SWAT COLLECTOR'S DIGEST

Just got back from France and spent some time visiting with RAID, GIGN, and GIPN. I also stopped by the BRI in Paris to check out their armored vehicle, and met with my old friend Eric Micheletti , the Editor-in-Chief of RAIDS magazine. The SWAT Teams of France, despite politics and the problems that plaque police around the world (pay,etc.) do not let anything take away from their dedication to the mission and their SWAT brothers. I am deeply indebted to Officer Bruno Ursch (The IPA in France are indeed lucky to have him repping for them) and Commandant Vincent G. (A legend in the French SWAT fraternite) for their hospitality and friendship. One of the best vacations I have ever experienced. I now speak French like a native.....yes, if that native is from the planet Mars.It was significant that I was there during our 4th of July as if it were not for the French standing tall with us way back then ,we would not have a Country. By the way, McDonald's in France serves COLD BEER! Viva la France, viva la tall cold ones!                                                                                                          Its interesting to note that there has been some recent mention of having French troops stationed in Lebanon as a "peacekeeping force". The critics say that they will be as ineffectual as any UN Troops that were stationed there before proved to be, particularly if they are used as a stationary border force, or ordered not to engage as in Rwanda or Somalia. The UN Troops to be effective must, to take a quote from the film BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID, be allowed to "Move and Shoot". They must be allowed to conduct Special Operations Missions (i.e. hunt down and neutralize the terrorist threats and interdict through force of arms those massacring innocent civilians) otherwise they become the human equivalent of the Marginot Line.The Terrorists are well aware of this.The major enemy of  successful Special Operations missions is and always will be POLITICS.

SPEAKING OF POLITICS: A Welcome sign in France is the Election of the Former Boss of all Police Mr. Karcozy as their President. If anyone can turn that Country around it is him. He has the Balls of a Lafayette! Congratulations!

Some EPIGN Sniper Badges that have been added to my Collection.

Mini-UZI Submachinegun in the hands of an "Old School" French SWAT Luminary.

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