I notice it was not a long extended negotiation. It was a simultaneous and rather violent assault. I doubt we would have done it this way if they were cornered. Not nearly as quickly.
(with the possible exception of the Albuquerque Police)
Yes, I noticed that too and why I gave them the kudos. Keep out of the hand ringing and second guessing that way. IMO, the hostage takers have less time to plan their end. This bunch was not going to give up so why give them the option of planning how they want to go out.
Best of all, it worked.
The French dont screw around. They do things were would never consider doing... ask Greenpeace.
In spite of all the jokes about French wimps and cowards, French law enforcement actually has a reputation for not playing games in these kinds of situations, and the French criminal justice system doesn't coddle criminals. In France, violent offenders get a tiny concrete cell, not the posh resorts that do-gooder "reformers" created in Scandinavian countries (and to some extent in Holland and Germany).