France: Our Oldest Ennemy

[Flagg]

Our Oldest Enemy : A History of America's Disastrous Relationship with France

John J. Miller<1>, has decided to embark upon a new endeavour: to publish a book to further Bash France and the French.

Miller is well known for his talent as a polemicist, but he probably wasn’t sufficiently versed in obtuse history to write this book alone. He therefore teamed up with a Harvard lecturer, Mark Molesky<2>, thus gaining, in the eyes of some, a certain intellectual respectability.

Thus the Miller Molesky team has delved into the deep recesses of North American History, extracting isolated events from the general schema, such as the Deerfield Massacre of 1704, when a group of Canadiens and Indians massacred settlers in northern Massachusetts to prove a point: the French cannot be trusted. Needless to say, the North America of 1704 was brutal; this was a time of raids and expeditions between British and French establishments from Newfoundland, New France to Hudson’s Bay.

Not only content to trivialize the French role in the war of independence, Miller and Molesky argue the French involvement was motivated by the pursuit of its own agenda. A revelation that will come as no surprise to the serious scholars of history, no more shocking that the ulterior motives that can be found behind the current Iraq war and every other strategic and diplomatic choice made by any power in the last thousand years.

<snip>
De Gaulle’s legacy is also put under the polemiscope, and Miller and Molesky churn out the usual Anti-American facets of the first president of the Fifth Republic. The book further blames the French for educating genocidal dictators such as Pol Pot and having links with Iraq and Syria, thus proving in their eyes that France is America’s enemy. Miller and Molesky further claim that they «provide an authoritative explanation for the explosive anger toward France that has swept across America and continues to shape debates about our foreign policy and role in the world».

Unfortunately the book seems to be nothing more than a one-sided patchwork of historical events taken out of context for one purpose only: fanning the flames of Anti-French prejudice in Conservative circles.

Marc Saint Aubin du Cormier

http://www.miquelon.org/

http://www.newshounds.us/2004/10/05/fox_still_doesnt_like_france.php

[fugue]

1. They're an old enemy of *England's*

But they fought beside us in the War of Independence. They were the first country to recognize the United States, I believe.

[unblock]

2. yeah, and that statue of liberty thing is an eyesore

damn franch gift blocks the gorgeous view of jersey city.

[stellanoir]

3. Oh baloney. . .

Rochambeau, Louisiana Purchase, Statue of Liberty. . .where would be without the French?. . .a British colony 30% of our current size, being threatened by encroachment from the west, north and south, deprived eternally of Cristal, brie, & Gaulloise (ugh)(sp?)???????????

[flyingfysh]

4. somebody forgets who financed the American Revolution

Benjamin Franklin (probably the best ambassador the United States ever had) persuaded France to donate extensive financial aid to the American side during the revolution. Basically, France emptied its national treasury to help us.

Also, Cornwallis could have escaped Washington at Yorktown (when the American side was about to run out of money, in spite of French help), when what happened? The French fleet showed up, defeated the British ships there, and cut off Cornwallis' escape.

If it hadn't been for France, the American Revolution would have failed.

[Flagg]

5. What about "Vichy French" shooting on American soldiers during WWII ?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. During World War II the French fought against the French

In Syria for example, some units of the French Foreign Legion were fighting against other units of the Foreign Legion, depending on which government their Generals were obeying, the one in Vichy or the Free French government in exile created in September, 1941 by DeGaulle.

During World War II, the Free French Army fought alongside the allies throughout the desert campaign in North Africa, in Italy, in Normandy and even at the Battle of the Bulge. When US troops were besieged in the terrible bloodbath at Anzio on the beach, the Gustav line was finally broken and the campaign won thanks to the Free French Army that took the heights of the Belvedere:

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:i3eOATaS-YcJ:home.wanadoo.nl/cclinks/abtf/fierce~1.html+french+break+gustav+line+anzio&hl=en
"...When the Allies renew the offensive on May 11, four corps are thrown forward - the U.S. II, the Polish II, the British XIII, and the French Expeditionary Force. The 12 attacking divisions face only 6 German divisions. While there is general progress all along the Gustav Line, it is the French who finally crack the line for good. On May 14, they break into the Ausente Valley and race toward the next German line; they hope to crack this line before the Germans can settle into their defensive positions. By May 16, only the Poles face determined resistance at Cassino; everywhere else the Germans are falling back to their next line of defense. The Poles finally capture the ruins of the monastery at Cassino on May 18..."

One of the greatest air aces of World War II was the Free French pilot Pierre Closterman, who had 33 confirmed kills and 23 probables, one of the very highest totals for any allied pilot in the European theater of war:
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:fBJ7MSpR6iwJ:users.senet.com.au/~wingman/aces.html+pierre+closterman+ace+&hl=en

One of the great stories of World War II is that of the Free French pilots who volunteered to form squadrons of fighters within the Russian Army on the Eastern Front. Known as the "Normandie-Niemen", the French squadrons racked up 236 kills of German planes with several more "probables". Their leader was Marcel Albert, who was given Russia's highest military honor, "Hero Of The Soviet Union", which is the Russian equivalent of the Congressional Medal Of Honor.
http://www.frenkenstein.com/ww2/Normandy-Niemen/Normandie-Niemen.htm

