SOUTH PACIFIC: MURUROA: FOREIGN LEGION скачать в хорошем качестве

SOUTH PACIFIC: MURUROA: FOREIGN LEGION

(16 Jul 1995) Eng/French/Nat Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific remains one of France's most isolated outposts. It's also home to soldiers from France's legendary elite force, the Foreign Legion. The security of this nuclear testing site has been paramount for France. Along with a 12-mile exclusion zone patrolled by the navy, responsibility to guard France's most secretive military soil has fallen to the Foreign Legion. Dawn over Mururoa Atoll, home to the 5th battalion of the French Foreign Legion, guardians for over 30 years of France's Pacific nuclear test sites. These men are receiving medals in recognition of their tour of duty guarding the atoll. The legion helped build the atoll's infrastructure and are based here all year round. In May next year, after eight more tests, France claims its nuclear testing programme will be complete. Mururoa will then become redundant as a test site. The atoll will be demilitarised and turned over to civilian use. The Foreign Legion will contribute to this transition. The legion was formed in 1831 and has played a crucial role in fighting France's foreign wars. Its reputation as a superior and sometimes ruthless fighting machine is immortalised in such films as "Beau Geste" and "March or Die." Its attraction for soldiers of all nationalities has remained strong for 150 years. But its officers are always French. SOUNDBITE: French The motivations of our legionnaires to enlist in the Foreign Legion are numerous and I will say there are as many reasons as there are legionnaires. It could be the love of arms, the desire to be a professional soldier, or it could be the break-up of a relationship, or financial problems. All of these are valid reasons to join the Foreign Legion. SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Duronsoy, commanding officer 5th Battalion French Foreign Legion. However traditional dreams of fighting in far off lands like Algeria or IndoChina have doubtless brought many to the legion. Some got itchy feet biding their time in their own national armies. SOUNDBITE: I spent six years in the Australian army. But I got out because in Australia you don't go anywhere, you just stay in Australia. So I went over to England to join the English army, but I had to wait four months for a National Insurance number and so I got sick of waiting and hopped over to France and joined up. SUPER CAPTION: Sergeant Beaumont, Australian Traditional sentiment is still found in the legionnaires ranks at Mururoa. An ex-marine from California doesn't want to talk about his past or give his name. His only life now is the legion. SOUNDBITE: Everyone has to have a reason for coming here. The reasons are as different as there are as many in the legion. I think you have to have a certain amount of fortitude and inner strength to make it. SUPER CAPTION: Foreign Legionnaire When the tests end in May and the atoll's transition to a civilian community are complete the legion's long tour of duty at Mururoa will finally be at an end. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...