Was this really necessary France 🇫🇷?

Oh, ok, my mistake. I think it was the SkyHawks Thursday I saw being pursued because the parachutes were bright red? But it did look incongruous!

We don't know the security threat levels. Le Monde said 46.000 personnel were on security detail.

We don't know when or why the security decision was made re the paras. You don't give advance warning if there were concerns.

Should give the organisers benefit of the doubt when the day was overall an immense success. Leading figures/targets from all over the world, and grumbling about some passport checking? Storm in a teacup.

Joseann

On my TV yes, * Mamie*. I honestly thought someone was hurt as the uniformed officers ran towards the paras on the sand.

Ah different time and place then. I thought we were talking about Sannerville which is nowhere near the beach. Those landings were on Wednesday afternoon, which I think is what the OP was talking about.

On my TV yes, * Mamie*. I honestly thought someone was hurt as the uniformed officers ran towards the paras on the sand.

Joseann

Urmstongran

I still maintain that (okay, quite correct) French security could have organised this better. The optics didn’t look good. British paras all landing in a French field (they knew they were arriving!) and they set up a couple of trestle tables to process them - beggars belief! There HAD to be an alternative. I think it smacked of ‘look at us we take checking ID very seriously’.

They just looked silly.

I love the French, don't get me wrong, but they do like to make "tout un plat" over things. Maybe it wasn't intentional, but French news cameras showed the British paras landing, followed by French gendarmes, literally chasing up the beach to question them! Now, the French security could have been offering to help the men out of their parachutes for all we know, but it did look a bit staged.

Are you sure Joseann? I saw the gendarmes patrolling, presumably for security reasons and the paratroopers then walking over to a table for a document check, though some needed guiding in the right direction.
I thought it all looked very low key and straightforward.

Thank you Joseann your posts have extra gravitas because you live there (sometimes) and so have more knowledge.

By the way, though personally I don't do this, calling the French frogs is OK. It dates back to 17th century Paris, where the poorer people were called that by the more noble French themselves. The latter travelled to England around that time and brought the expression with them, that the English then applied to all French people. 🐸 🐸

Urmstongran

I still maintain that (okay, quite correct) French security could have organised this better. The optics didn’t look good. British paras all landing in a French field (they knew they were arriving!) and they set up a couple of trestle tables to process them - beggars belief! There HAD to be an alternative. I think it smacked of ‘look at us we take checking ID very seriously’.

They just looked silly.

I love the French, don't get me wrong, but they do like to make "tout un plat" over things. Maybe it wasn't intentional, but French news cameras showed the British paras landing, followed by French gendarmes, literally chasing up the beach to question them! Now, the French security could have been offering to help the men out of their parachutes for all we know, but it did look a bit staged.

Meanwhile, our PM left the event early to helicopter back for a TV interview. Respectful or what?
Yes, I did wonder about that. It wasn't a live interview was it?
Yesterday, evening in France Macron was interviewed on live TV at 8pm, so dedpite his earlier wonky time keeping, ⌚️ , he managed to fit everything in. He talked about the EU elections, Ukraine and Israel/Gaza. Interestingly, I am reading reports today that Macron might have used up too much air time in the interview, because during election campaigns in France, the amount of time given to a certain candidate or party is counted according to strict rules. It's the same for the Head of State.

I still maintain that (okay, quite correct) French security could have organised this better. The optics didn’t look good. British paras all landing in a French field (they knew they were arriving!) and they set up a couple of trestle tables to process them - beggars belief! There HAD to be an alternative. I think it smacked of ‘look at us we take checking ID very seriously’.

They just looked silly.

Do you mean on this thread? As pretty much every post with a couple of exceptions has been in support of the French.

It did occur to me, watching the high profile " guest list" what a challenge in terms of secutity and organisation.

I often think with the RF we mere mortals don't know the half of whats going on in the background.

Let’s all blame the French eh? It’s not “ the French” by the way, it’s the French security who were hosting an enormous event with world leaders, royalty etc present. What xenophobia on this thread. Meanwhile, our PM left the event early to helicopter back for a TV interview. Respectful or what?

Dinahmo

Ladyleftfieldlover

That’s a bit harsh Siope.

No it's not.

Yes it is. As someone has now explained to the unknowing, a
passport not required ,covered by NATO. This is just a dog whistle by the French.

henetha

What a shame to spoil this beautiful and poignant day of remembrance with this . Absolutely unnecessary.

Yes. I found the whole thing very moving, and the French were nothing but respectful. Some of these comments seem to have come straight from the Farage playbook.

They were just doing their jobs.

What a shame to spoil this beautiful and poignant day of remembrance with this . Absolutely unnecessary.

So you’d be okay if a few hundred young male foreigners arrived on to British soil and were allowed in with no checks

Oh the irony! I love it.

flappergirl

Whitewavemark2

Was this thread really necessary.

No, it absolutely isn't. My father was at D Day and he would have been pretty disgusted by the underlying sentiment going on here.

I agree.
There have been some pretty shameful opinions expressed and some inappropriate turns of phrase.Can we just leave it?

I saw someone on Facebook complaining about the Froggies checking passports. Then they wonder why the French aren't always co operative.

save Frenchie?

Really?

Siope

So you’d be okay if a few hundred young male foreigners arrived onto British soil and were just allowed in with no checks?

We are no longer in the EU; we cannot just pop in and out as if we are.

Honestly, I sometimes wonder if you ever understood what you were actually voting for in the referendum.

"So you’d be okay if a few hundred young male foreigners arrived onto British soil and were just allowed in with no checks?" That's a holt.
D Day celebrations, commemorating the world war two personnel who died trying to save Frenchie, they call us "Brits" from the Nazis. They knew they were coming. Legitimate servicemen, passport checks. Wonder if they asked the dying men on their beaches for their passports during the war?
So Yes we're expected to allow foreign men into our country , on a daily basis, fr8m France, without even a passport between them.

Whitewavemark2

Was this thread really necessary.

No, it absolutely isn't. My father was at D Day and he would have been pretty disgusted by the underlying sentiment going on here.

Oreo

Maybe they thought they were illegal immigrants dropping in?
😄 I can’t see much harm in having a passport check, but yes I see your point about the MOD, they could have provided a list.

😂😂😂😂😂

The organisation of security alone must have been a minefield to organise never mind the practical stuff of where do people stand or sit where do they go to eat what about drinks toilets.
This was a day to remember all who sacrificed their life’s to help beat the danger that was Nazism.

I too agree that this thread undermines and devalues the sentiments that were being celebrated today.