The UK recently signed an historic deal to share some military capabilities with France. As part of the TV coverage of this one reporter quoted an American, former deputy undersecretary of defense, called Jed Babbin who said:
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordian. You just leave a lot of noisy baggage behind"
I love the quote. Please share any other jokes you have about the French, as well as any opinions about the recent deal.
When I first heard the news about this deal, my initial reaction was hysterical laughter.
And here's a comment from my OH:
"The only contribution the French made to World War II was to annoy the Wehrmacht by licking the polish off their boots."
Let's be fair to the French. When they decide to do something they do it well. During the Gulf War the French Foreign Legion did anchor the end of Schwarzkopf's pivot and did a good job. it is the slow and deliberate and completely independent France first decision making that most Americans find annoying. During the war on terror - now suspended under President Hussein - the French have been very supportive of US special operations in Africa. Jed Babbin knows that but is nonetheless hilarious.
I think you're right. There is nothing wrong with the French military and they are a good ally. I actually think its a pretty good deal for the UK to do as far as it goes, which isn't far. It's just that it is so much fun taking the p out of the French as 'cheese eating surrender monkeys' who we had to save in two world wars.
There is no President Hussein. If you don't even know who the president of the United States is, how can any of your posts be taken seriously?
You mean President Barrack He Whose Middle Name Must Not Be Spoken Obama. It was racist or xenophobic or what ever other name if Hussein's name was spoken before he was elected. There are people who sneered at Dubya by calling him W or Dubya or Shrub or junior or monkey - so in the sense of fair play, as in turn about is, I call BHO President Hussein. As to being taken seriously - I don't take you thus.
"There are people who sneered at Dubya by calling him W or Dubya"
Dude, he called himself W.
Okay, shrub or Jr or "the smirking chimp" were derogatory, but you can't blame someone for calling the guy what he calls himself. I mean, I wouldn't get mad if people called me Jeff.
Jeff, really, Jeff? Jeff? What the hell...Jeff? OOOOOO KAAAAAY J----e----f-----f(ah). He was a little chummy about the nick name thing - Dubya, Brownie, Scooter - JEFF. There were those who sneered at the chumminess as if chumminess is a sign of a flaccid intellect. I think anyone honest would not accept the idea that GWB was as weak minded as portrayed.
Anyway, yeah, the guy wasn't as stupid as his enemies wanted to believe. He did deliberately cultivate the down-home, unsophisticated, average-guy image, though, and it was a deft political move. Most people don't recall that he went to both Yale and Harvard.
cute quote. The only quote I can remember is from 2001, when someone asked "In the new War on Terror, who do you think the French will surrender too first." Which at the time I found rather cute. Of course that is before they changed leadership, I like the new French President, I think he might be good for the country and for the war on Terror.
The only war the French ever won was the French revolution and that, of course was against themselves.
My favorite village in France, near the Normandy Coast is frequently mispronounced. Les Petite Testicles but it is not that, it's just that I can never remember the full correct name. Perhaps because after misreading the name I was laughing so hard by the time I stopped we were completely through the very small town. Which made me start laughing again.
You seem to have forgotten that Napoleon was French and during his time France had conquered most of Europe?
France also won the 100 years war and kicked our English butts back across the Channel
So France has won plenty of battles and several wars
If you look at the history of America, there would be no USA without the help of France in our revolution. The irony of course, is that Both Britain and France were monarchies at the time-- and the American Revolution preshadowed the French one.
But then that was when people were not thinking about the accordians. It's a funny quote, though.
The shared ship will have to have an owners manual in french and english or would it be simpler for all the french armed forces to learn English-? obviously we cant learn french.
I think Dave slipped this one in by the back door but maybe they are right as long as we share nicely and make sure that we all take turns. This bit about France supporting us in conflict, where were they when we were in Argentina?
When were we in Argentina!?
When we were in the Falklands the MOD et al considered Mitterand and the French our greatest allies.
sorry John, i was thinking three days ago and writing today! with i think my tongue greatly in cheek. It is perhaps a sign of the times that our Royal Navy is to be shrunk again- but perhaps we forget the quickly altered and refitted commercial ship that was the Atlantic Conveyor ( i think that was the name) or the hospital ship which was called out of commercial service and subsequently returned- a beautiful white ship i think the original Oriana? The ability to use resources in times of need will always be with us whether our own or shared with France or indeed any other country. I do hope that we will not have to use them
But who else but some English come up with the idea of building a new Aircraft Carrier and then decide to save money by not having any aircraft on it!
Trouble is we now no longer have a ship building industry to quickly alter and refit ships, and no guarantee that any other country will want to do the work for us. We do seem rather keen on making ourselves reliant on foreign powers these days.
Despite the exocet missiles which sunk British ships being made and sold by the French.....
Have you never wondered at the help we got from France?
It was enough to render the exocet missiles virtually useless.
I'm not disputing your point, merely pointing out the (slight) irony of it all, although we did lose 2 ships to exocet strikes and had another damaged.
But everyone love the French --, wine, cheese, bread, design, fashion, -- that's why they get teased. It's not bashing, it's love.
The quote about war and deer hunting is funny in the way that the other famous quote about men, fish, and bicycles is funny.
But what's funny is not necessarily good policy.
Likewise, I thought all the nonsense about freedom fries and boycotting French wine and cheese and so forth was nonsensical, useless, and downright embarrassing. I mean, really, how are we supposed to take a person seriously after they insist on changing the name of a food? It's right up there with changing the name of the Danish (the pastry) to "Rose of the Prophet Mohammed."
(This happened in some Islamic countries after that one cartoon appeared in that one paper in Denmark. It was silly, but a lot nicer than blowing stuff up, I guess.)
But we were asked for something funny. Here goes:
"Canada is one great big missed opportunity. They could have had British Culture, French Cuisine, and American Technology, but instead they seem to have ended up with American Culture, British Cuisine, and French Technology."
Thank you! I'm here all week, and the ten o'clock show is completely different. Don't forget to tip your hardworking waitstaff, and have a great time in Vegas!
Oh, and some accordion-related humor:
You know the definition of "gentleman?"
A man who knows how to play the accordion...and doesn't.
"I'd rather have a German division in front of me, than a French one behind."
Well your president Obama now thinks that France is your biggest ally, so you had better hope that France has an army.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … itain.html
I think that it should be remembered that during WW1 France held the line on the Western Front from Switzerland almost to the Channel - the British, Australian, Canadian, NZ etc forces only holding about 30 miles from the coast of Belgium down to the Somme. The battle at Verdun bled the heart out of the French army and thousands of brave French men laid down their lives to protect their country.
Going to war without France is like going to war without a harmonica.
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