PARIS, July 13: This year’s Bastille Day parade will not include one exhibit that US authorities had hoped would be accorded a place of honour -- a shiny bright 9-meter long firetruck belonging to the fire department of the city of New York.
But, “enough is enough,” say sources at the Elysee Palace who claim they’ve been besieged by phone calls from the highest levels of the United States government demanding that the truck — which took part in rescue efforts during Sept 11 attack on the World Trade Center — be allowed to roll down the world’s most beautiful avenue alongside the tanks, jeeps and other military vehicles that usually have their place in the annual July 14th event.