Premature Capitulation

This just in:

French authorities say a shadowy group that had threatened to bomb the country’s railway system unless authorities pay a huge ransom announced a suspension of its plans, but warned it will act later.

Officials said Thursday that the group, calling itself AZF, made the announcement in letters sent to the Interior Ministry and President Jacques Chirac.

Apparently, the French offer to turn over most of the country to AZF and move the capital to Vichy was, according to an AZF spokesman, “a little much.” He added, “We just wanted some cash, ya know?”