I am amazed at how much more people talk about France than Germany, even though they're obviously co-equal partners in the Axis of Weasels. Nevertheless, Michael Gersh has a pretty good couple of pieces on the history of France and NATO.
I increasingly think the real issue is that France and Germany intend to, as much as possible, drive a wedge between the U.S. and the E.U. It seems a fool's game to me, but then, I'm not French or German. In the meantime, I continue to believe that losing the UN would be perfectly all right and will never happen, whereas losing NATO would be a huge loss and yet very well might happen.
(If only the world would do everything my way. I honestly don't know what's wrong with them. Don't they read my weblog? Razzamuzzin goodfernuthin fools....)
Actually, France and Germany are NOT "co-equal" in this regard.
France has taken a perennial pose of opposing whatever seems "American" for decades. It is not only the position of government, but the position of a large percentage of its citizens.
Germany has tended to support the US more than not. Right now they have a very shaky leader in charge who gained his position (by a very narrow margin) based on not geting involved in a US led war. (Which, I note, is not quite the same as anti- Americanism.)
Germanys leader now finds his position very precarious, and was handing a stinging rebuke by the electorate in the last election. (Think the Republican landlslide in '94 for a similar situationl.)
Germany is very much NOT co-equal with France in this. Germany is, instead, Frances bitch.
Where's Moltke when you need him? :)
The tragic mistake was when we let France back into NATO. Now France threatens to bring down the entire alliance. Chalk up another swift move to B.J. Clinton's unerring eye for multilateralism.
Which reminds me: How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris? We don't know... it hasn't ever been tried yet.
Sorry, Mike, but I claim priority with that joke on this blog! Heh...
In a sense, if people doesn't think the same way you think, there are you enemy.
C'est un peu primitif comme façon de penser ?
C'est un peu primitif comme façon de penser ?
Yes, that is very primitive thinking.
But that is not what we are doing here. Or, what America is doing.
France/Germany doesn't have to agree with us but they do have obligations that they agreed to when NATO formed. And, they must live up to them. If not Nato goes down and it's their fault.
The French could not contribute any equipment anyway. Even the French tanks have only six gears, five reverse gears and one forward gear just in case they get attacked from the rear.
The French?
Les primates capitulards toujours en quete de fromage!
Let's not forget The French Soldier's Magazine of Choice!
Dear Sir:
When did General Eisenhower become Commander of NATO? Was it in January 1951? I would like to know the exact date? Did he fly to Orly Airfield. If after landing at Orly Airfield did he GO BACK to the USA AND RETURN TO FRANCE ON THE QUEEN MARY WITH HIS FAMILY IN FEBRUARY 1951?
Merci beaucooup. Je suis un veteran de la deuxieme gurre. Normandy, le 16 Juin 1944 et pour moi le dixiemE jour apres le debarkement.