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"france only helped the colonies to undermine the Brits."

So the french who died in that conflict didn't really die in the american colonies fighting the british?

Real Politik is the rule everywhere, not just France. Only in comic books do countries go to war for idealist motives, whichever side they are on. It doesn't change the fact that without French military help, we might have the queen on our money still. Does it matter that this is the same france the colonists helped the british kick out of the old northwest just 15-odd years before?

I am getting a number of flames for bringing up that France was critical in kicking the crown out of the colonies. I guess help doesn't count as help unless it is done to the standards of the Democrats, where it can not further any foreign policy aims, strategic interests, etc, but only be for the most inane ideal motives.

By this reasoning (helping another power in a big way isn't really help unless it doesn't help your country too), the united states might be said to have helped the following countries?

Haiti
Kosovo
tried to 'help' somalia