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French Have Much to be Humble About
The Sydney Morning Herald ^
| June 1, 2004
| Gerard Henderson
Posted on 05/31/2004 9:36:11 AM PDT by quidnunc
The republic's inglorious military history leaves it on the wrong side of debate about proper use of force
Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy in north-west France, which began the liberation of much of Western Europe from Nazi Germany rule. The US President, George Bush, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will be present at the commemoration. The Prime Minister, John Howard, will have a minor role (about 3000 Australians were involved in the invasion of France, primarily as air crew).
Naturally, France will be represented on June 6 by its President, Jacques Chirac. For the first time, the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has been invited to a D-Day commemoration.
At a time when the "give-peace-a-chance" mantra is again prevalent in the land, it is worth recording that Adolf Hitler's regime was crushed by military force and that the D-Day landings were led by the Americans and the British. No member of any pacifist society, nor any member of any international organisation, ever troubled Hitler's Reich. What's more, despite Charles de Gaulle's attempt to rewrite history, the French played only a small part in their nation's liberation in 1944 and 1945.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: cheeseeating; dday; surrendermonkeys
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To: quidnunc
Why on earth were we even fighting the Germans? We should have just dealt with the Japanese because they attacked us first. By fighting the Germans in Europe with a small coalition,(Germans, Italians and French didn't care to help much), mainly the British, Americans, Australians, Canadians were the only ones fighting.
We stretched ouselves too thin. We had so many set backs and foul ups in that war. We lost all those lives when we could have saved hundreds of thousands by only taking on the Japanese.
I think FDR had some kind of personal vendeta against Hitler or Britain just used its American protector to do its bidding in Europe because it couldn't do it on its own.
21
posted on
05/31/2004 2:59:48 PM PDT
by
normy
(Just cause you think you can box, doesn't mean you're ready to climb in the ring with Ali.)
To: Leisler
Bratwurst, knockwurst, leberwurst?Not sure. Probably the same given to the French in WWII.
22
posted on
05/31/2004 3:05:36 PM PDT
by
Thumper1960
("Islam" is a cult, led by psychopaths and dedicated to destruction as a way of life.)
To: normy
"Why on earth were we even fighting the Germans?"
It could have something to do with the fact that they declared war on us. Seriously though, the concentration camps were O.K. with you?
23
posted on
05/31/2004 3:19:45 PM PDT
by
zygoat
To: normy
normy wrote:
Why on earth were we even fighting the Germans?Because Hitler declared war on us four days after Pearl Harbor.
24
posted on
05/31/2004 3:20:23 PM PDT
by
quidnunc
(Omnis Gaul delenda est)
To: quidnunc; zygoat
Sorry boys I coulda sworn I put a < /sarcasm> after that. Just trying to make a point of how people speak of our involvement in Iraq.
25
posted on
05/31/2004 7:25:37 PM PDT
by
normy
(Just cause you think you can box, doesn't mean you're ready to climb in the ring with Ali.)
To: Leisler
The French are the classical definition of Liberals--
They bite the hand which feeds it,
And lick the boot which kicks it.
26
posted on
05/31/2004 7:46:09 PM PDT
by
Vigilanteman
(crime would drop like a sprung trapdoor if we brought back good old-fashioned hangings)
To: quidnunc
To: normy
Why on earth were we even fighting the Germans?Because Germany declared war on us.
28
posted on
06/01/2004 1:55:05 PM PDT
by
jalisco555
("The right to bear weapons is the right to be free" - A. E. Van Vogt)
To: jalisco555
29
posted on
06/01/2004 2:31:38 PM PDT
by
normy
(Just cause you think you can box, doesn't mean you're ready to climb in the ring with Ali.)
To: normy
Thanks. I probably should have realized it was sarcasm anyway.
30
posted on
06/02/2004 3:30:59 AM PDT
by
jalisco555
("The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." W. B. Yeats)
To: jalisco555
31
posted on
06/02/2004 4:46:15 AM PDT
by
normy
(Just cause you think you can box, doesn't mean you're ready to climb in the ring with Ali.)
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