[twoblink]

If planes crashed into and took down the Eiffel Tower a la 9/11 scenerio, what do you think France's response would be?

[DeltaElite]

How do you think I voted? :neener:

[Navy joe]

You know, I bet they'd level the place that did it. Further, I suspect that they wouldn't wait for us to tell them how to use their military. This current crap isn't about opposing war, it is about small unimportant nations trying to run the world. Some small nation needs to be run off the permanent member island, and it ain't Britain.

[Mizzoutiger]

Cheese... the ultimate comfort food (http://www.acepilots.com/ww2/frenchman.jpg)

[Hkmp5sd]

They would do the same thing they did in WWII. They would surrender to the aggressor and then use their troops to protect that aggressor by shooting at US and UK troops when we come to bail them out yet again.

[twoblink]

Navy joe,

if what you say is true, then they are hypocrites as well as surrender monkeys.

[voilsb]

I honestly don't think they'd do much. they'd probably do what they could to defend against a similar attack again, but I honestly doubt they'd go on the offensive.

[Frohickey]

They would probably ban airplanes from flying within 10 miles of Paris, or some other tall buildings.

[Preacherman]

You know, I bet they'd level the place that did it. Further, I suspect that they wouldn't wait for us to tell them how to use their military.Navyjoe, you're only half right... They'd flatten the place, all right, but they'd have to use the Foreign Legion to do it!!! Foreigners keeping France safe again...

[Blackhawk]

Never happen. Half of Paris is filled with terrorists and the other half supports them.

[trooper]

Think of Indochina...
Think of Algeria...
Think of Auckland... (I guess it was there where they sunk that Greenpeace ship)

They'd flatten the place.

[pax]

They would probably establish strict flight rules around their national buildings, and nationalize their airport screeners, and implement increased security screenings at the airports, and make nail clippers illegal to bring onboard an airplane.

Stuff like that.

pax

This government holds the view that any general bombing of an extensive area wherein there resides a large population engaged in peaceful pursuits is unwarranted and contrary to the principles of law and humanity. -- U. S. government, 1937, responding to the Japanese bombing of Nanking

[Navy joe]

Pax, that is funny stuff. Oh wait, we tried that here, maybe not so funny.

I do tend to agree, Paris is such a North African terrorist destination/regular old Iraqi lovin' frenchman hideout that as a target for arab whackjobs it's probably only slightly less off limits than say, Mecca.

Hypocrites? Well duh! They're French, don't trust 'em. Something about fight with their feet and make love with their faces. :D The world we live in is akin to all the little neighborhood runt dogs controlling what the Bull Mastiff on the block does. Leading the pack is that little cheese eating Taco Bell dog, I knew that accent sounded off. Still, I don't discount the frogs militarily.

The whole shame of the WWII experience(apparently there are some French patriots, tough gig) drove France's re-arming decisions in the cold war era, they were basically not up for being Europe's doormat again. That led to their autonomy within NATO as well as their nuke arsenal. Which of course led to their permanent slot on the security council.

Today, I think we should recognize the changing face of the world. Given that the UN won't just die naturally(1st choice), we should:
2. Boot France and install India. Hey, they got Nukes and 1/5 of the world's population. To be fair we should add Pakistan and a Middle Eastern power that is somewhat stable like Turkey.

3. Even better, give Switzerland some of our spare nukes, plop them on the permanent members and boot France.

4. Just boot France. It won't solve anything, but we'll sure feel better. :D

[10-Ring]

French gov't would apolgize for having it in the way & have the US pay restitution to the victims. :cuss:

[WilderBill]

10-Ring,
ROTFLMAO :D

Probably at least partly true, too. :scrutiny:

[twoblink]

10-ring, it would be funnier, if it weren't so true!!

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Navy Joe has a point. France joined the Nuke Club in the 60's after they obliterated a few islands during testing in French Polynesia. They also took out the Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship with French navy frogmen (no pun intended, but isn't it redundant?)who planted a mine under the keel in Auckland harbor, IIRC. When the French have a particularly annoying gnat they at least try to swat it when they're trying to play with their big boy toys.
Greenpeace was protesting the French nuke tests at that time.

It may take more than just knocking down a tourist trap and radio tower to get them p.o.'d though. Maybe if the terrorists put a little herbicide on the grape crop and took the cheese-making sheep for their new crop of virgins it'd get them hot enough to fight. Of course, if the Agent Oranged the cotton crop in Egypt the previous year they wouldn't have anything to make white battle flags from then they need them.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[twoblink]

As far as the Rainbow Warrior goes; didn't Lucy Lawless make a movie about that?? Don't mess with Xena!! She's my hero!

Any woman that's 6 foot tall and walks around carrying a sword and is in leather.. Amazon women rock!

[foghornl]

Nothing, after surrender, except to swill more bad wine and eat more rotten dairy products..........:evil:

[MacPelto]

The question is, what would we do...

A) Watch in horror
B) Change the channel/go to bed early

[Oleg Volk]

French-bashing is hardly compatible with the mission of this forum. If you so desire, pick on specific French politicians...but what's happening in this thread isn't too different from blaming you and me for what Bill Clinton said or did.

[4v50 Gary]

I voted for war. While France may not opt for military operations against Saddam, they would start tracking down heavily any terrorist organization that target them. Like the Germans, the French don't play games and can be very brutal.

[Ledbetter]

There's a word for it. It's the same thing they're doing now.

"Capitulate" = let them have what they want in return for temporary peace and false security.

"Loathsome" is another good word.

[jimpeel]

They would immediately call on America to help them rebuild and protect them from further harm.

They would also demand the return of the Statue of Liberty to put in its place so they would have an attraction to draw tourists besides women with underarm hair.

[twoblink]

I don't know about that 4v50,

France seems to have a very high "harboring of terrorist" count as compared to their Euro counterparts..

(Serious question) what do we know about the strength of the French Military as far as numbers? What about equipment and training? French military budget? Or do they go mostly foreign legion?