February 19, 2003
I was reading an article here in the NY Times that somewhat surprised me. On Jan 30, I wrote about how eight nations had signed a petition in the Wall Street Journal pledging support for America in the fight against Hussein. That letter was soon followed by another 10 countries. Most of these countries were from the old Communist Bloc, and at least partially, feel indebted to the U.S. for it's role in liberating them from Communism. Many of these nations are also candidates trying to be included in the European Union (EU), an organization in which France feels it has a high political status.What President Jacques Chirac of France has done now is scold those countries who have pledged support for America, saying such audacious things as "[those countries were] badly brought up" and that they had missed "an opportunity to keep quiet." The French defense minister also said "it was better to keep silent when you don't know what's going on." If France said these things against a country I lived in, I know I'd be pretty darn upset. And upset is what these countries are now. In the words of Alexandr Vondra, the deputy foreign minister of the Czech Republic, "We thought we were preparing for war with Saddam Hussein and not Jacques Chirac." Part of what's ironic is that many are accusing the U.S. of being arrogant in thinking they have the right to preemptively strike anywhere in the world. However, here we have a crystal-clear example of France being arrogant, treating the smaller countries as baby children, and trying to impose the idea that France knows what is best. It shall be very interesting to see how this plays out and what happens to France. My opinion is that France started to play the bluff, and is now trying to save face by maintaining that bluff.
Posted by charr at 8:53 AM
Reader Comments
I think I speak for all of us when I say, "Go away, or I shall taunt you a second tim-ah" to Jacques. I also say, "Pipe down, you cheese eatin' surrender monkey."
to DanIn politics and you think you are trying to be smart in flinging about that kind of stupid comment you better off getting off line for good cos' you are a waist of time for everyone. Adult obliged on this site. Tell this insult to your bully Leader because he really does look like a monkey. What about cheese now. Obviously it makes up 99% of your brain. Americain. Oh my good Lord. We shall forgive you
Well put Dan. Chrissy, from France is a very typical Frenchman. Their cowardice is only exceeded by their arrogance.Did you hear that Euro Disney in France had to cancell their nightly fireworks display? The French Generals kept surrendering every night!
Dear French,I believe from my statistics that the French have not won a war or even fought with honor or courage. You guys need to stop acting like little female dogs and fight for your country and for your allies (the Germans). If you, damn French, do not stand up and fight for once than the Germans will invade you again for the twentieth time.yours truly,Billy bob
Not supporting America or the allies involved with sending troops to Iraq does not make Jacques Chirac or the French bad. It makes them independent of America and not desperate to please the moron leading that country.However, that aside, they can be very arrogant, rude, shrugging shouldered and annoying.They do make good food though.
I must also point out that some of the spelling in the previous comments is atrocious. Purchase a dictionary or get spell check installed folks! Or go back to school. Otherwise the emphasis of your various points is lost in a sea of bad grammer/spelling and English. This is aimed at the 'English' speakers.
Mr. Brit, while I might not agree with your 1st argument, I most certainly agree with the last one. If you can't write a professionaly looking argument, then you can't be taken seriously.
Mmmm, French food. French sauces, especially. And some of their cheeses. And bread. Of course, we don't get the real authentic stuff here, but it's still pretty darn good.
The French have a right to be however they want to be, no matter what the Americans have to say about it. They may be rude, but they don't fling their credit cards in everyone's face while they travel abroad and expect everyone to act the same way they do. Look at America, we're westernizing another middle eastern country for no good reason. The French, also unlike our illustrious president, know when to PICK a battle, not just invade another country under false pretenses so they could just get richer. Maybe the French have finally had the breakthrough, war is not the answer. I bet anyone who writes back a nasty comment has never been in battle.
Mr. Bull,
You seem to lay claims with no data to back them up. I'm having a difficult time understanding westernizing ... with no good reason. How about taking them from a primitive, tyrannical state to a prosperous economy with actual human rights? We're not trying to turn them into US of Iraq, but there's definitely something to be said for democracy.Oh, and that whole war for oil argument has no substance. How much profit have we made off Iraqi oil?
I'am French,originally from Corsica but born in Paris,and i want to tell you one thing: I'am REALLY BORED with this stupid and silly Anglosaxon cliché: The rude French.Where this crap come from?Most of the Anglosaxon who believe in these bullshits have never traveled in France.And PUT IN YOUR HEAD,DEFINITIVELY THAT THE FRENCH PEOPLE AND THE FRENCH GOVERNMENTS ARE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND OPPOSITE THINGS!!!
Many US and British people always recall and remind all these WW2 affairs, but for the majority of the current French people,it's prehistorical stuff! The question is not to know who were the winners or the losers.The truth is that NOBODY cares anymore.
I visited USA some years ago, and i'am sorry to tell this (maybe i was unlucky),but i found that in many cases, many US citizens were close minded and xenophobic.And above all,ABSOLUTELY IGNORANT about the world affairs.Most of them never travel and have their brains full of grotesque and out'dated stereotypes about other peoples, specially the French.So,instead to repeat like morons all these exaggerated craps,try first to travel and make your own opinion.
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I think I speak for all of us when I say, "Go away, or I shall taunt you a second tim-ah" to Jacques. I also say, "Pipe down, you cheese eatin' surrender monkey."
Posted by dan at February 19, 2003 9:27 AM