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French prepare for the worst

The French capital has revamped its emergency plans following the July 7 bombings of London`s transit system, newspapers said on Wednesday. Instead of preparing for a single attack, the new contingency plan for Paris assumes a spate of blasts similar to the four that killed more than 50 people in London. Although France opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, officials believe the nation remains a target because it shares intelligence with the United States and Britain, Washington`s main military ally in Iraq. When government officials were asked, they declined to answer whether the treatment of Muslim minorities and immigrants in France would lead some to take up terrorism in frustration. Some commentators have noted that as France is quick to blame intelligence sharing with the United States and Britain as a possible reason for attacks against the country or capital and completely ignores the fact that Britain?s July 7 attackers were home-grown Britons, the country may be setting itself up for a surprise when an attack does happen carried out by one or another of the many Arab and Muslims residing in the country, they say.