Pave France is a forum for scourging the perfidies of France and the moral emptiness of the French. But France and the French are small beer in the scheme of things. So we put them aside to turn our attention to important matters.

Tomorrow America will go to the polls and vote its next president. The result of this vote will determine whether when referring to the American president the epithet, "the leader of the free world", still pertains. The choices before Americans couldn't be plainer -- one of the reasons the undecided vote is not determinative.

Pave France throws its full editorial heft and support behind Mr. Bush. Not that this was a hard decision, and not that it will come as a surprise to attentive readers of this blog.

Mr. Bush exemplifies an American way of thinking and Mr. Kerry the 9.10 French alternative, an altenative congenial to Mr. bin Laden.

Where Mr. Bush has disambiguated the evil of terrorism, Mr. Kerry would muddied it up as a codicil to the criminial code. Where Mr. Bush seeks to root out and destroy terrorism and terrorists, Mr. Kerry wants nothing more than to becalm terrorists to a tolerable 9.10 nuisance level. Where Mr. Bush has made real decisions in the conduct and course of a real war, Mr. Kerry boasts his armchair generalship will produce a war that plays to script and stays on schedule, something like a a well-run Tupperware® party.

Indicative of the French affinities in Mr. Kerry's thinking -- where American policy and interests are held captive to a French veto -- is his solid support among the French.

Though the news reports the race as close, by "almost a 2-to-1 margin*, voters thought Bush, not Kerry, would win". This is indicative of Mr. Kerry's inspirational French defeatism.

* The current posting of this same news story conspicuously excises this telling detail.

Pave France respectfully asks that you carefully consider your choices, then vote Bush / Cheney. If you have time, help these good folk do their good work.

Pave France joins many of our favorite blog pals in endorsing Mr. Bush: E-Nough! (2/3rds French, 2/3rds American, all Bush), Soxblog (no doubt, this clinched the Curt Schilling endorsement, which crushed Charlie Gibson), and Iowahawk (READING CAUTIONS: No hot liquids in mid-elevation. Put the baby down. Turn off all welding equipment.), in addition to the many nice folk at Blogs for Bush.

ONGOING UPDATES: Political blogging has picked up in the last week. We will post smartly argued (even should we disagree), well written endorsements as we read them.

Jane Galt at Asymmetrical Information broke for Mr. Bush last week. She writes an intelligent brief but also reveals her sure-thing inside spotter.

Virginia Postrel at Dynamist.com evaluates the hired help and gives the big job to Mr. Bush.

The always readworthy Mark Steyn writing for The Spectator puts his job on the line with his prediction (reflecting his druthers) of a Bush win.

Our Red Friends at Commies for Kerry, for whom we make an exception here, long ago declared for Mr. Kerry. Click around, but don't be fooled by the Commie propaganda.

David Warren, another Canadian, at davidwarrenonline.com has a series of open letters to America on its election, the candidates, and the stakes involved. Read them all.

I'm an independent voter living in New Jersey. In the past, I've voted for Libertarians, Green, and other third parties. This election, the only clear choice is the re-election of Bush. I'm disheartened that half (maybe more than half) of this country appears to be in favor of the pre-9/11 attitude that cares more about "what can I get from the government", "what does France think about the US", and “if we ignore the terrorists, they won’t attack us” than actually fighting ruthless murdering terrorists who will definitely take advantage of weak Democratic leaders.

All I can do is try to encourage people to change the minds of at least one sKerry supporter. Kerry is Scary. New Jersey is a battleground and I hope we don't go for the Democraps.

More than 3 out of 4 soldiers support Bush. Support your military and re-elect President Bush. If you don't know why you are voting for Kerry - Do us all a favor and Don't Vote.

If sKerry *REALLY* had a plan - we would all know what it is.

You have convinced me, Damian. I will cast my vote for Bush tomorrow.

I would have never guessed, brb.

Preaching to the choir...

Bush is the best candidate to stand up to the French, a promoter of anti-Americanism in Europe and the world.

TTYTT, I casted my vote for Nader 4 yrs. ago. But that was because the state I live in is overwhelmingly Democratic and it was a protest vote against the two-party system.

I read stories in the newspaper that the French, and other zeropeans want Kerry to win.

I read stories in the newspaper that the terrorists want Kerry to win.

Gee, I wonder why they are thinking the same way? Same motives? You bet.

If for no other reason, that's enough for me to vote for Bush. Screw the French, Screw the terrorists.

Theo Van Gogh was just murdered today for making a film critical of Islam's treatment of women. That, friends, is life Islamofacist style.

Give me The Cowboy to stand up to such vermin.

I read stories in the newspaper that the French, and other zeropeans want Kerry to win.

Duh. I also read in the paper that half of America want Kerry to win also.

Actually, Le Figaro reported yesterday that many inside the French government who would not mind to see Bush re-elected over Kerry. You have to look a little bit beyond the hype, andy.

So we only have one uncommitted regular. Which way does the wind blow with zoomer?
These are the French tactics employed in the fight against terrorism. When prisoners are released from Guantanamo and returned to France they are spirited off to somewhere by the State never to be heard of again.
I personally don't think France is in the business of "capping" Islamics (I have a strong belief in the goodness of man), but if they were, would we ever hear about it?

