ANDREW SULLIVAN: Come on in: the Anglosphere is freedom’s new home

The Sunday Times ^ | February 2, 2003 | Andrew Sullivan

[MadIvan]

One of Andrew's better efforts. I quite agree.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[BOBTHENAILER]

Well thought out and very well written. Thanks for the post.

[stylin_geek]

I received yet another anti-French e-mail last week. It was part of a spoof press release. It began: “Paris — in a stunning reversal of policy, French President Jacques Chirac announced today that the French government will be supporting the war on terror after all.

“Five hundred soldiers from the elite French Surrender Battalion of the Foreign Legion are in the process of shipping out to Iraq where they will assist the Iraqi Republican Guard in their inevitable surrender to the overwhelming might of the American armed forces.

Right up there with "cheese eating surrender monkeys."

[Tacis]

In defense of France and the French way, let me say that Chirac, in one month, gets more in bribes, kicbacks, and payoffs than Rumsfeld has in his entire career! The German Prime Minister gets a million dollars at a time. So, the old Eurowhore politicians do very well for themselves, thank you!!

[LouD]

Good post, Ivan.

But - I would take exception to his comment regarding le Legion Etangere, however tongue in cheek. Whatever the shortcomings of the French (and they are many) the Legion is a fine fighting organization (maybe because it is made up of non-frogs) with a history of gallantry. While we certainly don't need their help, they would be a welcome addition.

Now if he were talking about regular French troops...

[gcruse]

A concept to keep in mind as events progress.

[clintonh8r]

Thanks for the post, Ivan. Anglosphere is an intriguing concept.

[Savage Beast]

"an institution that can only make sense to a Gallic or German mind that sees the chaotic liberty of a diverse Europe in need of false coherence and discipline."

Evidently such an institution makes sense to American "Liberals" as well. They certainly see the chaos of liberty--its great strength and the source of its power--as needing false coherence and discipline. They'll never rest until they can herd us all into identical groupthink and control everything from school curricula to the amount of water the toilet can use to the kind of tree one can or cannot plant in one's garden to the color one can paint his house to the admissions policies of private clubs to... You get the idea.

[Pokey78]

Pinging Sullivan's list.

[CatoRenasci]

Yes, the Legionnaires are fine soldiers. Unfortunately, they are led by French officers.

[Nick Thimmesch]

m

[ijcr]

All the officers are French, no matter the quality of the rank and file. The soul of St Cyr rules the legion,its motto is "s'instruisent pour vaincre" loosly translated as fight to the death...when cornered like a rat.

[xJones]

Thanks, Ivan.

Why Anglosphere? Simply because these political values — by accident of history — originated in England and subsequently Britain. But these values need not be restricted to English-speaking countries. High on the list of countries eager to join are those in formerly communist eastern Europe who value freedom more dearly for having been denied it for so long.

And thanks to the English. For all it's failings, no better system of government has arisen than that started at home and then promoted overseas by Britannia. Just look around the world and see the difference. The only failed former colonies are those that replaced the original British system with left-wingers and Marxists. Unfortunately, that is currently the biggest threat of all to the Anglosphere.

[upchuck]

Mr. Sullivan has outdone himself.

BUMP!!

[Travis McGee]

CHEEERS, MATE!

[quidnunc]

LouD wrote: But - I would take exception to his comment regarding le Legion Etangere, however tongue in cheek. Whatever the shortcomings of the French (and they are many) the Legion is a fine fighting organization (maybe because it is made up of non-frogs) with a history of gallantry.

And how do we know; what evidence have we seen that this is still true today?

They certainly didn't show us much in Desert Storm I or Somalia.

While they're good at strutting along in that 'slow march' of theirs, I haven't seen any proof of their fighting prowess during my lifetime — outside of the movies.

[Temple Owl]

Hey! I think we have a plan. Good post.

[xJones]

The French Foreign Legion must be foreign to the French because it is held to MUCH higher standards.

"THE LEGIONNAIRE'S CODE OF HONOR

1. Legionnaire : you are a volunteer serving France faithfully and with honor.

2. Every Legionnaire is your brother-at-arms, irrespective of his nationality, race or creed. You will demonstrate this by an unwavering and straight forward solidarity which must always bind together members of the same family.

3. Respectful of the Legion's traditions, honoring your superiors, discipline and comradeship are your strength, courage and loyalty your virtues.

4. Proud of your status as a legionnaire, you will display this pride, by your turnout, always impeccable, your behavior, ever worthy, though modest, your living-quarters, always tidy.

5. An elite soldier : you will train vigorously, you will maintain your weapons as if it were your most precious possession, you will keep your body in the peak of condition, always fit.

6. A mission once given to you becomes sacred to you, you will accomplish it to the end and at all costs.

7. In combat : you will act without relish of your tasks, or hatred ; you will respect the vanquished enemy and will never abandon neither your wounded nor your dead, nor will you under any circumstances surrender your arms [No wonder they need a Foreign Legion].

[LouD]

quidnunc wrote: While they're good at strutting along in that 'slow march' of theirs, I haven't seen any proof of their fighting prowess during my lifetime — outside of the movies.

Maybe I just read too much Jean Larteguy at an impressionable age, or maybe it was the nights I spent drinking with Legionnaires in Marseilles...