I agree with you on this. The French seem to have forgotten how many American lives it cost to free their country from another dictator that they tried to ignore.

You'd think they would have learned. One thing for sure...if not for the US and Britain...the French flag would have a Swastika right in the middle of it today.

Guys whilst I can understand American sentiment on this issue, and I have to agree that the French are perhaps being ,in your eyes, disloyal to an old friend, you have to take a slightly broader perspective. CNN DON'T report anything other than the American slant on the world.
France has a long history in the Middle East, and has no wish to upset the balance there, and has far more experience in the region than the US, and accordingly a better understanding of the Arabs and the way to get things done.
Whilst I feel that Saddam is a piece of vermin, and I fought in the last Gulf War, I don't feel that criticising a whole country for the failings of its political leaders is necessarily justified. I too feel strongly on the matter of France and its behaviour on a number of issues (illegal immigrants being helped into the UK for example), but let us not forget the many good things that they have contributed too. Criticising them for just one thing is hardly fair, and besides with the sheer number of British and American troops in the Gulf already, do we need to add to the complications? I mean, communications (both systems and language) etc.

So I will apologise to any of our French, or German members of this forum on your behalf.

Ozzy

PS. Craig, err you guys didn't get involved in any way other than supplying war materials to Britain until the end of '41..... Dec the 7th if my history serves!

Sorry Criag, momentary memory lapse there about your nationality. But yeah, we were in at the beginning, and my grandfathers and great uncles all fought 'the Hun' as they were known in those days.
However I have a number of German friends, and couldn't ask for nicer people to be around.
The concensus in Europe tends to be that Americans want everything their own way or they throw a tantrum (I'm not saying that, and have many good friends 'across the pond' whom I'd do anything for) if they don't get it.
But we have to respect other peoples right to express their opinion, even if it differs with ours. And Brads comment might offend some. I'm just trying to bring a little balance to the debate, and no I'm not pro-French! I'm also not pro-Bush or pro/anti-war.

Ozzy

From now on I will no longer eat French Fries, French Bread, Bratwurst or Sourkraut. I'm eating more boiled tomatoes, Pizza, and Arros Valenciana.

Zero Bubble

Officially - no - but for practical purposes, the US Navy was doing anti-submarine patrols, etc in the North Atlantic with some covert convoy protection carrying on.

Quote:

Guys, Brad has removed his original post out of respect for our European members, a great gesture IMHO.
So I'll lock this topic off before a lot of confusion breaks out because of people who didn't see the original post, and this turns into a mud-slinging match, because some don't know what is going on. None of us want that I'm sure, but I'd be interested in seeing a post on the Neutrality Patrols appear, sounds like the hub of a great discussion in there.

Ozzy