I have an e-mail pal who is a journalist currently assigned to Paris. He got there to cover the terrorist attacks and it has become his beat. As part of a rather long e-mail he sent me the following which I have edited for brevity. It is a description of entering the American Embassy.: First, there are three checkpoints before entering the courtyard. Next come concrete caissons which are spaced five feet apart which is the first line of defense. Next are the French police, three pairs standing abreast of their squad cars which are parked directly before the Embassy gates. They all carry sub-machine guns.Next there is a watch house which is posted with a Marine security detachment. The streets are cordoned off for four blocks in every direction and there are snipers stationed on nearby rooftops. Now, who would like to tell me that we're not at war?