France-US relations, two years s/p 9-11

[BaliBabyDoc]

CNN International
French President Jacques Chirac was the first world leader to visit ground zero and pay his respects after September 11.

There was a French pledge to stand together with the United States in the war against terrorists in Afghanistan.
In return, analysts say, a French offer of military assistance was publicly belittled by defense chiefs in Washington.

And U.S. President George W. Bush, on his first visit to France, publicly ridiculed a White House reporter who dared ask a question of Chirac in French.
"The guy memorizes four words and he's Mr. Intercontinental," Bush quipped.


To this day, some Americans cannot understand why France forgot its World War II obligations to the United States.
And some French cannot understand how the United States has become so intolerant of those who disagree.
"To have a moral debt toward a country does not mean that you are obliged to follow blindly everything it says," says Eric Dior of Marianne Magazine.

 

[tnitsuj]

Franch actually did help in Afghanistan with Comabt troops, trainers for the new Afghan army, and forces in ISAF.

I couldn't believe it when he said that.

And U.S. President George W. Bush, on his first visit to France, publicly ridiculed a White House reporter who dared ask a question of Chirac in French.
"The guy memorizes four words and he's Mr. Intercontinental," Bush quipped.

 

[Czar]

"The guy memorizes four words and he's Mr. Intercontinental," Bush quipped.

dont get it

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Face it, Bush is a prick. He's the one guy in the frat that gives everybody a bad rep as being lazy, ignorant, spoiled brats.

(OK, occasionally there's more than one guy . . . )

 

[naddicott]

Bush clearly thinks that any American showing respect to a foreign leader is something that should be ridiculed. It is sad when you realize even a white house reporter has more diplomatic skills than the U.S. President.

Anyone who knows anything about the French knows that they are fond of their language and appreciate people making an attempt to use it, nomatter how poor their French skills.

 

[her209]

Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: naddicott
Bush clearly thinks that any American showing respect to a foreign leader is something that should be ridiculed. It is sad when you realize even a white house reporter has more diplomatic skills than the U.S. President.

Anyone who knows anything about the French knows that they are fond of their language and appreciate people making an attempt to use it, nomatter how poor their French skills.

Tee hee. Obviously you've never seen a French Canadian try to speak french to a "true frenchman". I even knew a French guy who spent 12 years in the states, and was constantly ridculed because he had developed "an accent". They "appreciate" the effort in the way that a pompous athlete makes fun of the special olympics.

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: naddicott
Bush clearly thinks that any American showing respect to a foreign leader is something that should be ridiculed. It is sad when you realize even a white house reporter has more diplomatic skills than the U.S. President.

Anyone who knows anything about the French knows that they are fond of their language and appreciate people making an attempt to use it, nomatter how poor their French skills.

Tee hee. Obviously you've never seen a French Canadian try to speak french to a "true frenchman". I even knew a French guy who spent 12 years in the states, and was constantly ridculed because he had developed "an accent". They "appreciate" the effort in the way that a pompous athlete makes fun of the special olympics.

So instead they should just speak English really S L O W L Y and L O U D L Y to foriegners and get pissed off when they don't understand like American do? I can't tell you how many times I have seen Americans do that. Get a clue people.

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: alchemize


Tee hee. Obviously you've never seen a French Canadian try to speak french to a "true frenchman". I even knew a French guy who spent 12 years in the states, and was constantly ridculed because he had developed "an accent".

He's not alone

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Czar

"The guy memorizes four words and he's Mr. Intercontinental," Bush quipped.

dont get it

PARIS ? President Bush yesterday derisively challenged press claims of widespread anti-Americanism in Europe and ridiculed an American TV correspondent for suggesting as much ? in English and French ? to him and French President Jacques Chirac.

"So you go to a protest and I drive through the streets of Berlin, seeing hundreds of people lining the road, waving," Mr. Bush muttered to NBC News White House correspondent David Gregory during a joint press conference with Mr. Chirac.

"I don't view hostility here," Mr. Bush said in the ornate Palais de l'Elysee. "I view the fact that we've got a lot of friends here."

He added: "And the fact that protesters show up ? that's good. I mean, I'm in a democracy."

Mr. Bush was responding to Mr. Gregory's question about anti-American demonstrations in Germany, Russia and France during the president's visits to these nations since Wednesday.

"I wonder why it is you think there are such strong sentiments in Europe against you and against this administration?" the reporter said. "Why, particularly, there's a view that you and your administration are trying to impose America's will on the rest of the world, particularly when it comes to the Middle East and where the war on terrorism goes next?"

Turning to Mr. Chirac, he added in French: "And, Mr. President, would you maybe comment on that?"

"Very good," Mr. Bush said sardonically. "The guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he's intercontinental."

"I can go on," Mr. Gregory offered.

