I reported a couple of days ago that another military cemetery had been vandalized in France.

Actually, several such desecrations happened in July in France in 3 different military cemeteries.

15 graves have been vandalized last Wednesday in the British cemetery of Aix-Noulette (Pas-de-Calais) near Lens.

At Quesnel (Somme), 12 tombstones of the British cemetery have been broken between July 22-29.

The French article's here. Thanks to the Dissident Frogman for his permanent and appreciated vigilance.

Again, when is this supposed to stop? When will those soldiers be able to rest in peace in the country they came to defend?

UPDATE: Those acts had nothing to do with the current diplomatic tensions between France and those who rallied to the US to free Iraq. It's just because some people don't know what to do during the summer holidays:

Police said on Friday that such acts of vandalism were common during school holidays and at weekends.

"This is sadly a part of the summer. It is a problem we have every year, but it was blown up this year because of the Etaples incident," said Roy Hemington, spokesman for the French area office of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

President of the Royal Anglian and Royal Lincolnshire Regiment Association Major-General Richard Gerrard-Wright, today condemned the vandalism.

"This is an absolutely disgraceful and unspeakable act," he said.

"How dare anyone do this to the graves of men who gave their lives for peace?

"My heart goes out to the families of these men. I sincerely hope there is never any repetition of this."

But Major General Gerrard-Wright said it would be wrong if the incident led to any anti-French feeling.

"I am sure this will prove to be the act of a lunatic fringe," he said.

"I have already spoken to some French friends of mine and they said they were as appalled as we were."

A St Aubert police spokesman said the headstones were randomly kicked over.

"We do not believe the vandals were motivated by any religious, racial or nationalistic feeling," he said.

"It could have been done by a single person or a group. An investigation has been launched."

The French Minister for War Veterans, Hamlaoui Mekachera, condemned the act.

He said: "This is an inexcusable attack on the memory of British, Canadian and New Zealand soldiers who should rest in peace on our soil."

Mr Mekachera said he hoped the police investigation "would swiftly identify the culprits".

Sigh....whatever, the French don't have jobs, they don't have kids, and their population is aging...I mean these are people who import their workers from Islamic countrys and then wonder why they have an arab problem?
What else would a frog do? Desicrate a grave. of course the Karmic stink will follow the little bastards around for the rest of their lives...

Look Luther,

If you prefer to think it is nothing serious, it's fine.

The fact is that in 4 months there have been, to my knowledge, 4 desecrations of such cemeteries, the first one in Etaples being the most horrendous. In July alone, there have been 3 of them, as far as I know only in foreign military cemeteries.

Some French students visiting the American cemetery in Normandy were also caught spiting on the graves.

Such things are not acceptable for me. It shouldn't be for you either, especially since the 4 cemeteries I'm refering to were at least partly British.

In no way am I asking people to hate the French. I'm just observing it happens a lot in France. And myself being French makes it even more revolting.

That doesn't mean all the French act like that or are anti-American. Still, there are too many such "accidents" happening. I don't think I've heard of any British or American desecrating a French monument like the Statue of Liberty or the French embassy, whatever, in retaliation.

Throwing away wine or boycotting French products is not desecrating cemeteries.

Now, don't you think Americans have a right to know what's going on here? What is happening in the cemeteries where their ancestors are resting...

Carine,

It is disgusting for these things to happen, but every country has its nutters.
Jewish graves and synagogues seem to suffer it all the time, at least in Britain (anti-semitism being one of the most pernicious froms of racism) and since 2001 acts of desecration against muslim holy places have gone through the roof.

Even if you assume they are calculated acts, they are not representative of the French people are they?

Luther,

I just told you I didn't think it was representative of all the French people.

I still think it happens way too much here.

I haven't made any sarcastic comment. I just reported the news.

There have been a LOT of anti-American and by extension, as a retaliation against Mr. Blair's decision to side by the US, anti-British "accidents" in the last 9 months and a LOT of anti-Semitic "accidents" in the last couple of years.

I have been to the US twice in the last 6 months and didn't suffer any prejudice, any insult, nothing. Americans who disagreed with Chirac and had no way to know, at first, that I disagreed with Chirac's policy too, approached me very kindly to talk about it. I repeat, before knowing what my position was.

Meanwhile, I have been insulted and strongly criticized in my own country for my pro-US position. Just because I believed the war was necessary. There was, in most cases, no discussion possible.

