So why did no one bash Germany over it's lack of support for Iraq?

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ciba

Senior member
Apr 27, 2004
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0
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Originally posted by: 3chordcharlieFrance, OTOH, will never live down the actions of its government at the onset of the Second World War, even though this does not particularly reflect on the French people themselves.

I think it will take a long time for France to live down what it did (or didn't) do in WWII. I must disagree with your assumption that French bashing means were are bashing the French people. The people didn't threaten to veto action in Iraq, the government did.

At least in my case, my disdain is STILL directed at the French government.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
Originally posted by: ciba
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlieFrance, OTOH, will never live down the actions of its government at the onset of the Second World War, even though this does not particularly reflect on the French people themselves.

I think it will take a long time for France to live down what it did (or didn't) do in WWII. I must disagree with your assumption that French bashing means were are bashing the French people. The people didn't threaten to veto action in Iraq, the government did.

At least in my case, my disdain is STILL directed at the French government.

The problem isn't what France did in WWII but what it did immediately after WWI, which led to WWII. You couldn't say the French were appeasers then.
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
81
Big thing Americans overlook is that the actual Legitimate goverment of france did not captipulate they were sent packing and America gave legitamcy to the Vichy puppet.
That is Americas view.
the true French patriots fought on against fascism even when the US govt tried to hinder them.
But De gaulle fought and resisted the united states britan (who decided since the french were down for then it was a good time to steal colonies while nazi were overrunning france!! WTF??)
America even threatened to use force to keep De gaulle from taking back a fascist occupied colony up by canada in north america!
Read your history sometime from a real book not a US textbook

P.S. we did not win the war for europeans either -the russians did the lions share of fighting we were the johnny come latleys after we profited off of selling stuff to the germans we came in last minute and invaded so russia didnt steal all of europe and monopolize the american/european trade.
We didn't come in to WW2 to free the world from fascism we went in for the typical american reason at the last minute...$$$$
Pacific is a whole nother story. Lots of American profiting off that too.
Don't forget our colonies out there we had to protect that the japs wanted for their own selfish purposes.
 

miketheidiot

Lifer
Sep 3, 2004
11,060
1
0
last time I checked France is second in the world in Military expenditures.

Also they have about 10 centuries of asswhopping on their record, From the days of the Holy Roman Empire & Charlemange through the 1900's. People just bash on them because they were overrun in ww2. Of course they don't criticize poland, austria, czechslovakia, etc. Really the French and americans has very similar attitudes in many ways, and thats the main reason why we go at it.
 

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
126
My perception is that while Germany, Canada, etc. opposed our policy on matters of principle, unlike France they didn't actively seek to undermine it and actively rally other nations to oppose it as well.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: Steeplerot
Big thing Americans overlook is that the actual Legitimate goverment of france did not captipulate they were sent packing and America gave legitamcy to the Vichy puppet.
That is Americas view.
the true French patriots fought on against fascism even when the US govt tried to hinder them.
But De gaulle fought and resisted the united states britan (who decided since the french were down for then it was a good time to steal colonies while nazi were overrunning france!! WTF??)
America even threatened to use force to keep De gaulle from taking back a fascist occupied colony up by canada in north america!
Read your history sometime from a real book not a US textbook
Wait a second...The Musee de l'Armee in Invalides doesn't even tell that story.

What source are you using?
 

charrison

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
17,033
1
81
Originally posted by: glenn1
My perception is that while Germany, Canada, etc. opposed our policy on matters of principle, unlike France they didn't actively seek to undermine it and actively rally other nations to oppose it as well.

 

Taejin

Moderator<br>Love & Relationships
Aug 29, 2004
3,270
0
0
Of course we conveniently forget Napolean taking names and kicking ass until the Russian winter crippled him, like it crippled all the other megalomaniac invaders after and before him.
 

miketheidiot

Lifer
Sep 3, 2004
11,060
1
0
Originally posted by: Taejin
Of course we conveniently forget Napolean taking names and kicking ass until the Russian winter crippled him, like it crippled all the other megalomaniac invaders after and before him.


