“I still remember France refusing us air rights for our bombers when we struck back at Libya for terrorists bombings of bars and discos that killed American soldiers”
Lest we forget; the French sided with the Nazis during the early years of WWII. Then, as it became apparent that the Allies were going to win they switched sides and joined the Allie war effort. Oh, almost forgot; just prior to the Normandy invasion Ike approached DeGaulle and requested that he send a msg to the French Partisans that the invasion was eminent and to create as much havoc as possible. DeGaulle agreed on the stipulation that he and his troops would be allowed to lead the parade into Paris upon its liberation. Ike, the consumate diplomat, agreed.
France wanted neutrality in WWII; when we invaded French North Africa in 1942 many Americans were killed by French troops protecting that neutrality. We offered De Gaulle everything because he would go along with the “liberation” theme (instead of “invasion”). The French remembered, and quickly developed their own nuclear arsenal - and the Germans (and Americans) haven’t been back since.