A Theory (What if there’s method to the Franco-German madness??

National Review ^ | March 10, 2003 | Michael Ledeen

[Semper Paratus]

D-Day redux?

We did it twice, and we'll do it again.

[Ga Rob]

If you really think about it, it is not a far fetched theory. I mean Germany is ruled by members of Baeder-Meinhof, etc and France is....well France. What other way do they have to try and minimize us?

[expatpat]

An interesting, but tinfoil-laden, analysis. It's hard to believe that they would have this much hubris, or to give themselves and their own counties over to Islam. You'd have to believe that Chirac is a closet Islamist. Either way, though, they are playing a dangerous game.

[Paraclete]

A pretty wild hypothesis. Under any scenario, the French are nuts. I can't believe Chirac and Schroeder want to exercise this "power" they're looking for in a Muslim dominated Europe. Can their hatred for the US be that great???

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Not only Radio Free France, but how about another regime change in France (like 1944)?

Semper Fi,

[harpseal]

Clearly there is the undercurrent within Europe that Franco german cooperation should dominate the world. I am not certain that the decisions for policies that further this end is totally calculated rather it is more like an underlying theme. The vast majority of other nations supporting the USA in this including Poland, Hungary and the other former East bloc states makes total sense in the light they are using support of the USA to counterweight the local bullies of France and Germany who would view them as potential economic colonies.

[Grand Old Partisan]

The hatred of millions of Americans for our country is as great.

[Happygal]

FYI

[tictoc]

It sounds fanciful, to be sure. But the smartest people I know have been thoroughly astonished at recent French and German behavior. This theory may help understand what's going on.

An intriguing theory, to be sure.

For a possible alternative explanation (not necessarily mutually exclusive), see post #23 in this FreeRepublic thread.

[UncleSamUSA]

It is not as outrageous a theory when you recall that Chirac has a decades long friendship with Saddam and that France has been courting the Islamic world ever since the Arab Oil Boycott in the mid 1970s. There is a great deal of muslim immigration into Europe, especially France, and those countries are greatly dependent still on arab oil.

You look at the huge bias in favor of the Palestinians against Israel throughout Europe; you look at the tolerance of Islamic culture vs the villification of American and Israeli culture there; you look at the willful grandstanding France and Germany are doing now in the UN in favor of an Arab dictator; listen to Villepin's speech last week where he stated the Arab League and Muslim States support for their position (as if those organizations were somehow equivalent to NATO) and you see that there is something nefarious going on.

There has been speculation for years that the French and some other Europeans have "bought off" the Muslim terrorists just like Saudi Arabia has -- in return for no terrorism on their shores, they agree to support the radical Islamic agenda and thwart the US and its ally Israel in the Middle East.

Given the events of today and the last few weeks, how far-fetched does that really seem?

[Conspiracy Guy]

Intellectuals should never try to figure out the motives of stupid people. There is no plan, a plan would require forethought, something which has always escaped the French. One can only surmise that the Germans caught stupid from their repeated exposure to it by spending too much time in the infected country.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Given the surging Moslem population in Europe, in thirty years the Moslem nation with the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons will be France.

[shhrubbery!]

Clearly there is the undercurrent within Europe that Franco german cooperation should dominate the world.

They tried that once before with Vichy France.

In the future the names "Chirac" and "Schroeder" may be reviled as much as "Petain" and "Quisling."

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"It sounds fanciful, to be sure"

It sounds driven by pettiness and envy.......It sounds FRENCH!

[browardchad]

You'd have to believe that Chirac is a closet Islamist.

Not really: simply an opportunist. At current birthrates and immigration policies, native Europeans will soon be overcome by Muslims. Colonial arrogance leads the political elite to believe they can control, even manipulate these hordes to their advantage.

It may not be as deliberate a strategy as Ledeen describes, but what matters is the result.

[norton]

A large percent of europeans are perfectly content to have a government (any government will do) tell them what to do and how, when, and where to do it.
They get nice vacations, free medical, and their police carry automatic weapons.
They do not want to suffer the vagaries of democracy, the uncertainty of change, or the risks of action.
It's nice to know that your airplanes are subsidized, your farm goods are protected from new-world genetics, your politicians will cut a deal with any dictator with something to market, and even your language is protected by law.
Any wonder that they still fear what the Anglos are likely to do if left to their own devices?

[JohnGalt]

I think the French and Germans have figured out a safe way to get people to divest their dollars and invest in Euros. I am not sure you need a more complicated explanation than that.

[tictoc]

Let's ask the author. Mike, what do you think about the questions I raise here?

[Stultis]

Under any scenario, the French are nuts.

Yeah, nuts like a fox! Er, uh, I mean, nuts like a squirrel! ...never mind.