It should be noted however that napoleon, though a french nationalist, was corsican.
 

B00ne

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
2,168
1
0
Maybe because Germanies contribution to Iraq was bigger than many of your (moral)supporter countries
 

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
1
81
The problem is that no matter what France does, they will be blamed, as they seem to be a scapegoat and general hate figure in the US. I was amazed how much (most of) you americans hate them. And the sheer ignorance and stupidity of these haters is even more mindboggling.

I mean France has been a country for about 1500 years now and have remained a single conherent country throughout. Look at these maps to get an idea of what surviving for 15 centuries means. Not only that, but they were the supreme power for centuries and Paris was considered the center of the world until about 80 years ago.

Anyway, time for me to go to bed and for the haters to go back to their irrational, mouth-frothing hatred of the french.
 

Kibbo

Platinum Member
Jul 13, 2004
2,847
0
0
Originally posted by: ciba
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlieFrance, OTOH, will never live down the actions of its government at the onset of the Second World War, even though this does not particularly reflect on the French people themselves.

I think it will take a long time for France to live down what it did (or didn't) do in WWII. I must disagree with your assumption that French bashing means were are bashing the French people. The people didn't threaten to veto action in Iraq, the government did.

At least in my case, my disdain is STILL directed at the French government.

First of all, only Vichy France was a pupet state, the rest of the country, including Paris, was conquered and occupied. Vichy turned after Hitler had already rolled over both the French and British armies. And then there was the heroism and courage of the Resistance, who, under the leadership of General DeGaulle (who worked side-by-side Mountbatten and Eisenhower), basically founded the 5th republic.

These arrogant, France first policies are a direct decent from those of the post-war administration of DeGaulle, the war hero.

Oh, and many of the collaborators were executed and assassinated, relatively few were alive to see the 50s.

The France of today was won by the Resistance, not the collaborators.
 

Kibbo

Platinum Member
Jul 13, 2004
2,847
0
0
Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Originally posted by: ciba
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlieFrance, OTOH, will never live down the actions of its government at the onset of the Second World War, even though this does not particularly reflect on the French people themselves.

I think it will take a long time for France to live down what it did (or didn't) do in WWII. I must disagree with your assumption that French bashing means were are bashing the French people. The people didn't threaten to veto action in Iraq, the government did.

At least in my case, my disdain is STILL directed at the French government.

The problem isn't what France did in WWII but what it did immediately after WWI, which led to WWII. You couldn't say the French were appeasers then.

The British assented to many French demands at Versailles.
 

Kibbo

Platinum Member
Jul 13, 2004
2,847
0
0
Originally posted by: glenn1
My perception is that while Germany, Canada, etc. opposed our policy on matters of principle, unlike France they didn't actively seek to undermine it and actively rally other nations to oppose it as well.

Germany and France were pretty tightly aligned on that count, both playing games at the UN.

The Canadian gov't's (I'm beginning to like that punctuation) did try to reach a compromise between France and the US, and if our UN reps are to be believed, both parties were being obstinate in the last days before the vote.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Originally posted by: Steeplerot
Big thing Americans overlook is that the actual Legitimate goverment of france did not captipulate they were sent packing and America gave legitamcy to the Vichy puppet.
That is Americas view.
the true French patriots fought on against fascism even when the US govt tried to hinder them.
But De gaulle fought and resisted the united states britan (who decided since the french were down for then it was a good time to steal colonies while nazi were overrunning france!! WTF??)
America even threatened to use force to keep De gaulle from taking back a fascist occupied colony up by canada in north america!
Read your history sometime from a real book not a US textbook
Wait a second...The Musee de l'Armee in Invalides doesn't even tell that story.

What source are you using?
Um...alright, I'll throw it out to the group then. Has anyone else ever heard this version of WWII events and if so, can you provide a source?
 

