Under heavy security, France celebrates Bastille Day (chirac in OPEN car)

[2Design]

I found it interesting that French president can ride in an open car going down a parade route

while * has for his inaguration a military police state

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/14/europe/web.0714bastille.php
<snip>
Chirac kicked off the parade while standing in a rolling open jeep to review forces at attention along the Champs-Elysées. Crowds watched from behind barriers on the chestnut-shaded sidewalks.

France's famed horse-mounted Republican Guard in front and behind moved at a trot to keep up with the president for the trip that began at the Arc de Triomphe.

French tenor Roberto Alagna sang the national anthem, ''La Marseillaise,'' accompanied by the French army choir and the symphony orchestra of the Republican Guard.

It was a day for displaying medals, and many participants seemed to have half their chests covered. Even the Alsatians of the canine corps had medals — awarded for service in Kosovo — hanging from their special yellow tunics as they marched alongside their handlers.
</snip>

[davepc]

1. Didn't convertible limos go out of style in the US after Kennedy?

For executive transport...I mean.

[getmeouttahere]

2. Under heavy security???

riding in an open car is heavy security??? Well, I think it's great that the French can still have their President ride in an open car. More power to them. What kind of security perimeter would they have to implement to allow BushCo to ride his bike?

[wakeme2008]

3. pic

This is not his normal car



It is a Jeep he is standing in...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4681297.stm

edited to add his normal car



The new Citroen C6 is used by French President Jacques Chirac to attend Bastille Day ceremonies in Paris July 14, 2005. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

[2Design]

5. thanks for pics - must be nice to live in a country where the pres

doesn't have to hide because he is so cruel and agressive in the world - seems like a safer country to me and was went I went there in the 80's much safer in paris than nyc at that time

[tocqueville]

4. more important; Lula da Silva sends a message to Bush

look, I have friends...

---------------------------------------

Joining President Jacques Chirac on the official reviewing stand at the Place de la Concorde was Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the guest of honor.

A little over an hour after the parade finished, Chirac and Silva stood at attention outside the presidential Elysee Palace as sirens sounded across Paris to observe two minutes of silence in solidarity with London, simultaneously with global observances
...........

Silva was invited to the observances as part of "the year of Brazil in France," promoting economic and cultural ties between the French and the Latin American giant.

A Brazilian military band and members of elite units of the Brazilian armed forces joined in the march down the Champs-Elysees, a rare honor. They were joined by cadets from Brazil's Agulhas Negras, or Black Needles, military academy.

Wave after wave of military aircraft flew overhead, ranging from fighter jets leaving a stream of blue, white and red vapor to tankers and the AWACS surveillance plane.

A fly-by by seven Brazilian Tucano warplanes marked the end of the event.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&e=3&u=/ap/20050714/ap_on_re_eu/france_bastille_day

[Lisa]

6. during the 2002 parade, a neo-Nazi tried to take a shot at the PM

He was subdued by the onlookers (including a Canadian schoolteacher of Algerian ancestry, Mohamed Chelali). Chirac telephoned him afterwards, to thank him personally! And invited him for a personal meeting later. I didn't know this until now, but back in Canada, the French ambassador presented him with the Legion of Honor!

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1026770022891_4?s_name=

More, including news clips, here:
http://www.netlexfrance.com/weblogs/index.php?cat=15