OT: What's wrong with this picture and the french?

[RealPreppersWearPurple]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/20/world/europe/france-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
If you don't see the old geezer with the rifle, go to picture 8.
How many things do you see wrong with this picture? What's the most obvious to you?
I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this.

[Rick]

I have no idea what you're referring to. That old geezer is about my age. In fact, he might be my kid brother.

[RealPreppersWearPurple]

No disrespect meant to the old timers in here Rick.
Think about what he's doing and how you would do it

[2dumb2kwit]

I have no idea what you're referring to. That old geezer is about my age. In fact, he might be my kid brother.


No disrespect meant to the old timers in here Rick.
Think about what he's doing and how you would do it

(Snort, chuckle).......(giggle)!!!

[Daniel Nighteyes]

I can only assume you're either referring to (a) the way he's slung that Mini-14, of (b) the fact he's holding a radio in each hand.

And BTW, I see nothing wrong with the French that isn't also wrong with many US citizens. But that's just my two-hundredths of a dollar.

-- Nighteyes

[hunter63]

Pic #4, guy on left, looks like my younger brother.........
Watch the geezer talk......LOL

[gryffynklm]

nighteyes +1 and a few more cents.

[RealPreppersWearPurple]

I can only assume you're either referring to (a) the way he's slung that Mini-14, of (b) the fact he's holding a radio in each hand.

-- Nighteyes

Exactly. With the way he's holding the sling, he can at best get a shot off from the hip. His hands are full and he's wearing a (presumably) kevlar vest with no helmet. Nothing makes sense to me, but at least he showed up

[jake abraham]

agree with nighteyes

[Wildthang]

Geezers huh! You are talking to a bunch of geezers that go out into the woods and carry guns, knives, crossbows, and all kinds of implements of destruction, so we'll be watchin for ya grasshopper:smartass:

[Rick]

My guess is they are different frequencies and he probably figures the (correctly as it turned out) the bad guy is gone or he won't be the first in line. He also has a side arm and a few other guys he can hide behind. (that's a French joke. Get it?)

[crashdive123]

Determining "procedures and tactics" from a couple of still photos is an exercise in imagination and fantasy.

[Winter]

One guy? should been over before we heard about it.

[RealPreppersWearPurple]

I'm not determing any tactical procedurs from this, I just find it amusing. I've never seen anyone on duty from any country carry like this guy is before

[crashdive123]

Then I take it you've never been at or near a scene during what some refer to as "after action". Having taught shipboard anti-terrorist tactics for a number of years, suffice it to say that there is no telling what you will see. If it was a video and not a still photo that showed one of the security force personnel toss his radio to his teammate and giving CPR to one of the victims........ My only point was that it is difficult to discern much from a still photo so no, I didn't see anything wrong as you originally asked, or amusing as you now state.

[RealPreppersWearPurple]

I'm no expert on the subject like you. Have you ever trained someone to carry a rifle like that?

[crashdive123]

Ya know - I had a nice long response typed and a question for you, but after reading it and before hitting the reply button, thought better of it. I'll just leave it at I never claimed to be an expert.

[hunter63]

Yeah, well I'm still getting by the geezers thing....

[Rick]

Left a sour taste in my mouth, too. Geezers should rightly start around 90 or so. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[RealPreppersWearPurple]

Crash, maybe expert wasn't the right word. I simply meant that I have zero real life experiences in the matter and you do. Any light you can shed on the subject would be much appreciated

[Rick]

Military, LEO, innocent bystander. We are all just people and we do what's expeditious at the moment. I'm not certain how you think he should have slung that weapon but over the shoulder wouldn't be a very good option given the vest he has on. I can't imagine it would stay on his shoulder and he'd be fighting to keep it there. Slung across his back would be worse, in my mind, since it would be harder to get to. That vest is pretty bulky making movement somewhat restrictive. That only leaves across the chest.