Sysbuilder05

Senior member
Nov 10, 2004
409
0
0
Originally posted by: amdfanboy
Is France just that easy of a target?

Simple,US Military installations in Germany. Why didn't we go after the country that killed 3,000 Americans in NYC? Simple,OIL.

Whats going to be in Iraq in the coming years? US Military installations. Don't believe Bush when he pumps his chest and claims "We won't be in Iraq one day longer than needed"

We're not their to liberate,we're their to occupy. Sadly most Iraqi's shooting back already know this.

 

mastertech01

Moderator Emeritus Elite Member
Nov 13, 1999
11,875
282
126
Germany provides a lot of back door support whether they give military backing or not. Where do we send our gravely injured soldiers on the battle field? Germany. Where do we stage many deployments around the world? Germany. We have air bases and ground troop installations with at least 75,000 soldiers stationed there permanently. Germany has also helped with the war on terror and backed us in Afghanistan.
 

Passions

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2000
6,855
3
0
Originally posted by: Steeplerot
Big thing Americans overlook is that the actual Legitimate goverment of france did not captipulate they were sent packing and America gave legitamcy to the Vichy puppet.
That is Americas view.
the true French patriots fought on against fascism even when the US govt tried to hinder them.
But De gaulle fought and resisted the united states britan (who decided since the french were down for then it was a good time to steal colonies while nazi were overrunning france!! WTF??)
America even threatened to use force to keep De gaulle from taking back a fascist occupied colony up by canada in north america!
Read your history sometime from a real book not a US textbook

P.S. we did not win the war for europeans either -the russians did the lions share of fighting we were the johnny come latleys after we profited off of selling stuff to the germans we came in last minute and invaded so russia didnt steal all of europe and monopolize the american/european trade.
We didn't come in to WW2 to free the world from fascism we went in for the typical american reason at the last minute...$$$$
Pacific is a whole nother story. Lots of American profiting off that too.
Don't forget our colonies out there we had to protect that the japs wanted for their own selfish purposes.

ROFL......let me guess, you are French? LOL!!!!!

French have lost every military operation in modern history. The only war they won was their own civil war!!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA............................so funny to read a French/French lover trying to rewrite history.

WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES!

THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!!

- Gallic Wars
- Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.

- Hundred Years War
- Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

- Italian Wars
- Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.

- Wars of Religion
- France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

- Thirty Years War
- France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

- War of Revolution
- Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

- The Dutch War
- Tied

- War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War
- Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.

- War of the Spanish Succession
- Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

- The Napoleonic Wars
- Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.

- The Franco-Prussian War
- Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

- World War I
- Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.

- World War II
- Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

- War in Indochina
- Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu

- Algerian Rebellion
- Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

- War on Terrorism
- France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."

Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal: "They're there when they need you."



With only an hour and a half of research, Jonathan Duczkowski provided the following losses:

Norse invasions, 841-911.
After having their way with the French for 70 years, the Norse are bribed by a French King named Charles the Simple (really!) who gave them Normandy in return for peace. Normans proceed to become just about the only positive military bonus in France's [favour] for next 500 years.

Mexico, 1863-1864.
France attempts to take advantage of Mexico's weakness following its thorough thrashing by the U.S. 20 years earlier ("Halls of Montezuma"). Not surprisingly, the only unit to distinguish itself is the French Foreign Legion (consisting of, by definition, non-Frenchmen). Booted out of the country a little over a year after arrival.

Panama jungles 1881-1890.
No one but nature to fight, France still loses; canal is eventually built by the U.S. 1904-1914.

Napoleonic Wars.
Should be noted that the Grand Armee was largely (~%50) composed of non-Frenchmen after 1804 or so. Mainly disgruntled minorities and anti-monarchists. Not surprisingly, these performed better than the French on many occasions.

Haiti, 1791-1804.
French defeated by rebellion after sacrificing 4,000 Poles to yellow fever. Shows another rule of French warfare; when in doubt, send an ally.

