NBC
“This is unacceptable behavior. This image is not representative of action by France in Mali.”
On the AFP blog, Sanogo said that nothing seemed too out of the ordinary about the image at the time.
“It was evening. Rays of light filtered through the trees and the clouds were lifted by the helicopter. It was a pretty light. I saw the soldier wearing an odd bandana and I took the photo. At the moment I didn’t find it particularly extraordinary or shocking. The soldier wasn’t posing.”
Sanogo added: “I don’t know who the soldier is, and I would have trouble recognizing him if I saw him again. I believe, and I hope, that it will be impossible to identify him.”
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Correct. It is not representative. French soldiers are not known to be scary.
Blake on January 23, 2013 at 6:45 PM
It’s now illegal to look like a badass, apparently.
John_Locke on January 23, 2013 at 6:45 PM
Islam is barbarism condensed, and muslems only respect brute naked force. The more they fear the soldiers of the West, the less fighting needs to be done.
Rebar on January 23, 2013 at 6:46 PM
There fear is that his fellow troops will surrender to him and he’ll become another Napoleon.
Flange on January 23, 2013 at 6:48 PM
A pity, it should be. Looks like they will go American hearts and minds PDQ.
BL@KBIRD on January 23, 2013 at 6:50 PM
Of course it wasn’t posed!
OldEnglish on January 23, 2013 at 6:59 PM
Damn yes!
apostic on January 23, 2013 at 7:00 PM
They’re French. They’re SUPPOSED to taunt the enemy, call their fathers hamster, tell them their mothers smell of elderberry.
Christien on January 23, 2013 at 7:01 PM
You gotta’ be effin’ kidding me.
cozmo on January 23, 2013 at 7:03 PM
PCness strikes again. I thought it was hilarious.
rbj on January 23, 2013 at 7:07 PM
Then let it be a symbol of death to enemies of freedom.
apostic on January 23, 2013 at 7:07 PM
I actually Lol’d when I saw that.
Yeah I know, a kitten died somewhere. Sorry.
CorporatePiggy on January 23, 2013 at 7:09 PM
Photoshopped.
ExpressoBold on January 23, 2013 at 7:12 PM
First thought it was a Detroit Piston. Sorry, my mistake.
TexAz on January 23, 2013 at 7:14 PM
It should be standard issue, along with Hello Kitty and pink flame stickers for their Famas.
Dusty on January 23, 2013 at 7:17 PM
I’m sure they were issued a single bullet each…
… as not to offend.
Seven Percent Solution on January 23, 2013 at 7:24 PM
I doubt Laimbeer or Mahorn speak French, but they probably would’ve been as effective.
Flange on January 23, 2013 at 7:40 PM
Quick question: what level of retardation is required for someone to not see that this photograph is obviously both posed and photoshopped?
logis on January 23, 2013 at 8:01 PM
No mention of the scary-looking black painted gun? You know, the ones that make libs shake in their boots just looking at one.
By the way, what does a standard issue French hanky look like?
Maybe his Hermes scarf is for the dress uniform.
(sarc)
c4 on January 23, 2013 at 8:07 PM
If that’s offensive I wounder what they think of Oakland Raiders fans?
MHatch on January 23, 2013 at 8:41 PM