I'm not saying the desecrations of cemeteries happen only in France, but, I repeat, being French, it makes it to me all the more revolting that it happens so many times. Especially the desecretation of the graves of soldiers who fought for France, whatever their origin.

We all owe these soldiers our freedom, including our freedom to be outraged by such acts and to speak our mind. They gave their life for this freedom, hence I'm not ready to give it up anytime soon.

A view from an American who is *not* anti-French/France and doesn't support any boycott:

The vandalism is being reported here. As far as I can tell, it's not attributed to *all* French citizens. People are sure the French share the same values we do regarding the graves of service people.

What *is* bothersome is this is viewed as a result of the relentless anti-Americanism that exists in France due to the media and the elites.
France has state-sponsored media, in a way the US doesn't, and the virulent anti-Americanism is coming from state sponsored media as well. It gets people upset to think a government sponsored entity (media) may be partly responsible for stoking the flames of hatred towards Americans such that graves are being attacked. (The UK being a target as well because the UK has been a strong ally.)

Once you demonize a people, like the US has been demonized in France, it's not suprising there will be acts of vandalism against items that represent that people. I'm surprised people are so shocked at what has happened. To me, it's an acting out of the hatred towards Americans, and our allies, they have been fed via the media. Seems like a natural consequence of hate to me.

One last point. It must seem, because of some of the websites, jokes, and boycotts that the average American is anti-France/French. From what I can see this isn't true. I have never heard any negative statements about France or the French. I've seen the statements and read them, but in my day to day contact with average people I never hear anything bad. There is disappointment, but I have not witnessed any anger myself. (I'm not saying it doesn't exist, just that it is not very widespread.)

Once you demonize a people, like the US has been demonized in France, it's not suprising there will be acts of vandalism against items that represent that people.
So it's America's fault for reacting to the demonization of it by France and for reacting to treachery by a 'friend'?

It must seem, because of some of the websites, jokes, and boycotts that the average American is anti-France/French. From what I can see this isn't true. I have never heard any negative statements about France or the French. I have, but I doubt we hang in the same kind of circles. The people I hear don't hate France, they're pissed at France and with good reason. They're mostly democrats and they are all blue-collar. I can't think of anyone I know who personally who has a good thing to say about the French since they started working against the US.

There is disappointment, but I have not witnessed any anger myself. (I'm not saying it doesn't exist, just that it is not very widespread.)
I disagree, aside from polls showing it to be very widespread my own personal experience is entirely opposite of yours. I've heard people making French jokes for years but there was never the anger and animosity in it until France stabbed America in the back. Now instead of just jokes there is venting and rage that accompanies being betrayed by a country that purported to be our friend through the entire thing (and still do, like their actions don't belie their words).

I'm sure there is something positive that can be said about France with regard to its treatment of America in the last several months, but I'm neither educated enough nor enlightened enough to think of anything.

Kal

Kalroy, you are the young right-wing aren't you!
Wow! You don't exist in Britain anymore ;)
Mind you we don't have the dizzying promise of Neo-conservatism over here yet, that's far too modern for the conservative elite over here.
Lets just hope Bush can secure enough time to establish the ideology there, so it doesn't blow away.

Your insertions into the previous post are a little out of order though.
Is Chris Josephson here to defend himself?

transparent

Sorry, ignore the last three lines.
I thought you were misquoting Chris.

Kalroy, you are the young right-wing aren't you!
Really? Wow, that explains why I voted for Clinton. Oh all right I still regret that, especially since I got to see first-hand what he did to the US military. It wasn't pretty.

My posts will be quite disjointed, aside from the degradation in my english (it's been ongoing since moving to California) there is the distraction of watching mindless television entertainment while I try to type; well that coupled with the break in my train of thought when I go out to have a smoke and read.

Mind you we don't have the dizzying promise of Neo-conservatism over here yet, that's far too modern for the conservative elite over here.
I'm sure there were similar indications and worries back in 1935 but I'm learning just how much was secretly boiling away under the surface biding its time until such sentiments were needed to preserve Britain. I'm willing to bet it's still there, after all that cowboy mentality and cowboy values that are roundly disparaged around the world came from there. It's a belief that fostered the term "Britain and her cowboy kids" (USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

Kal

Kal:

"So it's America's fault for reacting to the demonization of it by France and for reacting to treachery by a 'friend'?"

