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Slarg232 wrote:I would much rather have Britains army on my side over France's, because lets face it, the French don't really have an army.

Actually their army is very good of late and has a decent track record in peace keeping operations in Africa and elsewhere.

WarOne wrote:
They have nukes...Don't forget the nukes.

True, third largest nuclear arsenal in the world, plus a less deserved UN security council veto. You cant ignore therm, I will give them that.

WarOne wrote:
And they have the Maginot Line! And the Atlantic Wall!
'Cause those were all defensive bastions that saved the French nation and thus forever saved the world!

The Atlantic Wall was made by the Germans and almost worked. The Maginot line did work, its just the French didn't know how to exploit that. Yes the Germans went around, but the answer to that would have been to mas the French reserves behind the low countries and Ardennes. Had they did that and done it properly France would not have fallen.



Anyway enough backing up our French neighbours for one day.

Q. Why do the French not use "The Wave" in sports stadiums?

A.

mattyrm wrote:I'm aware its clearly beneficial to him to distance the US from the UK for political reasons

Not to get in the way of your Republican party style Obama bashing and blaming (which I use as a source of cheap comedy), but I'm fairly certain that this is wrong.

Oh dear...........yet another reason for me not to like Obama. Id apologize for the pres but, Im sure he will be out sooner then later, and since itll take a Republican to take his place, you Brits will be #1 again But yea, Obama obviously doesnt know his countrymens opinion very well

mattyrm wrote:I'm aware its clearly beneficial to him to distance the US from the UK for political reasons, but I care not at all.

How? You talk to the average American and ask thier opinion of the two and you get, "France? You mean those cheese eating surrendur monkeys?" and the UK, "Yeah they talk funny but they've got that Queen and they're pretty cool over all. Not like those damn Europeans."

Snuggling up to the French is a political mistake.

You could certainly make a case for France historically being the U.S.'s strongest ally. We've never been at war with France once, let alone twice, and our nation wouldn't exist as it does today without France's assistance.

Beyond that most this is just comprehension fail. It's just diplomat talk.

Other than the Franco-Prussian War and that hiccup in May 1940, the military record of France is exemplary.

Albatross wrote:Yes, yes, I know it's from the Daily Fail, but even so...

Even so what? C'mon man, that's like saying 'well I know it's Glenn Beck but just listen to this!', Daily Mail is a wellspring of hardline rightwing drivel, it's the Telegraph's thuggish henchman.

This article is slanted rubbish, let me show you how the words are bent out of shape.

Daily Mail wrote:Barack Obama has declared that France is America’s greatest ally, undermining Britain’s Special Relationship with the U.S.

Does not equal.

Daily Mail wrote:Mr Obama said: 'We don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.'

And can be argued that Obama is saying 'we have several friends who are all strong friends and allies.

Daily Mail wrote:
The remarks, during a White House appearance with Mr Sarkozy, will reinforce the widely-held view in British diplomatic circles that Mr Obama has less interest in the Special Relationship than any other recent American leader.

So he gave high praise to the French leader during the French leader's visit... and this is news why?? Is the Daily Mail owned by Murdoch or one of his chums?

What 'special relationship'? That old chestnut is only brought up when a US president wants a UK backed military endeavour so that it can be labelled a US led international effort. The 'special relationship' only exists in the British media, it's not evident here in the US and certainly not evident in trade or financial relations over the last 50 years.
You realise during the 'special relationship' Thatcher was droning on about, banks in the US had collection boxes for the IRA 'freedom fighters', where the hell do you think the finances for the terrorists came from?!? Gerry Adams was dining in the White House every St Patrick's Day dinner for YEARS including the last Bush administration.

Daily Mail wrote:
The President risked offending British troops in Afghanistan by saying that French president Nicolas Sarkozy is a ‘stronger friend’ than David Cameron.

Where did he say that? I can't see those words quoted anywhere? This is an insinuation.

Daily Mail wrote:
The comments follow a pattern of coldness towards the UK. When Gordon Brown was prime minister, Mr Obama snubbed his requests for meetings in the U.S.

Brown, lumbering halfwit that he is, started that in his efforts to distance himself from the US and Blair's reputation as America's pet poodle. Brown then released the Lockerbie bomber and tried to blame that on the Scottish government which infuriated Obama. Then Cameron arrives and instead of denouncing BP, throws his support behind the company and snubs Obama. Just wtf would Obama's experience with those two clowns do to his relationship with either of them?

Daily Mail wrote:
He also denounced Britain during his inauguration speech.

WHERE? I just read that speech end to end, someone find that for me please?

