Posted on 02/16/2005 1:06:24 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
Edited on 02/16/2005 1:22:13 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
CNN liberal girly-man Bruce Morton just completed a segment on Inside Politics the point of which was to encourage Americans to stop boycotting French products.
His pitch came in the course of a segment demonstrating - through poll results and conciliatory remarks by Condi Rice - that American attitudes toward France are thawing.
He concluded his piece, standing at a bar with many bottles of (presumably French) wine in evidence, by instructing us "so have a glass of French wine, or eat a French fry - they're good!"
Thanks, Brucie, but when it comes to my personal economic foreign policy, I'll take guidance from my own principles, not from over-the-hill liberal hacks like you.
You mean the French make wine too?
Sorry,
Still boycotting.
BTW the Aussies make a fine drop these days as do the Chileans.
California isgetting there, but not quite yet at reasonable prices.
Hi ho.
Oh BS! Bruce Morton is a girly man.
They sure make plenty of whine.
The Poles got into this with us and they stuck by us, Besides, eventually, we'll go home too. The Polish people are our friends and they are a brave bunch.
The french make wine?
Heck, I'm still boycotting CNN and according to the ratings, so is everyone else. As for the french, pigs still aren't flying and hell hasn't frozen over.
Been maintaining my personal boycott of Frenchie scum products since 1986, when they made our England based bombers fly all the way around the Iberian penisula during the Lybia raid.
They can rot in the stomachs of camels as far as I'm concerned.
The French make wine?
It's great sport.
By the way, go home.
Believe it or not, it costs the same here. Same with Slovenian wine (Slovenia being the birthplace of Zinfandel).
Not a very convincing reply, I'm afraid... Would you be at your wits' end ?
BTW, I AM home.
My thoughts exactly.
Liberal Media
"Trade Deficit = BAD"
"Buy French = GOOD"
Make up your minds!
I noticed you cut off the part about friendship and loyalty. Since I was talking about the oil for food program......but that is ok, we can talk about real French made new weapons discovered in Iraq that were not suppose to be there because of the embargo. Unlike the French it does not look like we sold weapons to a country that was under a UN embargo.
Most of the weapons we sell to countries like these are a stripped down version easily taken out (we had also sold Iraq weapons before the 1st Gulf war just like you so they could defend themselves against Iran who was receiving Russian weapons of equal value(remember a little thing called the cold war?), they kept Iran from defeating them but were of no help when the world came knocking). The AWACS is obvious why it was sold nor was it completely up to date if I remember. The Egypt tanks while making Egypt feel powerful does not help them very much against Israel(we are not about to put Israel at risk) nor are they going to be a threat to Europe or America. Look at how fast Saddam's were taken out. Same with helicopters in China, which I am sure did not come with all of the up to date technology. As for F-16's to Pakistan, how many of Saddam's planes got off the ground? The Planes we sold to Canada could not even communicate properly with us the last time we did a mission together.
When we start supplying a country with weapons and taking money from them during a world embargo under the guise of oil for food program that was set up to help the Iraqi people not enrich wealthy counties,we will talk, especially if we also look down our noses at you and do our dammed best to stop you trying to take out the dictator, free a people and defend the world and your own country from a perceived threat that all have agreed on is there, after 3,000 of your citizens in France have been murdered for just going to work. Just so that we can hide our activities from the world or perhaps keep the situation as it is so that our leaders can keep that pile of money building up or maybe we did not want your influence in the middle east because we had prepositioned ourselves to have great influence over the 2nd or 3rd largest producer of oil because we positioned ourselves to be their best friend during their time of crisis, because we are of course setting ourselves up to be the next superpower and we for some reason can not do that and be your still be your friend.
I am sorry if this is harsh, but what has been done by France to us is harsh and despite what is written in the European press about Americans, we are not stupid, and yes we do read those articles. Are we just to forget it and buy French products and pretend you have been our friend when your leaders stab us in the back and deride our president at every opportunity??? Or do we buy Austrailian wines and thank a true friend?
