[Virginia Ridgerunner]

All kidding aside, I really do respect individual French soldiers. They've put up with a lot of crap ever since Waterloo and have fought bravely in subsequent wars despite the fact that their senior commanders and political leaders are jackasses of the lowest sort.

The horrendous casualties they sustained during World War I attest to that...

[jongaltsr]

When the landed I heard one of the soldiers (?) say -
aLaisse le baiser les ânes du Hesbolla de sorte que nous puissions dater leurs femmes.

[ConservaTexan]

Keep the bleach handy for when we need to get rid of the blue and red on these flags!

[Boiler Plate]

Those brutish americans and their nasty steel ships.

[shield]

The French are coming...what a joke...Great Warriors from a completely neutered country.

[Archytekt]

moments later.......

[ZULU]

"Lafayette, we are here!!"

[Prysson]

We will hide over there.

[vox_freedom]

Who brought the Grey Poupon?

[fishtank]

[diamond6]

Too funny... what a joke!!!

[taxesareforever]

I thought this was supposed to be a U.N. force. Where's the blue hats?

[deroberst]

When the French talk about "Net Centric Warfare" they mean that they can surrender via email.

[Junior]

Maybe those guys will accept our surrender...

[MinuteGal]

"There's the nude beach. Full speed ahead. Fifi, Mimi, Chou-Chou....Cherie, Gigi, Frou Frou......oh mon dieu, it's only Ali, Ali, Ali........FULL AROUND"

Leni

[Liberty Valance]

Wait! Back up!
We forgot the accordian player!

[ryan71]

Look, over there, that is the hill upon which we will retreat when the order is given.

[FortWorthPatriot]

"Heerreee we come to save the daaaaayyyyyy!"

[LachlanMinnesota]

We ten muskateers, as though we were with the strength of 2000!

Chapter 2.

...

[RSmithOpt]

Sadly, most of today's French 'leaders' have forgotten: Dien Bien Phu....The result of the battle left 6,000 French soldiers dead and another 10,000 as prisoners of war, sparked the end of France's colonial presence in Indochina and eventually inspired other French possessions to seek their own independence.

The onset of the French to underplanned and underestimate the capabilities of their enemies.

By Jan. 26, 1954, the Viet Minh had built a camouflaged road that they used to ferry troops, anti-aircraft guns and other weapons to the area for what was planned as a two-day, three-night blitz attack.

"The trenches and the artillery positions were so well camouflaged that when the attack started on March 13, the French were taken completely by surprise," Vinh said. "It took only three days to overrun the outposts."

By April 25, the airstrips were completely isolated. The French aircraft could not land, and reinforcements and supplies were dropped by parachute.

"But the French planes could not fly low because of our anti-aircraft fire," which claimed 62 aircraft, Vinh said. "Dropping from high, a lot of the supplies ended up with our troops. We could enjoy chocolates and other sweets.

The final assault began the night of May 6. One ton of explosives killed an entire company of French soldiers. Russian multiple rocket launchers pounded the base. "The next morning, we heard a lot of French soldiers crying," Vinh said. "Finally, we saw some white flags around 3 p.m. At first, we thought it was a trick, and I told the soldiers to tell their colleagues to come out. When they did, we knew it was over."

The chairman of the local Dien Bien Phu veterans association, 68-year-old Luong Dinh Chinh, spent 36 days with other Viet Minh soldiers trying to capture from the French a heavily defended hill known as A1. "I have a very deep feeling about the anniversary as I miss my friends who fought and were sacrificed here," he said. Chinh, who still carries a piece of shrapnel lodged between his eyes. said: "It was very joyful that day when I saw the French with a white flag."

Excerpts sourced from (of all places):

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/07/vietnam/

Arrogance and ignorance.... 2 traits that'll get you killed every time.