Right you are : there was no warning telephone call, but two bombs minutes apart, my confusion the first one being a warning shot, and twelve people on board the Rainbow Warrior at time of first blast. But the frogmen couldn't know (not care btw) about that.
Now, Greenpeace was the target, not New Zealand. And had the mission been carried at high seas, almost everyone on board would have died. Besides, how could it possibly have been conducted with frogmen when the ship was moving ? Airplanes from the Clemenceau plattop ?
I never heard of the second NZ bombing of that trade union corridor, however I am sure Mitterrand wasn't into blasting Union guys... (g)
Charles Hernu, the then minister of defense was (rather used to be) a KGB recruit. He soon died from a heart attack after it was known. But it is probable that Mitterrand knew about Hernu's youth connection to the Commies before he nominated him.
Remember, and give some credit to the fact that after trying to deny any involvement into the affair, "la France a demandé pardon", Fabius; and that negotiations were conducted as to the amount the state was to pay to the victim's family. A substantial sum it was said, still a state secret today, I believe. Have an idea ? (If Arafat could act like that, it would too, be highly civilized, IMO)
I also agree that my ethics concerning telephone warning prior to bomb blasts are distorted a bit : see I keep praying Allah, yes the Whoakhbar One, asking him to tell his most valliant troops to phone before they blow themselves up not too far away from my earthly body. But He ain't listening ! Could be that He moved on the other side, down there, right above your head, disgusted, so He can't hear me ?
In any case, could you please forward my call to him, just in case ? I'd appreciate. Thanks.
Finally, however unjust that photographer death is, aren't we kind of used to seeing Greenpeace guys taking high risks at high seas for their ideas, their fight, or the media coverage ? |