India, 1673-1813.
British were far more charming then French, ended up victors. Therefore the British are well known for their tea, and the French for their whine (er, wine...). Ensures 200 years of bad teeth in England.

Barbary Wars, middle ages-1830.
Pirates in North Africa continually harass European shipping in Meditteranean. France's solution: pay them to leave us alone. America's solution: kick their asses ("the Shores of Tripoli"). [America's] first overseas victories, won 1801-1815.

1798-1801, Quasi-War with U.S.
French privateers (semi-legal pirates) attack U.S. shipping. U.S. fights France at sea for 3 years; French eventually cave; sets precedent for next 200 years of Franco-American relations.

Moors in Spain, late 700s-early 800s.
Even with Charlemagne leading them against an enemy living in a hostile land, French are unable to make much progress. Hide behind Pyrennes until the modern day.

French-on-French losses (probably should be counted as victories too, just to be fair):

1208: Albigenses Crusade, French massacared by French.
When asked how to differentiate a heretic from the faithful, response was "Kill them all. God will know His own." Lesson: French are badasses when fighting unarmed men, women and children.

St. Bartholomew Day Massacre, August 24, 1572.
Once again, French-on-French slaughter.

Third Crusade.
Philip Augustus of France throws hissy-fit, leaves Crusade for Richard the Lion Heart to finish.

Seventh Crusade.
St. Louis of France leads Crusade to Egypt. Resoundingly crushed.

[Eighth] Crusade.
St. Louis back in action, this time in Tunis. See Seventh Crusade.

Also should be noted that France attempted to hide behind the Maginot line, sticking their head in the sand and pretending that the Germans would enter France that way. By doing so, the Germans would have been breaking with their traditional route of invading France, entering through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, etc.). French ignored this though, and put all their effort into these defenses.




 

alienb

Golden Member
Jul 23, 2004
1,947
3
81
I've not read the whole thread here, but most of the french-bashing posts seem pretty juvenile and uninformed.

People need to realise they were OCCUPIED for years. Maybe they're a little wary about sending troops somewhere. So what?
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Where have you been for the last 2 years? I have seen plenty of anti-German topics. I think Germany has been more reserved with their comments concerning the subject, compared to how verbal the people in France have been. French people are just big cry babies. They are upset because the French use to supply all the support to Iraq for things like water and Oil exploration and development, and they have been locked out of the country.
 

imported_Condor

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2004
5,425
0
0
I think the Muslims are doing fine in bashing them:

"Either Islam gets Europeanized or Europe gets Islamized."
===========================================

Earlier this week NPR's "All Things Considered" reported on the findings of German television's ZDF-TV after they had secretly placed a camera inside a German Islamic Mosque. The Imam is heard saying (in translation): "Those Germans, those atheists, they don't shave their armpits. Their sweat spreads evil smells. They stink. They are atheists. What good do they do to us? And since they are unbelievers, in the afterlife, they can only burn in hell." Obviously, this did not go down well when the German public saw and heard such things.
======================================
"Germany is an Islamic country. Islam is in the home, in schools. Germans will be outnumbered. We [Muslims] will say what we want. We'll live how we want. It's outrageous that Germans demand we speak their language. Our children will have our language, our laws, our culture."
=========================================

www.washingtontimes.com

Europe to the barricades

By Tony Blankley
Published November 24, 2004

This Christmastime could be the moment when Western Europe finally joins our war on terrorism. Anti-Islamist fear and anger from the mouths of the European volk is breaking through the surface calm perpetuated by the elite European appeasers. The assassination and mutilation of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an Islamic fanatic -- and the retaliatory firebombings of mosques by ethnic Dutchmen -- have forced high European leaders and news outlets to begin to publicly face up to the implications of September 11, 2001 and the migration of Muslims in large and hostile numbers into the heart of Europe.

