Man, spare me nothing.
You'd be surprised at how little I have people talking about their relatives dying on a Normandy beach - usually I get comments about my supposed lack of hygiene and my supposed anti-semitism. So, to avoid any misunderstanding here, let me stress out that I respect and honor those who fought to snatch a whole continent from the Nazi fangs. The 300,000 US soldiers who died from Italy to France to Germany deserve every mark of respect, since what they accomplished was truly astounding in terms of personal sacrifices.
I'll just say that the 250,000 French soldiers who died fighting the same enemy might be extended the same courtesy, along with each and every Allied soldier and sailor. From 1940 onward, one French citizen was killed by the Germans every two hours for acts of sabotage, either shot in a road ditch or burnt in an extermination camp, and I'd like them to get the respect their killers almost never paid them.
As for de Villepin, I'd be glad to see him ousted of public office, rolled in tar and feathers, and sent packing for the country of his choice. He's exactly what I despise on politicians in general and ours in particular. He was so dismal a Foreign Minister that I'd gladly charge him of "intelligence with the enemy" - but it would be the first time he'd be accused of intelligence.
I particularly hold him responsible not only for widening the transatlantic rift, but for causing the death of French soldiers and Ivorian civilians when he botched up the situation there beyond all recognition.
The Oil for Food scam : I won't comment on it, since I don't know much about it yet, except the names of the two French politicans that were on the list of Saddam's "special donations". I am glad neither of them is a Government member, but I have as little respect for them as I have to good ol' Dominique, and I'd like nothing more than to see them extradited to Iraq to face some serious charges.
You see, I don't believe in forgetting crimes and forgiving criminals, so you won't see them picket in front of the US embassy asking for some clemency. Either they've done it, and they get whatever sentence is relevant (on top of being stripped of their mandates here), or they didn't do it, and their innocence must be publicly acknowledged as befits a normal justicial system.
As for following Chirac into battle, I'll just say that should it come to that, I would do it. I would do it as I would follow any democratically elected President in times of war, regardless of my personal opinions of the man. In times of war, the President is the commander-in-chief, and it stops at that. Following him in times of peace, though, is an entirely different matter, and I wholeheartedly wish he'll be trodden under by Sarkozy in 2007, with all judicial consequences to him and his wife.
So believe me, if I had it my way, neither you nor your leaders wouldn't have much left to do to Chirac and especially to de Villepin.
LOL. I'm not surpised that we basically agree. FReepers of ANY PERSUASION don't tolerate fools lightly.
Please accept my apology for any personal comments made by my sister and brother FReepers. THAT's why I made certain you knew my comments were directed to your leaders and not you personally. But . . . as you know . . . we're a passionate lot here at Free Republic.
I'd also much rather debate someone who loves their country as I love mine. I didn't realize I was so patriotic until 9-11-2001 . . . then I suddenly realized it was our "supposed" friends who could do more damage to us than our "professed" enemies. We've never lost a war yet that the American public PUBLICLY supported so I knew we wouldn't lose this one.
Everytime I say that people always come back with . . . What about Vietnam? I counter with this . . . the Liberals, then as now, had control of the Mainstream Media. But we didn't have the avenues to battle back then like we do now. I'm convinced the majority of the American populace silently supported our efforts in Vietnam . . . but we had no way of countering the lies told by the likes of Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.
Now we do. Dan Rather lies now and FReepers pounce on him in minutes . . . and prove him to be the liar he is in hours.
But there were no penalties to be paid when the liberals lied in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
THAT is why my claim still holds. Us patriotic conservatives had no avenues to counter the liberal drivel . . . so the traitors wailed on for weeks, then months, then, finally, years and their constant, never-ending drumbeat of traitorous BS finally forced Congress to completely sell-out the South Vietnamese after Nixon resigned. At least 2,500,000 South Vietnamese lost their lives because of this treachery.
We won't let that happen again.
THAT's why I wasn't concerned about our enemies. I knew we would take care of them. But France's and Germany's and the other Euro-weasel's actions after 9-11 were maddening as hell. I discovered I'd been naive about the Euro-attitudes where we were concerned. Anti-Americanism in European circles was already mature before I even knew it existed.
But they too will eventually be made to pay for their disloyalty.
People the world over can call us arrogant if they wish . . . but the U.S. is the most benevolent country the world has ever known.
Why? Because we're a huge melting pot and every nationality on Earth is represented in our populace. And every one of these "clicks" is afforded the opportunity to have their voices heard.
We're oftentimes called "insensitive" to those of other race, culture, or religion . . . yet those of varied backgrounds and beliefs seem to blend together much easier here than anywhere else on Earth. I'll even go so far as to suggest this . . . no other country or people on Earth are MORE TOLERANT of those of the Muslim faith than are we Americans.
Again . . . why? Because the common thread that has allowed us to prosper and grow is our Christian roots. Christians by definition are more accepting of those who differ from them.
The liberals have tried for decades and decades to shape us into a secular society . . . and I've been worried for decades that they might be successful. But, knock on wood, I think the tide is starting to turn against them. The internet is empowering us conservatives. The internet allows us to by-pass those who would muffle our message. The internet allows us to organize and strike back like never before.
I'm glad you're a FReeper, Atlantic Friend. I'm glad you're one of us. I just wish your leaders had your common sense. Choosing to take sides with those who would harm us is not only stupid . . . it's dangerous. Europeans for the most part don't realize what 9-11 did to me and my countrymen. But it's really very simple. We were the sleeping Giant . . . but not anymore. We're mad as hell and we're not taking the abuse that's been heaped on for decades any longer.
The terrorists have declared war on us. We'll see to it that they have more than they can handle and any country who stands against us will be dealt with accordingly.
Right is on our side . . . and might is our weapon.