[...] Just because the French military don’t go around rampaging like amoks when they are deployed like your friends are capable of doing or have done, i.e., incapable of identifying friends from foe, doesn’t mean that political will is lacking. [...]

It is extraordinary that because our government and our military (or the French in general) don’t behave like the Americans do as when they impress media with their so-called “bravoura”, they interpret our own ‘un-amok’ or non-boisterous way of behaving outside a theater of war as being surrender monkeys. Remember when Bush pompously claimed  before the whole world aboard an A/C “mission accomplished?
— the French are fielded everywhere and anywhere they are needed. That’s political will. In Kosovo, who do you think provided the ground ops so your folks could come in and bomb and awe (yet Americans have been feted while the French took backstage)? The French! [...]
The French should perhaps stop remaining silently in the background when that happens and behave as pompously as their American colleagues???
[...] During the Russian Occupation of Afghanistan, while your American leader Bush was dealing with the Talebans, who was actually supporting, financing, providing training to the the Northern Alliance to battle their Russian occupiers? France! And that’s great political will. And who the frig did he turn to when he couldn’t attack both Iraqi and Afghan fronts knowing that if he did, he would fail? He begged NATO to take over and sought France’s help big time. France supported the request up to UN level (without France’s political will, it wouldn’t have been possible.) [...]
In Afghanistan today, French Air Force and US Air Force work side by side bombing and ‘aweing’ the enemy, yet it’s only the US Air Force that receives public commendation. It is unfortunate that the American public take our being discreet there as a sign of French cowardice. It shows the breadth and depth, or lack thereof, of the average American knowledge of current events.

Sadly, bullies find such ignoble actions meritorious.

As I’ve said in the other post, I don’t believe, but not at all, that It is a measure of courage or intelligence for a government and a people who have at their command an omnipotent military poke holes on every square foot of land in a third world country and cause devastation and misery to its already suffering population. However, I do believe it takes immense courage and great intelligence NOT TO DO something as odious and ignoble as that.

(And for that we are called cowards?)

We invaded them back in Louis XIV’s time, the Germans surrendered in four weeks when Napoleon invaded them, and we also invaded Germany in WWI, and once during the interval between WWI and WWII when we occupied the Rhuhr region.

“we went and occupied several countries in the middle east for it. We hung Iraq’s dictator, killed his sons, permanently imprisoned those caught and tried and did so at the further expense of more than over 4,000 additional American lives.”

That’s called throwing punches in the dark.

4,000 American lives? That’s dandy. 100,000 Frenchmen DIED and another 200,000 were wounded during the six weeks of the Battle of France.

And also, what merit is there in invading such a weak and worthless country? The Iraqis didn’t even put up a fight! Hey, tell you what — if we Frenchmen were to invade Burkina Faso and kill a whole lot of people, would we be any better?!?

Anyway, my comparison deals with the hurt caused society and nation by each historical event. 9/11 hurt America deeply, and so did the 1940 “armistice” by Marshall Pétain given the ensuing occupation and its trail of misery.

Insofar as America’s response to 9/11, please explain to us how Saudi terrorists protected by Pakistanis and Talibans led to the invasion and occupation of Irak and a stalemate in Afghanistan ?

Its a sad truth, and very unfortunate, but in the end, the french just need to learn a little more politeness and put aside their differences and arrogance. Granted that may just be my perception, but perception is what it is.

Comparing the french occupancy to 9/11 is not even possible, yes we were attacked by 21 total identified hijackers, and its also true that as a result we went and occupied several countries in the middle east for it. We hung Iraq’s dictator, killed his sons, permanently imprisoned those caught and tried and did so at the further expense of more than over 4,000 additional American lives. France invaded Germany when?

I am beginning to think that French-bashing was almost necessary — as the puncture of a bubo on a plague-infested man. There was too much “bashing potential” built up, with all the Dennis Miller and whatnot.

Precisely, the other day, I saw an old post from a forum in… 2002, saying something like the French were unhappy and would surrender en masse.

So much for the Iraq war… I think it was just a catalyst, but that French Bashing has deeper, less tangible reasons.

Not sure what the pipes pick up on the web. They scour sites for “surrender monkey” among other keywords. Didn’t get a chance to investigate.

On another note, here’s a reddit thread on some ridiculous caffeine drink that offers French American Vanilla …

” The US were scared to death by three or four towelheads.”

So very true — I like that!

But still, I guess 9-11 was a new experience to you; one of the first few times Americans get bombed on their home turf, I guess it’s normal for you to crap your pants. We French have been bombed on our home turf, and have had the fighting at our doorstep for hundreds of years.

Little women? After 9/11 the US overreacted like a hysterical adolescent girl, that’s what.

Do you know how many French “little women” paid for their lives during WW2, Will Ross (600 000)? Oh and while you’re in France, I suggest you visit the battlefields of WW1 and try to understand what a devastating war at home and 1.5 million dead soldiers really means. 

wonderful bit of history — thanks!