[hunter63]

Picky, picky, picky...I wasn't there, I don't know, so I won't comment.
Carry on.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Picky, picky, picky...I wasn't there, I don't know, so I won't comment.
Carry on. Boy-howdy, and amen! Another still-photo might have shown him with his eyes closed. 'Course, we all do that several times per minute, for just an instant.

Mes camarades Français have proven their worth time and time again, beginning in 1778. Anyone who characterizes them as anything other than fierce, aggressive, inventive, courageous and loyal allies -- in my personal opinion -- simply hasn't been paying attention. ( Either that, or they've been listening to the wrong kind of folks.)

There are many people in this world whom I'd rather have as enemies than the French. But hey, that's just me.

-- Nighteyes

[Desert Rat!]

Read crashdive123 post #15, probably fairly accurate account of what is going on, also I'm 60 years old so the geezer comment don't bother me, I just chalk it up to maybe you are younger than most here and your experience level is not as high as some, but keep trying you'll get it soon enough.

[Winter]

Mes camarades Français have proven their worth time and time again, beginning in 1778. Anyone who characterizes them as anything other than fierce, aggressive, inventive, courageous and loyal allies -- in my personal opinion -- simply hasn't been paying attention. ( Either that, or they've been listening to the wrong kind of folks.)

There are many people in this world whom I'd rather have as enemies than the French. But hey, that's just me.

-- Nighteyes


Let me mail you "French Military Victories". Don't worry about repaying me the shipping , it fits in an envelope. :balloon:

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Let me mail you "French Military Victories". Don't worry about repaying me the shipping , it fits in an envelope. :balloon:

Instead, how about if I set up a friendly mano-a-mano match between your designee and a typical member of the Brigade des Forces Spéciales Terre, or a typical French citizen who is part of the Légion étrangère?

My point dealt with the valor, courage and determination of the French people, my friend, not the propaganzied fairy-tales that were intended to divert attention from the mis-steps, oversights and failures of certain other governments -- long-past, recently-past, or present.

I think I'll stop typing now...

[Winter]

I was joking with ya Daniel, untie your underpants.

There's no typical Foreign Legionnaires any more than there's typical American Paratroopers or typical Royal Marines.

Let's just say the French suffer from a combination of poor leadership and unfortunate circumstances. Besides the brief period the French were winning, with a Corsican General, it's been pretty ugly from Agincourt till Dien Bien Phu.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

I was joking with ya Daniel, untie your underpants.

Worry not, friend. I learned, thru practical experience, the benefits of "going commando" (including the source/cause of said description) back in 1965-66. :tt2: :tt2: Simpy put, there are no underpants to untie...


There's no typical Foreign Legionnaires any more than there's typical American Paratroopers or typical Royal Marines.

Tell that to the soldiers of the 82nd. They may choose to take exception to your characterization.


Let's just say the French suffer from a combination of poor leadership and unfortunate circumstances. Besides the brief period the French were winning, with a Corsican General, it's been pretty ugly from Agincourt till Dien Bien Phu.

"Poor leadership and unfortunate circumstances"? No objections here, as long as we also acknowledge that the good o' US of A suffered the same problems, and same outcome, in what the French called "French Indochina" and we called Vietnam. IMO, our Dien Bien Phu is best characterized by our unceremoious departure from Vietnam in 1975. Anyone who has seen them will remember (for all time) the scenes of people fighting for spaces on the last outbound helicopter, departing from the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City).

For good measure, let's also throw in the all-too-real and immediate consequences of Gulf War II. 'Tis difficult indeed to admit that we won the battle only to danged-near lose the war --- primarily because we failed to consider what we needed to do AFTER our excellent military spiked the ball in the end-zone...

In both cases, and IMO, the United States also suffered from "poor leadership and unfortunate circumstances." That does nothing to deride the character, strength, courage and determination of the American people. Neither should Dien Bien Phu or other calamities deride/detract from the character, strength, courage and determination of the French people.

'Nuff said?

-- [I]Nighteyes

[crashdive123]

Nuff said is correct. This thread has probably out lived its usefulness.