Terror threat leads to cancellation of Paris to Dakar Rally - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Craven Morehead · 01-04-2008, 06:38 AM

To me this rally represents the beginning of the new year's racing calendar. But due to an outbreak of al-Qaida-linked killings and terrorist threats, its cancelled. Those bastards killed a French family recently. With this rally covering many miles of largely uninhabited wilderness, there's no way race organizers could have kept the participants safe with the threat of additional violence.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...=99&id=3180745

Quote:

Friday, January 4, 2008
Terror threat leads to cancellation of Dakar Rally

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press

PARIS -- The annual Dakar Rally was canceled Friday on the eve of the race across the Sahara Desert because of terror threats and the recent killings of a French family in Mauritania blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants.

It was the first time in the 30-year history of the automobile, motorbike and truck race that it has been called off. In a statement, organizers blamed international tensions, the tourists' Dec. 24 murders and "threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organizations."

The race's central appeal -- its course through African deserts, scrubland and savannas -- is also its weak point, making it difficult to protect thousands of people as they traverse such remote regions.

"No other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken,'' organizers said.

France, where the race organizers are based, had urged the rally to avoid Mauritania after the four family members were killed in an attack blamed on a terror cell that uses the Mauritanian desert as a hideout.

Officials say the cell is linked to the Algeria-based al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa, which has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks, including the Dec. 11 twin suicide bombings at U.N. offices and a government building in Algiers, which killed at least 37 people.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner "hailed the organizers' courage and wisdom'' in calling off the rally, said a spokeswoman for his ministry, Pascale Andreani.

The race, organized by the France-based Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), had been due to start in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday and finish in Dakar, Senegal, on Jan. 20. Eight of the stages were to take place in Mauritania. Some 550 car, truck and motorcycle drivers were expected for the 5,760-mile trek.

Cyril Neveu, a five-time Dakar winner in the motorcycle category, acknowledged that the race could have been targeted by terrorists.

"It is a big caravan of more than 3,000 people,'' he told French broadcaster I-Tele. He said he respected the organizers' decision but added: "Many are going to be disappointed."

"Providing security from the first to the last competitor is an onerous job,'' Neveu added. "One cannot say that there was zero risk."

French ministers had discussed safety at the rally at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, and French officials had met with race organizers to discuss the risks.

Only the father of the slain family survived the Dec. 24 attack, in a town 150 miles east of the Mauritanian capital as the family picnicked on the side of a road.

That attack was followed up be another four days later, when three Mauritanian soldiers manning a checkpoint were killed. Mauritania is a largely peaceful Islamic republic that has been rocked by the back-to-back attacks.

Authorities have blamed a terror "sleeper cell'' linked to the Algeria-based al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa for the murders of the family. Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa claimed responsibility for the killing of the soldiers.

The Mauritanian government had announced last week that it would mobilize a 3,000-man security force to ensure the race's safety. The country's foreign minister complained that canceling the race was not justified.

"We have taken every measure to ensure that the rally goes forward without incident,'' Foreign Minister Babah Sidi Abdallah told RTL television station.

Mauritania's police force has been tracking the killers of the four tourists, recovering the car they used and arresting a woman who allegedly helped them secure a boat to cross into neighboring Senegal.

BadNick · 01-04-2008, 11:58 AM

I was sad and disappointed to hear this report, and I'm only reluctantly accepting the officials' judgement on this but I can see the risk. I'm tempted to suggest that if pressing the big red "that was easy" button on my desk would instantly eliminate such terrorists, I would immediately press it and let things pan out as they may.

Willravel · 01-04-2008, 12:59 PM

ALRIGHT THAT'S IT: Terrorism is now officially bad.