"I'm impressed ? que bueno," said Mr. Bush, using the Spanish phrase for "how wonderful." He deadpanned: "Now I'm literate in two languages."

Roars of laughter filled both the press conference room and a press filing center elsewhere in the city, where many members of the White House press corps were watching the exchange on live television.

Turning serious, the president spoke of the strong bond between most Europeans and Americans.

"Look, the only thing I know to do is speak my mind, to talk about my values, to talk about our mutual love for freedom and the willingness to defend freedom," he said. "And, David, I think a lot of people on the continent of Europe appreciate that.

 

[phillyTIM]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
To this day, some Americans cannot understand why France forgot its World War II obligations to the United States.
And some French cannot understand how the United States has become so intolerant of those who disagree.
"To have a moral debt toward a country does not mean that you are obliged to follow blindly everything it says," says Eric Dior of Marianne Magazine.

Eric said that so point so eloquently. If someone saves your life, you are not a slave to that person forever. And France should not be shackled and forced into blindly following America either; that in fact kills the spirit of democracy that America was founded on and hypocritical.

France's, as with most of the World's, problem is with George W. Bush -- not America itself.

I'm positive the World community will once again bond together once the terroristic, dictatorship Bush Regime is removed from power.

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: her209
Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209 Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Simply put, if it wasn't for them you'd be british.

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209 Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Simply put, if it wasn't for them you'd be british.

...and they would have to learn German; Arbeit Mach Frei

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209 Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Simply put, if it wasn't for them you'd be british.

...and they would have to learn German; Arbeit Mach Frei

maybe not. if this were a british colony we would have been in the war much earlier.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209
Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Not an expert but it's my understandning that the French blockade kept Cornwallis from rearming resupplying until he eventually had to surrender.

As an example.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209
Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Where's the cut-off point where this obligation begins? Is there a certain number of troops that have to be used or something?

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209 Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Simply put, if it wasn't for them you'd be british.

actually of it was not for them i would still be cherokee.

again can you name ONE major land battle where french troops were the decisive factor in victory?

answer: NONE

the french blockade kept cornwallis from RETREATING so he had no choice but surrender. he was already beat and drivin to the sea by washington and greene. throughout 1780-81 after greene replaced gates as general of the southern army.

dont forget we fought the germans then also

here is another way to look at it, my grandfather emembers losing freinds and family while he served as well in ww2, the american revolution was how long ago? what is more relevent, somehting living people remember doing or something that was over 2 centuries ago that was mainly moral support while the french sat in the harbor on thier ships?

 

[Shad0hawK]

after doing some research into this i read an excellent article that basically states that the american revolution was merely(for france that is) a chance to turn the fortunes around of the "french and indian war" which was a few years before and which france lost.

the french land troop contribution was 5 battalions and they were on washingtons left flank at saratoga.

so i stand self-corrected.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: her209 Following this moral obligation thinking, we would be at the mercy of the French when they help the US defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War.

what major battle did they participate in in significant numbers? i cannot seem to remember.

Simply put, if it wasn't for them you'd be british.

actually of it was not for them i would still be cherokee.

again can you name ONE major land battle where french troops were the decisive factor in victory?

answer: NONE

the french blockade kept cornwallis from RETREATING so he had no choice but surrender. he was already beat and drivin to the sea by washington and greene. throughout 1780-81 after greene replaced gates as general of the southern army.

dont forget we fought the germans then also

here is another way to look at it, my grandfather emembers losing freinds and family while he served as well in ww2, the american revolution was how long ago? what is more relevent, somehting living people remember doing or something that was over 2 centuries ago that was mainly moral support while the french sat in the harbor on thier ships?

bs

french fighting in WW1 doesn't count as a major battle for you??

btw I'm still waiting for an answer in the socialist/communist thread you started

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
after doing some research into this i read an excellent article that basically states that the american revolution was merely(for france that is) a chance to turn the fortunes around of the "french and indian war" which was a few years before and which france lost.

the french land troop contribution was 5 battalions and they were on washingtons left flank at saratoga.

so i stand self-corrected.

What does this mean? That, in your mind, the obligation that the you feel the French have towards us is negated by the aid we received from them during the Revolutionary War?

I think this whole obligation thing that some people believe in is bunk.

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: Gaard

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
after doing some research into this i read an excellent article that basically states that the american revolution was merely(for france that is) a chance to turn the fortunes around of the "french and indian war" which was a few years before and which france lost.

the french land troop contribution was 5 battalions and they were on washingtons left flank at saratoga.

so i stand self-corrected.

What does this mean? That, in your mind, the obligation that the you feel the French have towards us is negated by the aid we received from them during the Revolutionary War?

I think this whole obligation thing that some people believe in is bunk.

no it means what i simply said.