Daily Mail wrote:
The UK has lost nearly 350 troops in the war against the Taliban – seven times as many as France.
And there are more than 10,000 British soldiers serving in Helmand province, compared with just 3,850 Frenchmen.
Mr Obama's stance was swiftly condemned in Westminster.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former commander of the Sherwood Foresters regiment, said: 'I’m getting a bit fed up with the American President using terms like "best ally" so loosely.
'It’s Britain that has had more than 300 servicemen killed in Afghanistan, not France.
'That to my mind is a lot more powerful than any political gesture making.'

So the French President visits the White House, Obama says 'we have no stronger ally' to him and some right wing british hacks do a head count and says 'more of our guys are dead than theirs, so we are your strongest ally! You must mean to insult us when you praise him!!'
As for condemnation from Westminster?
Patrick fething Mercer?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
The guy who said this:

wikipedia wrote:He was appointed to a newly created post of Shadow Minister for Homeland Security, a position which he was given in June 2003 by the then Leader of the Conservative Party, Iain Duncan Smith. He held this position until March 2007 when he was forced to resign over perceived racist comments.[1] He had used the term 'black bastards' to describe black soldiers.

Spoke in condemnation about a black president of a foreign nation, really what a bloody surprise... Also, he's a backbencher, not a minister, hardly Westminster condemnation is it...

Daily Mail wrote:
The remarks also angered conservatives in Washington.

You're just fething kidding me right? The conservatives criticised Obama... It's so unlikely to happen...daily...relentlessly...over every and anything he does...


That 'article' was seriously a most colossal pile of worthless half baked drivel and I cannot fathom why such a skewed piece of fiction was allowed into any newspaper, even the Daily (hate)Mail.

WarOne wrote:

Tyyr wrote:I think so, has a gnoll for his avatar. Only one I can remember though.

So is his name Gnollman?

I guess you're talking about me?

It's so funny to see people's reactions here! I mean really! We don't even have to do or say anything to irritate our British neighbors anymore, the US President does it for us That's brilliant

Seriously, I don't know a single person in France who cares about this kind of declaration. France being the US biggest ally? WTF? The whole world knows its UK, even us!
We don't give a feth at this pathetic kind of flattery. Or more precisely, we sadly know that the only French who's pleased about that is our president ( for obvious egotic reasons and because he feels supported for the G20-G8 presidency ).

Now, I'm not particularly eager to raise the banner of blood to defend France, but It's been too far, so:

Britain:


France:


Britain:


France:


Britain:

(ok! restecp for this one )

France:

Pierre Desproges...(unfortunately France's humor died with him twenty years ago)

I've got used to the French-surrending jokes since I regularly read the off-topic section, so I won't ask for explainations, but there is a thing which remains puzzling to me...
WHO THE FETH IS THIS MAN???AND WHO IS HE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR US??? (not Jack Lang, former catastrophic minister of culture, the other one)

gorgon wrote:You could certainly make a case for France historically being the U.S.'s strongest ally. We've never been at war with France once, let alone twice, and our nation wouldn't exist as it does today without France's assistance.

Beyond that most this is just comprehension fail. It's just diplomat talk.

You're forgetting 1) the Quasi War which we, of course, won; and 2) our clandestine support of Mexico when it freed itself from French imperialism.

The French never burned down the white house. =)

Eh, it needed to be renovated. British interior decorators are just a bit more outspoken in their opinions.

I think MeanGreenStompa has won this thread. So much overreaction here.

Melissia wrote: So much overreaction here.

It's Internet ma chère...it's Internet...

@MGS - Erm... I thought I made it clear that my response to this story was less one of hurt feelings, and more questioning the wisdom of cosying up to France whilst potentially alienating a key ally? If it wasn't clear then apologies. I was more interested in the quote than the story. The quote is pretty explicit.

I mean, I'm happy that Obama and Sarkozy are best buds and everything, but you're talking about a French administration that is rounding up gypsies and banning the burkah. Again, is this a wise move?

I care not a fig for talk of 'The Special Relationship'. I've been arguing for some time now that we should be getting closer to India instead - it's clear that the relationship would have greater balance.


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Also, I'm not here to bash the French. They're alright by me.

KingCracker wrote:...you Brits will be #1 again

Behind China, Israel and Ireland, yeah number one.

Albatross wrote:I care not a fig for talk of 'The Special Relationship'. I've been arguing for some time now that we should be getting closer to India instead - it's clear that the relationship would have greater balance.

The four 'Cs' Cricket, chutney, curry and customer services..

I jest, I actually think it's a good idea.

Also I thought choo choo trains and char would be pushing it.

Hyenajoe wrote:

Melissia wrote: So much overreaction here.