But seriously, this is really fucked up. First off, the threat of terrorism in Europe is actually real, so they're right to be afraid. Second, THEY'RE CARS. I mean jesus christ, it's just cars. It's not zionism, it's not decadence, and it's not military.

silent_jay · 01-04-2008, 01:09 PM

Fuckin cocksuckers, cancelling the fuckin Dakar, what the fuck am I supposed to watch for racing now? Fuckin Top Gear is done until the summer, Fifth Gear is shite, guess it's waiting until WRC and F-1 starts up again, fuckin terrorists, they've crossed the line now.

The_Jazz · 01-04-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Fuckin cocksuckers, cancelling the fuckin Dakar, what the fuck am I supposed to watch for racing now? Fuckin Top Gear is done until the summer, Fifth Gear is shite, guess it's waiting until WRC and F-1 starts up again, fuckin terrorists, they've crossed the line now.

Shit, they've pissed off the Canadians. Now those terrorists are screwed!

Back on topic, I think that this is more for the support crews than for the driving teams. I don't see the drivers as being such easy targets as the spectators and crews, such as they are.

Then again, this may be a moot point since the terrorists are about to find out what the Canucks are all aboot.

Fotzlid · 01-04-2008, 02:31 PM

why cant the terrorist attack NASCAR?

BadNick · 01-04-2008, 08:20 PM

interesting you mentioned NASCAR ...as I was thinking about CM's post, I had a thought that if they threatened NASCAR, all the vigilante groups in the U.S. would attack and clean out all the terrorists and then toast the success with beer and cigarettes.

PS: I noticed on another auto forum that quite a few posts were along the lines of "those pussy French gave up again" ...any thoughts about that angle?

biznatch · 01-06-2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadNick

I noticed on another auto forum that quite a few posts were along the lines of "those pussy French gave up again" ...any thoughts about that angle?

Uh, yeah. It's retarded.

silent_jay · 01-11-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

Shit, they've pissed off the Canadians. Now those terrorists are screwed!

Hehe, we'll drop the elusive maple syrup bomb on the bastards.

bobby · 01-12-2008, 07:35 AM

I'm just sad......

xoxoxoo

silent_jay · 01-12-2008, 07:53 AM

Me too bobby, me too. At least WRC starts soon, although it just doesn't seem the same with no Dakar.

01-04-2008, 01:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
silent_jay Her Jay Location: Ontario for now....	Fuckin cocksuckers, cancelling the fuckin Dakar, what the fuck am I supposed to watch for racing now? Fuckin Top Gear is done until the summer, Fifth Gear is shite, guess it's waiting until WRC and F-1 starts up again, fuckin terrorists, they've crossed the line now. __________________ Absence makes the heart grow fonder

01-12-2008, 07:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	I'm just sad...... xoxoxoo __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo

01-12-2008, 07:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
silent_jay Her Jay Location: Ontario for now....	Me too bobby, me too. At least WRC starts soon, although it just doesn't seem the same with no Dakar. __________________ Absence makes the heart grow fonder

01-04-2008, 11:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	I was sad and disappointed to hear this report, and I'm only reluctantly accepting the officials' judgement on this but I can see the risk. I'm tempted to suggest that if pressing the big red "that was easy" button on my desk would instantly eliminate such terrorists, I would immediately press it and let things pan out as they may.

01-04-2008, 12:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	ALRIGHT THAT'S IT: Terrorism is now officially bad. But seriously, this is really fucked up. First off, the threat of terrorism in Europe is actually real, so they're right to be afraid. Second, THEY'RE CARS. I mean jesus christ, it's just cars. It's not zionism, it's not decadence, and it's not military.

01-04-2008, 02:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	why cant the terrorist attack NASCAR?

01-04-2008, 08:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	interesting you mentioned NASCAR ...as I was thinking about CM's post, I had a thought that if they threatened NASCAR, all the vigilante groups in the U.S. would attack and clean out all the terrorists and then toast the success with beer and cigarettes. PS: I noticed on another auto forum that quite a few posts were along the lines of "those pussy French gave up again" ...any thoughts about that angle?