Show me where I assigned blame to the US, please.
Haven't the faintest idea how anyone could have read it that way, but obviously you did.

About the attitudes towards the French I have *observed*. Yes, I've seen the polls and have heard the jokes (as I stated), but in my day to day contact with people I do not see people angry.
I don't hear people tell the jokes, except on TV.

I have seen hurt and disappointment expressed, but not anger. People may be angry and express it via polls, but I have not heard anyone express the sentiments, in person, that I have seen on the web or on TV.

If you just read the polls you could be under the impression a French citizen isn't safe in the US, that he/she will be attacked verbally (if not physically). I don't see this. There's a French guy in my building (been here 2 yrs.), he's had no problems at all. As soon as he opens his mouth you can tell he's French because of the accent. Nobody has bothered him or made him feel uncomfortable. To my knowledge, he's not regarded as some sort of spokesman for France where people demand he defend French policy. He's just a coworker.

My comments were not meant to defame or excuse France. They were just comments. I don't think it's necessary to express anger or defame when pointing out flaws. I find if you express anger or defame, people are less apt to pay attention to your point because you have distracted them by the 'tone' that comes through in the post.

Don't know about anyone else, but anyone who posts about the US's flaws and has anything but a neutral 'tone' to their posts .. I automatically discard whatever points they try to make. I felt the point about anti-Americanism words in France leading to anti-American actions was important. I did not want to clutter that point up by how I expressed it.

I know all French citizens are not anti-American.
If they read this blog I don't want to insult them. It's bad enough to point out some of the facts. I don't want to blame all the French. I don't hate France or the French. I am upset at the policies their government has adopted toward the US and the anti-Americanism that is in vogue.

I find the virulent anti-Americanism distasteful, to say the least. I don't ever want to come close to becoming one of the 'foaming at the mouth ranters'. (I view many of the anti-American posters I've seen around the web as 'foaming at the mouth ranters'. I find them awfully pathetic.) Just because I don't rant and rave about France doesn't mean I excuse what has happened.

Show me where I assigned blame to the US, please.

I must have misinterpreted the following: Once you demonize a people, like the US has been demonized in France, it's not suprising there will be acts of vandalism against items that represent that people. I'm surprised people are so shocked at what has happened.
However, upon re-reading it I still get the impression that you imply that the desecration was due to the US demonizing France. I have no problem believing that you had no intention of implying anything of the sort. The lack of vocal tones in posting often lead to these events.

About the attitudes towards the French I have *observed*. Yes, I've seen the polls and have heard the jokes (as I stated), but in my day to day contact with people I do not see people angry.
I don't hear people tell the jokes, except on TV.
It seems I failed, in my prior post, to point out that it is very likely we run in entirely different circles.

People may be angry and express it via polls, but I have not heard anyone express the sentiments, in person, that I have seen on the web or on TV.
I have, but again we probably run in very different circles.

There's a French guy in my building (been here 2 yrs.), he's had no problems at all. As soon as he opens his mouth you can tell he's French because of the accent.
Is it one of those cool Louis Jordan accents or the fake sounding Inspector Clouseau accent like one of my best friends have? I thought he was faking it when we first met.

I know all French citizens are not anti-American.
I totally agree, but I believe that anti-Americanism is pretty prevelant, especially when considering that a large chunk (I can't remember if it was 20% or 30%) actually wanted the US to be defeated in Iraq. It's not an attitude I really understand. It's not an attitude I could bring myself to have regarding France and the Ivory Coast or the Congo, so I don't know how it is that so large a group of French feel that way.

Just because I don't rant and rave about France doesn't mean I excuse what has happened.
I apologize for my knee-jerk reaction and false attribution.

Kal

"Meanwhile, I have been insulted and strongly criticized in my own country for my pro-US position"
Because you are French spitting at your own country. US citizens are not insulted for their pro-US positions...

Because you are French spitting at your own country. US citizens are not insulted for their pro-US positions...
So you're position, then, is that any citizen that criticizes their own country is in the wrong? That seems to be what you are implying.

Kal

"I totally agree, but I believe that anti-Americanism is pretty prevelant, especially when considering that a large chunk (I can't remember if it was 20% or 30%) actually wanted the US to be defeated in Iraq.It's not an attitude I really understand"
So, do I . Such people are irresponsible and/not not clever.

