[rhedley]

http://www.fototime.com/98CB45C9CCEC830/standard.jpg

[Psssniper]

I wonder if the French make us pay the maintanence on the cemetary? Be interesting to find out.

[Cactus]

The story has it that at one time, President Johnson threatened to Charles DeGaulle that he would bring all of the American war dead home to America if France didn't shape up and go along with him. Apparently this threat worked wonders.

France gets an enormous amount of their economy funded by tourists and many of those tourists go to see Normandy and the American cemetary there.

Why should our war dead be disgraced by remaining buried in a nation that neither respects us or appreciates the sacrifices of those American boys?

[Malone LaVeigh]

I would think that a lot of those dead would be spinning in their graves to see their memories used as political fodder for US imperialism. They didn't die for the French to be our boot-licking toadies, and it is a gross misuse of their sacrifice to suggest so. Shame.

[Dannyboy]

Imperialism implies that the US plans on making Iraq an American colony. Do you think that's what we plan on doing? Even our putting in a government friendly to the US doesn't amount to imperialism. Those men in that cemetery aren't spinning in their graves. They got that out of their system many years ago.

[schmo]

Keep the faith Malone.

[Sir Galahad]

The word "imperialist" gets used mostly by communists, Malone. I thought you said the "peace" movement wasn't populated predominatly by communists. But here you are using a word straight out of a communists mouth.

[Thumper]

They didn't die for the French to be our boot-licking toadies, and it is a gross misuse of their sacrifice to suggest so. Shame.

Well, my opinion is that they certainly would prefer a little grateful "boot licking" to ungrateful, spit in your face, anti Americanism.

[DeltaElite]

An informed opinion is always good, but rather rare around here. :D

[Thumper]

As you continue to graphically illustrate, DE.

Actually, I usually agree with you...

:banghead:

[Tim Burke]

Thanks for the image, RJ.

[DeltaElite]

Actually, I usually agree with you...
Aw, Thumper. Agreeing with me is bad for ones intellectual development, you should know that by now. :D

[Ed Brunner]

I wonder if the French make us pay the maintanence on the cemetary? Be interesting to find out.

We do maintain the cemeteries. I have visited the cemeteries in France and they are absolutely beautifully maintained by French (and possibly US) labor under the direction of Americans. Seeing these places and the way they are cared for is a profound experience. You cannot come away unmoved.
I know that times have changed, but even during the DeGaulle days of the mid-sixties, the average French citizen knew and appreciated the sacrifice made by so many Americans. I guess we are seeing the natural evolution of communism and socialism in present day France.

[ahadams]

We are an Imperial power - the only one right now, and refusing to acknowledge that reality may neuter us in the short term (what billy jeff and his administration tried to do) but does not totally nutralize us in the long term. The only other empires currently standing are the PRC which is still trying to consolidate it's own territory, and that's about it.

This is a historical trend. Drawing from past history - the Roman empire to be precise - it looks like we have another 50 to 100 years before the next set of dark ages descend...I just hope technology doesn't accelerate that. None the less, carping about imperialism is about the same as Roman citizens carping about maintaining their borders.

or maybe I'm just overly cynical tonight...

[fallingblock]

If one were to somehow awaken one of those G.I.'s from 1944 and ask him what happened, odds are he'd say he was fighting to remove a tyrant from power, to 'save' Europe. A tyrant who had not, in fact, overtly attacked the U.S. 'first' (even though he did make the mistake of going along with the Imperial Japanese afterwards).

So would it not be in keeping with their tradition to remove a tyrant of today, at least from the prespective of that 1944 G.I.?

[Thumper]

A tyrant who had not, in fact, overtly attacked the U.S. 'first' (even though he did make the mistake of going along with the Imperial Japanese afterwards).

Oooh...a sharpshooter. Good point, Fallingblock.

[fallingblock]

Of course...always choose the G.I. with the 'scoped 03-A4:D

[Khornet]

....what happened to 'hegemony'? I thought that was what we're fighting for!