Ah, the AFP and its baffling headlines. We are not sure what in the report below constitutes the headlined caution. Everyone appears quite jumpy.

FRANCE REACTS CAUTIOUSLY TO VIDEOTAPED THREAT

DUBAI September 14, 2006 (AFP) - A radical Algerian Islamist group that has singled out France as its sworn enemy [ennemi numéro un] Thursday officially placed itself at al-Qaeda's orders, vowing to support the terror network's war on "crusaders" worldwide.

The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) [Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat], an armed movement which has long been linked to Al-Qaeda, formally pledged allegiance to the network's chief Osama bin Laden in a statement released online.

"Our soldiers are at his call so that he may strike who and where he likes," said a text signed by the group's leader Abu Mossaab Abdelwadud, who also vowed to pursue the group's "jihad" or holy war against the Algerian authorities.

... [Bin Laden's right-hand man Ayman] al-Zawahiri called on the GSPC to step up its attacks against France, the United States and their allies.

"We pray to God that they will be a thorn in the side of the American and French crusaders and their allies," he said.

DO NOT STARE AT THE TERROR KNOB!*
They Hate You. They Will Kill You.

... France lifted its terrorism alert level to "red", the third highest on a four-colour scale, after last year's bombings in London.

French terrorism analyst Roland Jacquard said the al-Qaeda recording amounted to a "fatwa, a religious order against France" — and as such should be taken seriously. ... Anne Guidicelli, head of France's Terrorist security consultancy, said Zawahiri was "making official what was an organic link. ... He used an Arab term that means 'integrate'. The GSPC can now draw on the organisation's means. But it is especially al-Qaeda that needs the Algerian networks in Europe." For another security source, "this message makes official the fact that the GSPC is an armed branch of Al-Qaeda designed to strike in France. What is worrying is that the voice of Al-Qaeda's leaders carries a lot of weight with the jihadists. It can spur them into action. So that reinforces the threat and the concern."

... [Sarko:] "The terrorist threat against France is high and permanent and we know that we have to show absolute vigilance."

* Why does no one ever mention Mr. Zawahiri's Terror Knob? It is not given as a distinguishing physical feature at the FBI's Most Wanted ("Scars and Marks: None known"). Does the FBI not wish to give offense to Mr. Zawahiri? The Terror Knob is equally unknown at Rewards For Justice ("Characterisitics: Unknown"). Do they fear being impolite?

What is the Terror Knob? Apparently it is a massive callus from years of vigorous prostration, of Mr. Zawahiri slamming his head into the prayer rug doing salat.

PFFT (What is this?): More terror talk 4 | Rayonnement français 0