This is not a personal attack from me to you, but from me to your leaders and what they have done and said about everything we do.
Cheese-eating Froggy Surrender Chimps - PILE ON (((PING)))!!
Just a suggestion.
Thought you'd enjoy this:
- Gallic Wars
- Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.
- Hundred Years War
- Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.
- Italian Wars
- Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.
- Wars of Religion
- France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots
- Thirty Years War
- France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.
- War of Revolution
- Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.
- The Dutch War
- Tied
- War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War
- Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.
- War of the Spanish Succession
- Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.
- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."
- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.
- The Napoleonic Wars
- Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.
- The Franco-Prussian War
- Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.
- World War I
- Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.
- World War II
- Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.
- War in Indochina
- Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu
- Algerian Rebellion
- Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.
- War on Terrorism
- France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.
The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."
Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal: "They're there when they need you."
With only an hour and a half of research, Jonathan Duczkowski provided the following losses:
Norse invasions, 841-911.
After having their way with the French for 70 years, the Norse are bribed by a French King named Charles the Simple (really!) who gave them Normandy in return for peace. Normans proceed to become just about the only positive military bonus in France's [favour] for next 500 years.
Mexico, 1863-1864.
France attempts to take advantage of Mexico's weakness following its thorough thrashing by the U.S. 20 years earlier ("Halls of Montezuma"). Not surprisingly, the only unit to distinguish itself is the French Foreign Legion (consisting of, by definition, non-Frenchmen). Booted out of the country a little over a year after arrival.
Panama jungles 1881-1890.
No one but nature to fight, France still loses; canal is eventually built by the U.S. 1904-1914.
Napoleonic Wars.
Should be noted that the Grand Armee was largely (~%50) composed of non-Frenchmen after 1804 or so. Mainly disgruntled minorities and anti-monarchists. Not surprisingly, these performed better than the French on many occasions.
Haiti, 1791-1804.
French defeated by rebellion after sacrificing 4,000 Poles to yellow fever. Shows another rule of French warfare; when in doubt, send an ally.
India, 1673-1813.
British were far more charming then French, ended up victors. Therefore the British are well known for their tea, and the French for their whine (er, wine...). Ensures 200 years of bad teeth in England.
Barbary Wars, middle ages-1830.
Pirates in North Africa continually harass European shipping in Meditteranean. France's solution: pay them to leave us alone. America's solution: kick their asses ("the Shores of Tripoli"). [America's] first overseas victories, won 1801-1815.
1798-1801, Quasi-War with U.S.
French privateers (semi-legal pirates) attack U.S. shipping. U.S. fights France at sea for 3 years; French eventually cave; sets precedent for next 200 years of Franco-American relations.
Moors in Spain, late 700s-early 800s.
Even with Charlemagne leading them against an enemy living in a hostile land, French are unable to make much progress. Hide behind Pyrennes until the modern day.
French-on-French losses (probably should be counted as victories too, just to be fair):
1208: Albigenses Crusade, French massacared by French.
When asked how to differentiate a heretic from the faithful, response was "Kill them all. God will know His own." Lesson: French are badasses when fighting unarmed men, women and children.
St. Bartholomew Day Massacre, August 24, 1572.
Once again, French-on-French slaughter.
Third Crusade.
Philip Augustus of France throws hissy-fit, leaves Crusade for Richard the Lion Heart to finish.
Seventh Crusade.
St. Louis of France leads Crusade to Egypt. Resoundingly crushed.
[Eighth] Crusade.
St. Louis back in action, this time in Tunis. See Seventh Crusade.
Also should be noted that France attempted to hide behind the Maginot line, sticking their head in the sand and pretending that the Germans would enter France that way. By doing so, the Germans would have been breaking with their traditional route of invading France, entering through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, etc.). French ignored this though, and put all their effort into these defenses.
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