Another famous incident in World War II involving the French was the battle of Gazala in North Africa, particularly that part of the battle known as the siege of Bir Hakeim. The Germans under Rommel fought a hard fight against the allies, including a major tank battle. The British were virtually routed. But the southern part of their defenses were held by two battalions of French Foreign Legion, one Regiment of Regular French Marines, a Regiment of Spahis and a collection of various French colonial troops. For 10 days, although heavily outnumbered by the Germans, they held off attack after attack by Rommel and allowed the allies to escape to safety. It made the later victory at El Alamein possible, a key victory against the Afrika Korps. It is one of the proudest moments in the history of the French Foreign Legion, although other French units participated as well.
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:iU_KESFuzS4J:www.ku.edu/carrie/specoll/AFS/4/d/4d4a1.html+bir+hakim+legion&hl=en



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French Military Contribution to the Operation "Enduring Freedom" May 17, 2002
http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2002/sfia/fight1.asp

#French airspace, air bases, and harbors opened to US military aircraft and warships

#Liaison team at the US Central Command (Tampa, FL) since October 9, 2001
#WARSHIPS (1 Frigate, 1 Oiler) in the Arabian Sea for Leadership Interception Operations
#Sharing of Military intelligence
#Intelligence gathering airbone assets at an early phase of the operations (1 Transall C160 G ; 1 Transall C 160 Tanker)
#Strategic reconnaissance
(2 Mirage IV P-Recce from October 2001 to mid-February 2002)
#Air Refueling Aircraft (2 C135 FR Tankers) for French and U.S. Navy Aircraft. From December to April
#Maritime Surveillance Aircrafts (2 MPA Atlantique 2, based in Djibouti, to monitor Aden Gulf)
#Maritime intelligence
(1 LPD, 1 Frigate, 1 Corvette, 1 Support Ship, 1 Support Ship Jules Vernes). From the beginning of May
#Mine sweeping - Maritime survey
(2 Minehunters - 1 Support Ship FS Loire). From December to April

*"CHARLES DE GAULLE" aircraft carrier - 28 aircrafts
TASK GROUP :
- 1 Guided Missile Destroyer
(3500 men)

Deployed from 18th of December to beginning of May in the Arabian Sea. On high readiness status
within two days of operational flight above Afghanistan since then.
*1 Oiler - 2 Frigates - 1 Nuclear Attack submarine (800 men)

Deployed at Manas Air Force Base in Kirghisistan:

450 men to support the operations of the following air assets:

*6 Mirage 2000D (Precision Strike Aircraft)
* 2 C135 FR (Tankers)

Airlift Transit Center of Douchanbe in Tadjikistan:

Presence of air assets including C130 Hercules and C160 Transall seployed at Douchanbe to provide airlift support of the French Components of Enduring Freedom and ISAF (100 men).
Embassy of France in the US - May 31, 2002

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French soldiers died alongside US soldiers in the terrorist bombings in Lebanon in 1983:

On October 23, 1983, 56 French soldiers lost their lives alongside 241 US Marines in Lebannon when terrorists bombed their barracks. The US media seems to always forget the deaths of the French:
http://www.veteranen.info/~cedarsouthlebanon/mnf/multinational_force.eng.htm

"...On October 23, just after dawn 241 Marines died when a truck loaded with TNT blew up a marine barracks at the International Airport. At almost the same time, another truck blew up the French barracks a few kilometres away, killing 56 French troops..."

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U.S. Ignored Warnings from the French Intelligence a few days before 911, as documented by FBI Agent Coleen Rowley.
http://propagandamatrix.com/US_Ignored_Warnings_From_French.htm

********************************************

French troops saved US citizens in the Ivory Coast in September, 2002:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200209250715.html

"...French troops have rescued 160 mainly American children and staff trapped at an international school in Bouake, the central Ivorian city which has been under control of mutinous soliders for almost a week..."

***********************************************

French military contributions to the allied coalition in Desert Storm in 1991

Air Power: http://216.239.57.104/searchq=cache:7z0syujGyEkJ:www.danshistory.com/operations.shtml+france+military+contribution+desert+storm&hl=en

Over 100 aircraft committed including Jaguar, Mirage 2000 C, 2000 D, F-1, Mir-WP, JAG-A, E3-F, C-135F, UAV, CL-289, UAV CR, PUMA SA-330, HORIZON C160, aircraft based on aircraft carrier FS Foch.

French aircraft flew 2,414 sorties in Desert Storm.

French total military contribution of 11,000 troops to Desert Storm, including the 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:QtzXawDPzlAJ:news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/861164.stm+french+troops+desert+storm&hl=en

**************************************************

The French Battalion in the Korean War won 3 Distinguished Presidential Unit Citations for bravery and fought alongside US troops.
http://www.info-france-usa.org/atoz/koreawar.asp

The French Battalion took part in some of the bloodiest battles of the Korean War including Twin Tunnels and Heartbreak Ridge and saved a US division by making a stand and fighting the Chinese hand-to-hand, according to one eyewitness account of a US soldier:

"....Retreating, the Chinese reorganized and hit the French who were defending Hill 453. Lt. Col. Ralph Monclar, a decorated and much-wounded veteran of both world wars, inspired his men. Freeman later recalled: "Wave after wave of fanatical Chinese continued to surge on during the next three hours in an attempt to seize the dominating ground. The gallant French 1st Company was finally engaged in hand-to-hand fighting and suffered heavy casualties. With their position becoming almost untenable, the desperate French counter-attacked with the bayonet...."

"...The Chinese, with victory almost in their grasp-a victory which had they attained would have jeopardized our entire position-pulled back......"

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[SidDithers]

9. What about them? nt

Sid

[Morning Dew]

6. Screw the French - let 'em keep their damn Flu vaccine . . .

we'll get some from the Brits.


;)

[Lefty48197]

7. Morans

ignorance is America's biggest problem