Well, here's something you don't see everyday.  Although utilized more by their respective central government than the British SAS, you don't really here of GIGN operations unless it is a deliberate show of force.

And with that, here's a deliberate show of force:



French forces storm seized ship

Wednesday, September 28, 2005; Posted: 7:46 a.m. EDT (11:46 GMT)

PARIS, France (CNN) -- French troops have stormed a ship off the Corsican coast, ending a labor dispute over the privatization of a state-owned ferry operator.

Five military helicopters circled over the Pascal-Paoli car ferry off the French Mediterranean island of Corsica early Wednesday morning.

Ten soldiers then shimmied down ropes that were dropped from the helicopters and took control of the vessel, witnesses said.

About 50 protesters had commandeered the ship on Tuesday and set sail from the southern French port city of Marseille for Corsica.

The ferry can carry more than 500 passengers but none were aboard when it was commandeered.

Labor unions were angry over the planned sale of struggling state-owned ferry company SNCM to Butler Capital Partners. The private investment firm says up to 400 jobs could be lost, Reuters said.

Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, whose ministry commands the elite GIGN police force, praised the commandos for "perfectly" completing their mission, The Associated Press reported. Officials said no violence was involved.

Police said they had detained the protesters for questioning and French media said they could face up to 20 years in jail.

Shortly before the police assault, union leader Alain Moscini told France-Info radio: "We are not warriors, as we are only fathers of families and have lived until today in dignity. We will be arrested with dignity.

"They succeeded in their big military action. They defeated a handful of unarmed Corsican sailors," he said.

Accompanied by three national marine boats, the ferry headed back to France's southern coast.

SNCM has suspended services between Corsica and mainland France until further notice, a recorded message at the ferry company said.

On Tuesday night, after the ship arrived off the Corsican coast, clashes erupted in the Corsican port of Bastia between about 1,000 protesters and police who fired tear gas.

The protests have added to the troubles of the conservative government of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, which is trying to cut unemployment.

"The mutiny is politically delicate for the prime minister who is facing his first big conflict," the left-leaning Liberation newspaper said.

Shipping workers also vowed on Wednesday to extend a 24-hour strike at Marseille port, blocking access to the Lavera petrochemicals complex and the oil port of Fos-sur-Mer.

It's just a bunch of Socialized 'gubment workers protesting. Their bankrupt "state-owned enterprise" is being sold to investors. So the lazy 'gubment workers are afraid they will get fired and replaced by more efficient workers after privatization. They took over that ferry and "The Man" sent some JBT's to take it back. All hail the bigger guns of capitalism!

They succeeded in their big military action. They defeated a handful of unarmed Corsican sailors," he said.

Quoted: All hail the bigger guns of capitalism!

Yer God damned right!

Quoted: They succeeded in their big military action. They defeated a handful of unarmed Corsican sailors," he said.

If anything, it was used as a show of force/capability.  Not to mention it was decent training for the boys... how often do they get to repel out of a copter onto a hijacked boat?  


- BG

The French are pretty much hell on wheels when

-Blowing up Greenpeace ships
-Storming Greenpeace ships in the South Pacific
-Breaking up labor disputes with SWAT teams

Other than that, they pretty much suck.

Shortly before the police assault, union leader Alain Moscini told France-Info radio: "We are not warriors, as we are only Frenchmen and have lived until today in dignity. We will surrender with dignity.  That is the proud tradition of all Frenchmen.  We only chafe at the fact that we must surrender to OTHER Frenchmen.  Now if you'll excuse me, my snails are getting cold so I'm going to eat lunch."

Said one soldier, "It was surreal...white flags were everywhere...there was nothing we could do."

isn't that pretty much summed up by french rule of warfare number 10 (i think):

"The french usually win when fighting the french"

Who surrendered first??