-
John Kerry, Secretary of Gaffes
April 25, 2013 | 9 comments
-
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC
March 14, 2013 | 0 comments
-
SEQUESTER: The Dumbest Weight-Loss Plan Ever
March 1, 2013 | 0 comments
-
Israel’s Hard-Right Turn That Wasn’t
January 22, 2013 | 1 comment
-
Deep Space Nine, Twenty Years Later
January 3, 2013 | 23 comments
The Spectacle Blog
One day after the release of a tape purportedly of Osama bin Laden threating France, the French government announces a plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Says the Christian Science Monitor, “French officials were quick to insist that there is ‘absolutely no link’ between the threat and their decision to begin withdrawing troops in 2011.” You would think, then, that the announcement could have been delayed a week or so.
View all comments (26) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/10/28/france-surrenders
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
J.C.Eaton| 10.28.10 @ 11:17PM
Well, it may be true. They've certainly had lots of practice.
IloiloKano| 10.28.10 @ 11:51PM
The title should properly read
"France Surrenders... Again".
CW| 10.29.10 @ 1:26AM
Pathetic. I agree with the title Kano suggests...
WL| 10.29.10 @ 1:39AM
2 British Troops and 2 French Troops meet in the bar....
The French troops snicker at the Brits...wondering why they wear those Red Coats that stick out and make good targets.....???
The Brits reply that when Red Coat officers go into battle they lead...and don't want the troops behind them to see if they are wounded and bleeding...hence the Red Coats....
The younger French troop looked at the other and said....OOOOOHHHHH SACLE BLEU!!! THAT'S WHY OUR OFFICERS WEAR BROWN PANTS!!!!!!!
Roger K| 10.29.10 @ 3:44AM
Apart from making fun of France, is there any point to this article or the subsequent comments? France decided to handover the majority of its Afghan regions to local authorities months ago as part of the NATO framework strategy, a framework entirely approved of by the US.
As someone who has actually been in Afghanistan, I should point out that thinking Americans should be thanking France (and the other nations involved there) for answering the call and sending troops there to assist the US in the first place (France has lost over 50 soldiers fighting there on our behalf), rather than making fun of them when they pull out according to a long-decided NATO timetable.
FtheFrenchies| 10.29.10 @ 8:29AM
50 soilders isn't shit compared to the thousands that have died from the U.S. Those 50 were the ones that couldn't reach for their white flag in time.
Roger K| 10.29.10 @ 8:41AM
50 is a small number compared to US casualties, but so what? The US was attacked, not France, yet they contributed forces to the war, and their soldiers have died because of it. Does the number of soldiers they lost helping us really matter, compared to the fact that they gave up French lives helping us? Please try not to be such a xenophobic penis, if at all possible.
When I was in Afghanistan, i didnt work with the French, but I did with the Canadians (Who by the way, have taken MORE casualties per caipta than we have) and the British: both nations in Afghanistan helping the US. Nothing pissed them off more than the abuse they get from dipshit Americans like you safe on their mother's sofa, while they are off fighting to keep you safe.
So with all due respect, blow it out your obese, ignorant sphincter.
Brian| 10.29.10 @ 8:57AM
Agree - the last thing we need to do is to alienate allies. The Sarkozy government is to the right of ours currently.
And as far as French military history - visit Verdun sometime, that's all I have to say on that.
Roger K| 10.29.10 @ 9:06AM
Been there, the Ossuaire is just staggering. When one considers that French lost more people in that BATTLE than the US did in all of WW2, it does put their so-called 'cowardice' into perspective'.
dac| 10.29.10 @ 10:29AM
First, the French are not our allies. They haven't been since the Marquis de Lafayette's time and they never will be again. The fact that they have taken some casualties in Afghanistan--no such sacrifices should be mocked or taken lightly--does not make them allies. Jordanians have taken casualties in the Middle East fighting on "our side" but nobody with even a dim bulb would consider them allies either.
The French fight for the French, period. France's political class and the vast majority of its people despise Americans and would like to see the U.S. fail, because then by comparison, France looks and "feels" better about its own pathetic, sorryass EUnuch status in the world.
So we can respect the tiny sacrifices of the French military (presumably, some there still retain the historical DNA of Charles Martel), but ought to be equally clear-eyed about the overall policy of France--which is relentlessly anti-American. Is there any doubt the French would sell us out to any of its historical Arab allies? Recall Chirac's conduct before and during the Iraq war...enough said.
As I've asserted before on this site, there are only two things the French do better than the Americans: civilian nuclear power and rugby. That is it. The rest of the French can stew in their rotting EU hell, with their dying culture. The only remaining question is whether they will ultimately reprise Charles Martel and drive out their now embedded Muslim enemies. If not, they will die. And I won't shed a single tear for them. Hopefully we can relocate the Normandy cemeteries first.
