance Force
patrol streets of Kabul - CNN 2006

[MattinNJ]

Out of curiosity, are they mostly the descendants of Norsemen, or as they are referred to now, Normans?

I know most of our Specfor and Marines are of Scotts/Irish descent. I was wondering if France also had a disproportionate number of their forces come from a certain demographic. Thanks.

For those that mock the French, I would look to Charles the Hammer who saved Western Civilization at Tours and his grandson Charlemagne who unified the West and starterd the ascent out of the dark ages.

Unfortunately, Napoleon led most of the rough and ready French bloodlines to their deaths.

[El Gato]

Since Sarkozy Ive ended my boycott and stopped making anti French jokes. I wish their “elite troops” good hunting and the safe return of French citizens.

Bonne Chance et Bonne Chasse GIGN!

[mware]

[El Gato]

The goal is to avoid using the GIGN, using the threat of an attack to convince the terrorists to let their hostages go without bloodshed.

I'd just as soon the French had shut up, shot, and shoveled. (Well since it's a Maritime gig, they could dispense with the shoveling, just shove the bodies overboard, weighted down with their ship's anchor chain.)

[Alter Kaker]

I'd just as soon the French had shut up, shot, and shoveled.

Ok, but your family isn't on that yacht. The French want their hostages back, alive, asap. The easiest way to do that is to persuade the terrorists to let them go. If that doesn't work, they'll go in guns blazing.

[crghill]

Looked them up and read about them a little bit. Wow...who knew?