It's Internet ma chère...it's Internet...

Hey, it's Gnollman!

*waves*

So...I do have to ask...how strong is wargaming culture in France?

George Spiggott wrote:

KingCracker wrote:...you Brits will be #1 again

Behind China, Israel and Ireland, yeah number one.

Right number 1, thats what Im saying
Can we even count China? I mean they kindda own America right now, wouldnt that be cheating?

KingCracker wrote:

George Spiggott wrote:

KingCracker wrote:...you Brits will be #1 again

Behind China, Israel and Ireland, yeah number one.

Right number 1, thats what Im saying
Can we even count China? I mean they kindda own America right now, wouldnt that be cheating?

They only own America because America wants its iPads and iPods.

Albatross wrote:@MGS - Erm... I thought I made it clear that my response to this story was less one of hurt feelings, and more questioning the wisdom of cosying up to France whilst potentially alienating a key ally? If it wasn't clear then apologies. I was more interested in the quote than the story. The quote is pretty explicit.

I mean, I'm happy that Obama and Sarkozy are best buds and everything, but you're talking about a French administration that is rounding up gypsies and banning the burkah. Again, is this a wise move?

I care not a fig for talk of 'The Special Relationship'. I've been arguing for some time now that we should be getting closer to India instead - it's clear that the relationship would have greater balance.

And I didn't touch your response, just rubbished the article.

To add something here, I have 3 best friends. If I say to one 'I have no better friend than you' then I have not told him he's better than the other two, just that all of them are equal.

WarOne wrote:

KingCracker wrote:

George Spiggott wrote:

KingCracker wrote:...you Brits will be #1 again

Behind China, Israel and Ireland, yeah number one.

Right number 1, thats what Im saying
Can we even count China? I mean they kindda own America right now, wouldnt that be cheating?

They only own America because America wants its iPads and iPods.

Well that much is true though, I want an iPad.

MeanGreenStompa wrote:

To add something here, I have 3 best friends. If I say to one 'I have no better friend than you' then I have not told him he's better than the other two, just that all of them are equal.

What about all those people you list as friends on your userpage?

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/user/profile/8742.page

Don't they count?


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KingCracker wrote:

WarOne wrote:

KingCracker wrote:

George Spiggott wrote:

KingCracker wrote:...you Brits will be #1 again

Behind China, Israel and Ireland, yeah number one.

Right number 1, thats what Im saying
Can we even count China? I mean they kindda own America right now, wouldnt that be cheating?

They only own America because America wants its iPads and iPods.

Well that much is true though, I want an iPad.

Now if they can only make an iPoop...

Hyenajoe wrote:

I've got used to the French-surrending jokes since I regularly read the off-topic section, so I won't ask for explainations, but there is a thing which remains puzzling to me...
WHO THE FETH IS THIS MAN???AND WHO IS HE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR US??? (not Jack Lang, former catastrophic minister of culture, the other one)

The man you inquire about is Jerry Lewis,there has been a long running joke about the French allegedly finding him fascinating...
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1349/do-the-french-really-love-jerry-lewis

...Incidentally,I should point out that I've nothing against the French...after all I am a native son of New Orleans.

Pashaw! The French are animals, just look at his avatar

FITZZ wrote:The man you inquire about is Jerry Lewis,there has been a long running joke about the French allegedly finding him fascinating...

Is that Jerry Lewis, the U.S. Representative for California's 41st Congressional District?

Okay, let's keep it on-topic . . . and polite. We have francophiles on staff here. (I'm speaking about moi, at least.)


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Albatross wrote:Which is fine - I think our two countries are drifting apart anyway, certainly seeking new alliances. I think this is healthy.

I can't comment about it being healthy, but I would be very sad to see a more distant relationship between the US and the UK.

WarOne wrote:

FITZZ wrote:The man you inquire about is Jerry Lewis,there has been a long running joke about the French allegedly finding him fascinating...

Is that Jerry Lewis, the U.S. Representative for California's 41st Congressional District?

No...It's Jerry Lewis,the Actor/Comedian...Who's been raising money for children with MS for over 35 years...

http://www.answers.com/topic/jerry-lewis


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Manchu wrote:Okay, let's keep it on-topic . . . and polite. We have francophiles on staff here. (I'm speaking about moi, at least.)


.

No offence intended Manchu...I'll stay on topic.

Je m'en fou.

Let me know how that works out when you need france to help you in a real war

It could be worse, he could start saying nice things about
the Quebec'ers. I give the English transplant in our gaming group a hard time, I remind him that as a student of history I know that I'm supposed to hate the English and love the French.

I'll take a "Menage et trois" over a "Prince Albert" any day.