So what ?
What's the best way to deal with terrorists ? The British or German one ? excerpts from the same article :

Britain, for instance, typically takes years to extradite terrorism suspects to other countries and has respected the free-speech rights of imams who praise Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader, and endorse holy war. Until three years ago, Germany did not ban membership in a foreign terrorist organization such as al Qaeda as long as it didn't operate inside the country.

..................

Bruno Le Maire, a senior adviser to the interior minister, said authorities have placed about 40 mosques under close surveillance and move quickly whenever they find a cleric preaching radicalism.

"There's not a direct link between what these imams say and terrorism, but there are indirect links that can be dangerous to democracy and the security of our country," he said. "So we have to be very careful with these people."

Other countries, including the United States, have long-standing policies that restrict law enforcement agents from infiltrating places of worship. So far, however, France's aggressive approach has not led to widespread criticism.

Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, said many Muslims support the expulsions and are just as concerned about preventing terrorist attacks as other French citizens. "We find the public arrogance of these extremists completely intolerable," he said. "Fundamentalism is on the rise. . . . This is a real danger. The state should take measures against these types of people that disrupt society, not only when there is a terrorist attack, but before."

France just need to be tought on these people

When prisoners are released from Guantanamo and returned to France they are spirited off to somewhere by the State never to be heard of again.

Copy and paste, please.

What do you know about what France does with terrorists? As a matter of fact, intel sharing on terrorism is one area where France and the US, together, are particularely active at (I've linked many posts on the subject before). As Fred points out, there is a row right now between France and the UK, France (and the US as a matter of fact) complaining about Britain's foot dragging in searching, arresting and extraditing Muslim radicals (one of them wanted by France for metro bombings in the 1980's has been held in Britain against France's demands). Germany, on the other hand, recently released some known Al Quaeda suspects, I don't hear you bitching about it.

but if they were, would we ever hear about it?

Oh you you have, papertiger. The problem is, would you even care?

(I have a strong belief in the goodness of man)

Good. Then stop being so bigoted.

Is this the article you're refering to, paper-tiggy?

In many countries of Europe, former inmates of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been relishing their freedom. In Spain, Denmark and Britain, recently released detainees have railed in public about their treatment at Guantanamo, winning sympathy from local politicians and newspapers. In Sweden, the government has agreed to help one Guantanamo veteran sue his American captors for damages.

Not so in France, where four prisoners from the U.S. naval base were arrested as soon as they arrived home in July, and haven't been heard from since. Under French law, they could remain locked up for as long as three years while authorities decide whether to put them on trial -- a legal limbo that their attorneys charge is not much different than what they faced at Guantanamo.

While other Western countries debate the proper balance between security and individual rights, France has experienced scant public dissent over tactics that would be controversial, if not illegal, in the United States and some other countries.

French counterterrorism officials say their preemptive approach has paid off, enabling them to disrupt plots before they are carried out and to prevent radical cells from forming in the first place. They said tips from informants and close cooperation with other intelligence services led them to thwart planned attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Paris, French tourist sites on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean and other targets.

"There is a reality today: Under the cover of religion there are individuals in our country preaching extremism and calling for violence," Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said at a recent meeting of Islamic leaders in Paris. "It is essential to be opposed to it together and by all means."

Washington Post, Nov.1, 2004

So after being labelled everything from "appeasers" to "terrorist supporters", France is now too harsh on terror convicts (a really troubling accusation given the Abu Grahib scandal and international complaints regarding Gantanamo)?

I used to somehow tolerate your posts but you realize how idiotic you're begining to sound, don't you?

Yawn... A tired 'Merican voter here. Tired but satisfied.

You know I never would have ever imagined that a nation of Frogs could whimper in that high of a pitch.

Loveya Dubya.

Four more years.

I also read in the paper that half of America want Kerry to win also.

Looks like it wasn't half: only 48%! Yippee.

Actually, Le Figaro reported yesterday that many inside the French government who would not mind to see Bush re-elected over Kerry.
Of course they would. Why would they want the people complaining about the French govt, and your high unemployment rate, etc. It's much eaiser to just blame the US for all world problems and let France fester away while the people look hatefully at the US, no?

You have to look a little bit beyond the hype, andy.
I think that all posters/readers of pave do look beyond the hype. Heck, since I've been reading pave I know more about France and Europe than I ever did. Looking at my bookshelf I have about 50 books on France/Europe. Books on DeGaulle, Marie Antoinette, George Mandel, the French Resistance, Vichy, General Foch, etc. I know more about your current leaders than I ever have, and politics and policies of the EU. I know and read articles in your newspapers. Yes, zoomer, I think most readers of pave (both sides) are the same. No hype, just informed positions.

yipee!

So, Zoomer - did you vote for Kerry? Oh, wait - I forgot.

BWAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHA!!

Looks like it wasn't half: only 48%!

Actually, a significant portion of those just wanted Bush to lose. I don't know the actual percentage who wanted Kerry to win, but it's much lower.

I used to somehow tolerate your posts but you realize how idiotic you're begining to sound, don't you?

No, what's idiotic is throngs of French who jeer at the Patriot Act (knowing nothing more about it than it's fashionable to jeer at), but have nary an utterance for France's more draconian policies.