Sheila| 10.29.10 @ 12:32PM
Excellent comment dac, with one minor caveat. I will shed a tear for what is the certain loss, to Dar Al Islam, of Notre Dame and other great art and architecture of historically-Christian Europe. As for the rest, I repeat: Decline and fall.
Nobama| 10.29.10 @ 11:55PM
You may be right about French nuclear power superiority, but I strenuously object to your assertion that the French best us in rugby!
Yosemeti Sam| 10.29.10 @ 6:46AM
What did I tell you folks - France has a Force de Crap!
France is so - Maginot Line minded.
LOL.
FastJohnny| 10.29.10 @ 7:48AM
Well, France does what it does best...retreat. The old joke, that I heard in the Army back in the cold war days, persists to this day. Even the other Nato allies used to say this too.
"Did you hear that France just contracted with Renault to build a new tank, it has an advanced transmission with 5 new overdrive speeds, all in reverse."
So much for the land of Liberte...as they shout thier battle cry: Vive la Retreat!!!!
Vaemar| 10.29.10 @ 8:59AM
"Apart from making fun of France, is there any point to this article or the subsequent comments? "
Does it need to have any other point?
Nobama| 10.29.10 @ 11:57PM
The tool who asked that question might as well be French.
Derek Leaberry| 10.29.10 @ 9:39AM
America should be doing the same thing as the French. Whether Afghanistan is democratic or not is irrelevant to American interests, especially with America running up $ 1 trillion + deficits for as long as the eye can see. Give me a Marine sergeant who will clamp Petraeus in chains, send him home with the rest of the political generals, and put in motion a big bug-out.
David W| 10.29.10 @ 10:01AM
Perception versus reality. I agree that some of the comments here now and those that will be are uncalled for. Unfortunately, the perception is that the announcement (based upon what I read above) coming so close after Obama's announcement (oops, read Osama's announcement) gives the perception that Bin Laden's threat had an effect. Probably didn't but perception can really suck. Let's see if the burqa ban is revoked or not. If it is then the joke about "assume the position - We surrender" may not be far from the truth. Though if so, then that will be happening, I fear, in this country (thank the 2nd amendment for Cabellas and Bass Pro's gun shops).
RWinks| 10.29.10 @ 11:08AM
Since the decision to withdraw the French forces was made at least three months ago, it should be obvious the Jihadi's threat was timed to make it seem as a capitulation. And, it is working with some people.
c| 10.29.10 @ 11:50AM
why make fun of the french? obama will withdraw next year. democrats refused to aid south vietnam in 1974 leading to our withdrawal.
we should also withdraw now and not sacrifice more soldiers for obama.
c| 10.29.10 @ 11:50AM
why make fun of the french? obama will withdraw next year. democrats refused to aid south vietnam in 1974 leading to our withdrawal.
we should also withdraw now and not sacrifice more soldiers for obama.
paulH| 10.29.10 @ 7:23PM
Bashing the French is the only achievement of all those couch warriors. Enjoy your Freedom fries.
For those who fought along side the French in Afganisthan: Semper fidelis, we will never forget Omaha Beach, please never forget Alasay Valley . Cheers
Nobama| 10.29.10 @ 11:59PM
Spoken like a true patriot--of France. Moron.
AFA| 11.15.10 @ 8:19AM
I always appreciate US ignorant fucks making dumb comments about the French. French military history, through 1500 years is probably more filled with victories than defeats, and is one of the most glorious of the world, if not the most, when USA were still a desert populated by cactus and Indian Nations, and when USIANS were still in the balls of their European ancestors. Main WW1 battles were won by the French, like VERDUN, in 1916. French WW2 casualties, military and civilians, 600000, were higher than all US casualties of this war, on all fronts, Pacific and Europe, 416800,included 67000 French civilians killed under allied bombings, mostly US.
The French lost 100000 killed in 6 weeks of fights in May/June 1940, during the battle of France, during the German blietzkrieg, and inflicted 45000 killed and 111000 woundeds to Germans, before to give up. All Europe was crushed at beginning of WW2, by German war machine, included Soviets, who lost millions prisoners in the hands of Wehrmacht, when Soviet Union was crushed in 1941/42. US troops would have been crushed like all Europe was, by the German Blietzkrieg. US army was a joke in 1940. After 1942, a new French rebuilt army fought on most this war theaters. Free French forces (French regular forces), were 1,3 million involved in Europe in 1945.French fighters were not only Hollywood beret resistance craps. When i read some dumb comments from ignorant US fucks there, it would be a pleasure to kick the teeth of all these brainwashed uneducated rednecks. A lot US citizens are a bunch of ignorant and brainwashed
turds, with no clue of real world history. Really awful. For most of the French during generations, war were real things in their backyards, not Hollywood craps. Pathetic bunch of ignorant losers.