Posted on 09/06/2002 5:33:20 PM PDT by zapiks44
Also, it is simply off to say that Martel defeated a "raiding party." He completely stopped Muslim expansion, because they had no answer for his massed infantry (the "wall of steel") or his stirruped-cavalry.
I personally believe that the better part of France must have been lost during their violent revolution in which they tried to emulate, but sadly betrayed, most everyting this country stands for.
While traveling in Europe 2 years ago, I took my family through France. The only rule was that we would not spend a dime there. Instead, we lunched in a very charming town in Belgium -- Brugge.
At the days end, and after explaining why my wife and I detested the French, I asked my young sons to remember that day. That if they ever pass through France they should never contribute any money to that miserable economy or its thankless people.
In general, France is a safe destination, although travelers must be aware that from time to time it is invaded by Germany. Traditionally, the French surrender immediately and, apart from a temporary shortage of Scotch whisky and increased difficulty in getting baseball scores and stock market prices, life for the American visitor generally goes on much as before. A tunnel connecting France to Britain beneath the English channel has been opened in recent years to make it easier for the French government to flee to London during future German invasions
Classic!!
LOL! I went to Paris on a tour from England while I was stationed there and bought all my souviners at the American Embassey.
At Yorktown, the vast majority of "Washington"s" Franco-American Army consisted of French soldiers. The French fleet prevented the British fleet from reinforcing or evacuating Cornwallis's Army. The French general graciously allowed Washington to accept Cornwallis's surrender. There is no way we could have won that battle by ourselves. Of course we dare not say that in our history books.
On a single day in October of 1806, Napoleon crushed the Prussian Army with two hammer blows at Jena-Auerstadt. The Prussian army simply disintegrated. Intact Fortesses surrendered to summons from cavalry troopers. Not too shabby of an accomplishment against the best trained army in the World.
The French probably fought about a hundred pitched battles during Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815, winning about 80% of all the battles. No one I know has matched that record against opponents who possessed the same technology.
If the American Army of May 1940 had faced the German Army they would have folded in 6 days not 6 weeks like the French did.
Actually, George Washington's major accomplishment in the French and Indian War was a humiliating defeat at the hands of the French.
Yep. When it rained, his stores of gunpowder got soaked, rendering them useless. Washington was forced, without an interpreter, to sign a document assigning him the blame for starting the war.
This post is filled with garden variety stupidity, but this paragraph is breathtakingly stupid.
The war that ended with the peace of Westphalia in 1648 was the Thirty Years War, not the War of Spanish succesion. In the 30 yrs war, the French Bourbons completely vanquished the Austrian/Spanish Hapsburgs and established themselves as the dominant power in Europe.
In the War of the Spanish Succession (that ended in with the peace of Utrecht in 1713) the French, despite having to fight nearly alone against almost all of Europe, ended up getting exactly what they wanted (a submissive Bourbon dynasty in Spain) while the erstwhile Spanish allies basically got screwed.
As regards Washington, France, the Seven Years War and surrender, we don't want to go there, either. Washington surrendred to the French and then confessed to war crimes in a document written in French (which he could not read.)
And finally, your analysis of the first World War... well...
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. . . . may God have mercy on your soul.
- Billy Madison
Is that monkey actually eating CHEESE!?!?! Tell me yes! Please! Sacre bleu!
If only we could convince them to stick to wine and cheese and the ancienne cuisine (and perhaps some literature, Hugo and Stendhal for choice) and lose the warfare and politics . . . .
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