[Mike Irwin]

Subtitled, of course, given that I don't speak froggy all that well...

Two fairly sneering segments in a row...

The first recounting a British preparedness drill enacting an attack on the London tube system, with the commentator making light of a British official's statement that Britain needs to be prepared since it's America's Number 1 ally in the war against terrorism...

The second was from New York, and was talking about the upcoming second anniversary of 9-11...

I'm hoping it was all in translation, but I doubt that it was...

"9-11 was the end of America and the beginning of its psychosis with security..."

That more than pissed me off, given what I saw in France in the 1980s...

French traffic police directing traffic with MAT-49 submachine guns slung over their shoulders...

Beat cops with MAS bolt-action rifles...

And, on the outskirts of the Place de la Concorde where many thousands of people were watching the start of an international balloon race -- heavily armed French riot police standing in front of a manned armored car, which had a plexiglass turret with a quad of machine guns in it...


I've said it once, I'll say it again. If the French are your allies, you're better off going it alone.

[Fly320s]

Watching French news will not help you with your intestinal problem.

Unless you are looking for an additional boost.:uhoh:

[Parker Dean]

Heard a fairly gleeful ABC News report on the radio Friday afternoon that claimed the French were gloating over the US asking for some help from the UN.

Made me mad and I wanted to tell the President to not bother with that UN silliness anymore, we'd just do it ourselves rather than grovel at the feet of the French.

I only heard the report the one time and haven't heard a peep about it since either in the news or in forums like this one. So now I don't know if the report was in error or what.

[Billll]

Mr Bush has, in the past, proved fairly canny about setting his detractors up like ducks in a row, to take a fall. He asked the UN to do its duty before, and they didn't. He's asking them again to do their duty, and you and I and Mr Bush know that they won't, thanks to the French and the Germans. You don't suppose he's setting them up for a "We quit. Take your bat and ball, and leave New York." speech, do you?

[Standing Wolf]

Quick! Name the five most reliable French hand guns.

Didn't think so.

[Duncan Idaho]

If the French are your allies, you're better off going it alone. That bears repeating as often as possible.

[Malone LaVeigh]

You can say or think anything you want about the US needing help in Iraq, but the idea that Colin Powell going to the UN with his hat in his hand is some sort of grand strategy is hilarious. The image, if nothing else, will haunt our foreign policy for a generation.

You can also make any number of jokes you want about the French, and I've laughed at my share in the past. But it's the US asking them for help. Think about it. It's probably not because thay have some military resource we need. It's because our leaders got us into a war we bloody can't afford. Now we need to shift some of the expense to countries that told us it was a stupid idea in the first place.

I know they're trying hard not to gloat. I'd have a hard time myself.

[Skibane]

I know they're trying hard not to gloat. I'd have a hard time myself.
Judging from the tone of your post, I'll bet you would.

If the French are your allies, you're better off going it alone.
I believe former deputy undersecretary of defense Jed Babbin put it most eloquently:

" . . . you know, frankly, going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. You just leave a lot of useless, noisy baggage behind."

[Geech]

I wonder where that accordion quote actually came from. I've heard it attributed to so many different sources.

[Skibane]

www.snopes.com/quotes/babbin.htm (http://www.snopes.com/quotes/babbin.htm)

[Dannyboy]

It's probably not because thay have some military resource we need.
Sure they do. They have highly motivated and well trained troops to stand around and pull guard duty on static targets, um, I mean locations. This, of course, frees up US troops for real missions.

[seeker_two]

So I'm watchiing the French news tonight...

Mistake Number One...:banghead:

"9-11 was the end of America and the beginning of its psychosis with security..."

At least the reporter has read Patriot I & II...:fire:

Quick! Name the five most reliable French hand guns.

Manhurin/Walther PP and four Manhurin revolvers...:D

[Leatherneck]

Manhurin/Walther PP and four Manhurin revolvers
Weren't the Manhurins actually Walther parts assembled by Mannhurin?

TC
TFL Survivor