From Holland's leading newspaper, the Telegraaf, to Germany's liberal Berliner Zeitung and Der Spiegel (roughly, the European equivalents of the The New York Times, The Washington Post and Time Magazine) has come the same heated prose that could be found in the United States in the aftermath of September 11. And here in the United States, even the liberal National Public Radio Network's "All Things Considered" is beginning to seriously report European volkish fury the way they usually report breathlessly on the latest developments in Brazilian rainforest depletion.

Der Spiegel wrote: "The veil of multiculturalism has been lifted, revealing parallel societies where the law of the state does not apply." The Berliner Zeitung headlined their story: "Fear is spreading." In Holland the very dignified Telegraaf wrote: "magazines and papers which include incitements should be suppressed, unsuitable mosques should be shut down and imams who encourage illegal acts should be thrown out of the country." Earlier this week NPR's "All Things Considered" reported on the findings of German television's ZDF-TV after they had secretly placed a camera inside a German Islamic Mosque. The Imam is heard saying (in translation): "Those Germans, those atheists, they don't shave their armpits. Their sweat spreads evil smells. They stink. They are atheists. What good do they do to us? And since they are unbelievers, in the afterlife, they can only burn in hell." Obviously, this did not go down well when the German public saw and heard such things.

Later in the NPR report they quoted from other communications by German Islamists now being revealed to the German public. A teacher at the Riksdorfer Elementary School -- a German government school that under German court ruling three years ago must teach its mostly Muslim students Muslim curriculum -- read an anonymous letter he received: "Germany is an Islamic country. Islam is in the home, in schools. Germans will be outnumbered. We [Muslims] will say what we want. We'll live how we want. It's outrageous that Germans demand we speak their language. Our children will have our language, our laws, our culture."

It is just such inflammatory events that led Der Spiegel this week to report that "A debate on the integration of Muslims is raging in Germany." The article went on to report that: "Computer keyboards across the country are smoking as editorialists pontificate on the pros and cons of multiculturalism. It is heated and on the verge of becoming poisoned."

Heating the German national broth is the re-emergence of a call for German "Leitkultur," the term for the dominant and guiding culture. Der Spiegel quotes Christian Democratic leader Joerg Schoenbohm: "In the Middle Ages, ghettos were founded to marginalize the Jews. Today, some of the foreigners who live with us in Germany have founded their own ghettos because they scorn us Germans. Those who come here have to adopt the German Leitkultur. Our history has developed over a thousand years. We cannot allow that this basis of our commonality be destroyed by foreigners."

Edmund Stoibel, the Bavarian Christian Social Union's candidate for chancellor two years ago, said: "We have to defend the Christian tradition of our country." Even the Social Democrat Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder, called for banning headscarves for schoolteachers in German public schools.

Meanwhile, the green/animal rights left of the European spectrum has started demonstrating against the Islamic Eid Al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, because it requires the throat-slitting of rams and lambs.

Italian police in the town of Luino recently had to break up the left-wing demonstrators as they confronted angry Muslim celebrants who were chanting "Allah- u Akhbar" in front of the Luino slaughterhouse.

In a recent article Chuck Colson quotes Bassam Tibi, a moderate Muslim leader in Germany: "Either Islam gets Europeanized or Europe gets Islamized." The speaker of the Dutch Parliament, Jozias van Aartsen, proclaimed two weeks ago that "The jihad has come to the Netherlands," while at a memorial to Mr. van Gogh a Dutch schoolteacher said that "This is not just a small event. It's part of the World Trade Center and Madrid. We must see this."

Yes, through the blinding smoke of Iraq and through the endless fuming of M. Chirac, the common people -- the timeless volk -- of Europe are beginning to see their true enemy -- radical Islam. The will to survive and prevail is not yet spent in the hearts of our European cousins. They are late to the battle that is now raging. But they are not too late. The second great anti-fascist Euro-American alliance is now beginning to form on the foundation of our two common democratic peoples. Their spineless governments will follow, and will soon be run by fighting leaders uplifted from the ranks.