You can blame France for this if you want. But What score would get the same poll in Italy, Spain,Germany , South American countries...?

There was a wide oppositon to this war. A lot of Governements opposed this war, and a lot of people throught the world also opposed. In one way, France was the "voice" of this opposition.

To blame France only is a very narrow view of the situation, that is convenient to the US administration.
Indeed, rather put France as a "scapegoat", as to really debate of the legitimity or not of this war.
To accuse France, French, is a way to tell, "everybody int the world was with us, except France".
It's false, but it works. Many people in the US are now anti-French . They forgot Germany, the spanish opposition to the war ( from people, not government), they even don't suppose that a part of Brits were agaisnt also.
Funny, I was reading once, that someone from the US was modifying his plan for holidays: he changed France for Spain , and was proud of this.
This person seems to don't realize how much the spanish people were against this war. Much more than French.

Because you are French spitting at your own country. US citizens are not insulted for their pro-US positions...

Look Marc,

First I have been insulted in France after pronouncing the following exact words: THE US IS RIGHT, BUSH IS RIGHT. I never said anything against France that got me insulted in France. Never. And you know why? Because even if I had wanted to say anything against France, they wouldn't let me. It was just the typical "shut-your-mouth" attitude you're displaying here.

Then, as far as I know, we're still in a democracy in France and if I want to speak my mind against what's going wrong in my country, I can.

Do you consider that the small number of French people who were against PETAIN were spitting on their country too?

You say Wolfowitz or Rumsfeld would make good dictators but actually, you're the one with a wicked totalitarian mind.

Btw, some people, many people in your, my, our country don't consider me French, only "French on identity papers" because my last name doesn't sound French. So if I have a love/hate relationship with our country, don't blame me, blame the core of racist, anti-Semitic, anti-American people that operate in OUR country.
As far as I'm concerned, I don't insult people because their name sounds French. Some French do insult people because of their last name though.
And you know what's going on in temp work agencies, right? You did hear about those BBR (Bleu Blanc Rouge) lists, right? Do you want me to talk about it here too?
Don't you think your time would be better spent fighting this kind of discrimination, rather than a website, certainly with a rather limited audience, which, after all, only posts NEWS about France. But nooooo. This is so much easier to call me a vichiste than to fight real problems in France! You're such a brave man, Marc. A man, really.

I was born in this country, my parents were born in this country. One of my grandfathers died for this country. And I consider myself French.
I have successfully completed my studies. Actually, way better than those who considered me "only French on identity papers". I pay taxes, I have never ever received any kind of help from this country because I prefered work to being an "assisted". If there is something going wrong here, I have the right to open my mouth. Like it or not, I WON'T KEEP QUIET.

As far as I know, you've never been denied your silly comments about the US here. Though you proved again and again that you were talking about things you didn't master (it's an euphemism), you were free to express your opinion, am I wrong? Does that mean that you make a difference between you and me? You can talk about the current US administration as "republicanazis extremists" and I can't say "something's wrong in France, the number of racist acts is rising"?

This person seems to don't realize how much the spanish people were against this war. Much more than French.

As far as I know, the Spanish are not desecrating American monuments.

Another thing Marc,

Don't think you're representing the best defense of France here.

Indeed, not all the French are racist or prejudiced. Not all the French are intellectually dishonest.

You don't seem to be a good example though.

I'd like to be able to talk about it calmly with you. But all you do is insulting me.
It's exactly the same with this Guillaume/Rami/Pierre, whatever his name was. I was answering his mail, calmly but since he couldn't wait 2 days - 2 days - for me to answer, he spit his venom here.

There is no discussion possible with the likes of you both. You are not here for a discussion. You are not here to argue. You just want us to keep quiet. You just want to deny us our very freedom of speech. So you use every possible means like saying we are racists, extremists, vichists, whatever. Easy, but still irrelevant.

But guess what? We won't shut up.
I know, life can be a bitch. Live with it.

So if you have any interesting thing to say to me without insulting me and if you are ready for an honest discussion, go ahead. Unfortunately, I doubt you can do that.

Here is exactly what I meant when I wrote you just want us to keep quiet. No wonder you love the UN so much:

U.N. Fights the First Amendment

Just because the United Nations infests New York with its headquarters doesn’t mean it recognizes U.S. laws and culture.

