France

You've no doubt heard that opposites attract and likes repel? Well, there it is! We're both arrogant, opinionated, and always right! ;-)

Truth to tell, Bob, some of the nicest people I've ever know were French and the VERY best lover was a French woman. And a French man and his son have just joined our club! Good people! If one leaves politics out of the equation, both US and French people are generous and kind. BUT, leaving politics out is a tall order, alas!

We've toned it down, and call it football! ;-)

In news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com, adder pecked:

It started loooong before Iraq.

After WW2, France insisted that balance of payments accounts be settled each year in gold. The USA continued to call sparkling wine from California "Champagne" even though it only comes from France. The French kicked Nato out. French is no longer the language of diplomacy and the French blame the US for that. Amercians tend to look at France as a glorified Disney Land. France feels it is much more important than it really is. The USA feels France is much less important than it really is.

France's position on the Middle East is part of Chirac's struggle with Germany as to which county will actually control the EU. Make no mistake, the smaller members of the EU will be owned by France and Germany.

Finally, in my limited personal experience, the only problem in France is Paris. Once out of that city, the French, by and large, treat Americans quite nicely and are very hospitable. Even in the 70's Paris sucked.

No, a small number of people like to do it. The rest have learned to ignore the political discussions. Why can't you take it where it belongs, to some kind of political group?

It is the other way around! The French (mostly in Paris) show abject snobbery towards Americans. The rest of the country is great.

And awayyyyy we go..... Yet another word I gotta add to the filters. Thanks.

Americans don't hate people, it's the other way around. The world is "obsessively anti-American. .... now to the point of absurdity." (David Asman)

Alan Harriman

Heck Paul! The Parisians show abject snobbery to each other! The rest of the country is indeed nice and most of the people are decent. However, policy comes out of Paris. And Paris has made it a point to be the international ass on more than one occasion. Eg: Paris could have been liberated sooner but, De Gaul insisted French forces enter the city first! So we had to go round some up push them to the front!

The only thing i dont like from the a french.is that they all seem to think the hole world spreaks french. and i hate the dubbing on fresh TV; waths wrong with subtitle's.

I recall that Degaule derided Ike on his invasion plan, that he would suffer more than a 50% casuality rate and possibly fail. Ike politely agreed but said it was too late to change the plan. I think Degaule refused to attack the beachs because of the poor plan. Of course the casulties was less than 20%. Then Degaule insisted that his troops be the first to enter Paris. Of course the reason they lost to the Germans in the first place was their arrogant dependance of the Magenot line. I recall they lied to the British that they had huge reserves coming when Germany went around the Magenot line when they had none. Or maybe the French Generals didn't lie, but forgot to mention that their reserves would run for their lives the at the first hint of defeat.

Hardest part of dealing with the French Military is convincing them their vehicles have gears other than reverse!

But no matter now! The UN (in it's infinite wisdom) has voted to turn the Bosnia peace keeping over to the EU army (they have one?). Thus freeing NATO from the duties. This will allow the US to bring our boys home and for the first time in 90 years, Europe will have the opportunity to fix European issues all by their lonesome!

Any bets? How about a pool? I say our boys will never really get all the way out!

ROFLOL! Can I double down?

I say the EU manages to whine us back into something by the end of next year. But with Condi at the helm of State, maybe we'll see a difference. If Europe doesn't fear this lady, they're far more stupid than they look!

Now tell the truth. Would THAT surprise you?

Bush is a Frenchman from way back. I see your point. M. Boucher, now Bush, displays all the right charcteristics...:-)

Surprise? No!

Disappoint? Yes!

I always hope of seeing something of their former, great societies return. But alas, except for the US (and the EU is trying hard to change that) I fear we are witness to the decline of Western Civilization as we know it.

And you speak Walloon or Flemish? Your situation is perhaps more difficult than most, since your country has so many languages and dialects. Here in the USA, things are easier. Everybody speaks - SPANISH!!! ;-)

You are dreaming. USA is going home. Everybody is fine with that. By the way, who initiated the mess in Kossovo? Was it not the US sponsored KLA? Long ago before, there had been disagreement between france and germany about yougoslavia. US took the opportunity to expand its dominion in the area This time is gone. Bye bye USA. See you never!

We are fine with Condi, quite happy to see US govt diging deeper and deeper the grave of that nation by pursuing suicidal agressive international behavior.. Because that's the only way to push back to reason imperialistic nations. We don't fear Condi. France just launched a fex day ago the agenda for new generation ICBM. 8500km range ( too short for Beijing, uselessly too long for Moscow. Guess what's the designed target? Don't tell I'm an agressive french. French don't go preemptive.

Better check your history clueless one! That area has had issues since long before there was a USA. We've simply been caught up in yet another European cluster!