France fetes Bastille Day with parade (pic heavy)

[tocqueville]

PARIS - France celebrated Bastille Day on Friday with the traditional military parade of the four armed services, with President Jacques Chirac presiding over the display of pomp and fanfare for perhaps the last time.

Fighter jets streaked above the Champs-Elysee, along with AWACS surveillance and a bevy of helicopters. On the ground, soldiers in dress uniforms marched in formation, tanks rumbled and horses strutted from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, under the eye of France's top civilian and military authorities.

The army "has not lost its link with the nation," Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said. "In these difficult times, it is an indispensable element of vigilance."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060714/ap_on_re_eu/france_bastille_day;_ylt=Ak26W5kowuB95wEPrGL.ZbJ0bBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

[CottonBear]

1. Wow! That's a parade! The planes over the Arc de Triomphe are awesome.

The guys marching with axes look ready to rumble! (What service is that?)

Of course, I love the mounted horse guards! What a beautiful picture!

[tocqueville]

3. Foreign Legion nt

[CottonBear]

5. Thanks! Happy Bastille day to you!

What's the reason for the axes?

[tocqueville]

7. traditional engineers

it has to do with some heroic battle in Mexico

[CottonBear]

8. Cool! Thanks!

I have been to Paris once and I must say it is a most beautiful and magnificient city. The scale of the avenues and monuments is mind boggling! I am a land planner and a student of art history, city planning and garden design. The parks and street trees and public spaces are truly awesome in scale and beauty! The cathedrals are equisite and the Louvre was everything that I imagined it would be and more!

[Kajsa]

2. Those are great photos.

Thank you for sharing this, tocqueville.

Happy Bastille Day to you
and all our French friends, today!

This is your Independence Day!

:D :hi:

[tocqueville]

6. it is indeed ! thank you

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Good stuff.

Good reason to celebrate, too.

[Gabi Hayes]

9. Peace Parade, anyone?

sorry; I find those pictures repugnant













http://www.ccmep.org/2002_articles/Iraq/102702_pictures_of_anti.htm

[MADem]

11. I don't...sometimes, you just have to kick ass

It's never the first option, but when elites are entrenched, they aren't motivated to change the order of things.

I doubt the French would have overthrown the monarchy with a peace parade or a candlelight vigil. They'd still feel the boot of the monarchs on their necks to this day if that were the case.

The celebration is for Bastille Day, and they succeeded with might and brute force, not hearts and flowers.

[tocqueville]

12. honoring your army once a year isn't repugnant nt

[TahitiNut]

10. Vive la France! Bon Jour de la Bastille! Vive la Revolution!

[Rex]

13. Look at all that military hardware!

I love the Triumphant Arch! When does the American Empire get one!?!

[nosillies]

14. They're not just celebrating Bastille Day...

they're also celebrating my wedding anniversary! (We kind of picked the day with the holiday in mind, honestly.) Merci, Frenchies! Nous vous aimons!

[Laughing Mirror]

15. Bon 14 juillet!

Now's time to go watch the fireworks over Eiffel Tower, which will provide even more spectacular images. It's windy in Paris. Hope they don't all blow away.