NewsMax’s U.N. correspondent Stewart Stogel tells us that
the globalist outfit, apparently unable to handle criticism, is threatening to yank credentials from reporters who don’t write glowingly of it.

“The U.S. mission taking a hard line with the Annan people,” Stogel writes to us. “The U.S. says is it will protest and seek to block any attempt by the U.N. to lift any reporter's ground pass for writing material the U.N. does not like. I was told the issue had already been discussed with the White House.”

Of course, you are certainly already aware that 'Reporters Sans Frontières' - 'Reporters Without Borders' - has seen its accreditation withdrawn for a month by the UN economic and social committee. This decision happened just after a small demonstration was organized by 'Reporters Without Borders' to protest the election of Lybia at the head of the UN Human Rights Commission. An election France participated in since it abstained from voting against it.

"No comment" were the words of the French Foreign Minister Spokesman.

Marc,

To blame France only is a very narrow view of the situation, that is convenient to the US administration.
Indeed, rather put France as a "scapegoat", as to really debate of the legitimity or not of this war.
It's not France's opposition to the war that people are upset with. It's the way they worked against the US. After approving Res 1441 they contacted members of the UNSC and worked to kill any resolution to enforce that resolution. It was that they worked to torpedo America's efforts, not that they simply voiced opposition. It is France's temerity to insist that they were our friends despite their actions proving the contrary. It is France's disingenous attempts to moralize their position that I find offensive. They lobbied to end the sanctions on Iraq prior to the war and then lobbied against ending them after the war. As it turns out France was making millions by administering the food for oil program prior to the war and stood to lose millions if the sanctions ended after the war. It also turns out that France stood to lose nearly 100 billion, due to its exclusive oil exploration contracts with Saddam, if Saddam was defeated since those contracts would end up being voided.

They forgot Germany, the spanish opposition to the war ( from people, not government), they even don't suppose that a part of Brits were agaisnt also.
We didn't forget Germany. As to the other countries, especially Britain, they voiced their displeasure, their disagreement and their objections, BUT they didn't stab the US in the back the way France AND Germany did.

By the way, you forgot Russia. You'll notice that there isn't nearly the animosity for Russia that there is for France. You'll also notice that Russia was never as hypocritical as France. They were up front that their opposition was because removing Saddam was not in their national interest (Saddam/Iraq owed Russia a LOT of money). Also they didn't work as actively to thwart the US as France did, and if they did they were never caught like France was.

Funny, I was reading once, that someone from the US was modifying his plan for holidays: he changed France for Spain , and was proud of this.
This person seems to don't realize how much the spanish people were against this war. Much more than French.
But Spain still supported the US and they did NOT actively work against the US.

What you're missing is that America's animosity towards France is not based to their opposition to US interests it is based on their efforts to thwart American interest and on their hypocritical moralism that they gave as reason for doing so.

Kal

First I have been insulted in France after pronouncing the following exact words: THE US IS RIGHT, BUSH IS RIGHT. I never said anything against France that got me insulted in France.

Actually you could get the same reaction here in the US for that. You can say it at a construction site full of working class Democrats, but don't say it at a DNC convention or a university campus.

Kal

---"Police said on Friday that such acts of vandalism were common during school holidays and at weekends."---

What? So now we are to expect meore of these things? The August vacations just started for Christ's sake!

Don't you people have teen rec centers or something? I thought you all had these wonderfull day care centers for kids and working parents. Well, I guess you don't have a lot of time after working those 35 hours. Jeeze, I hope I don't read here you've been dumping the kids off at the cemeteries all along.

I wonder why it has been primarily British gravesites? New Zealand and Canadian were probably mistaken Identity? This mystery requires an Inspector Clouseau indeed.

American graves are curiously left be? Very strange. Any theories would be helpful.

My theory would be that those who do that are so stupid that they make no difference.

Remember the Etaples cemetery desecration. Though the cemetary is British, the desecration targeted Americans and British alike.

Those last desecrations may have nothing to do with any anti-British or anti-American feelings, but just be random acts from teenagers trying to "have a little fun". Terribly sad but maybe true.
That doesn't make it more acceptable though.

"After approving Res 1441 they contacted members of the UNSC and worked to kill any resolution to enforce that resolution. It was that they worked to torpedo America's efforts, not that they simply voiced opposition".
The UN Council is a place for debate , and for voting . By this way you are free or not to make a campaign to promote your choice.
US made a campaign towards the indecisive countries, even suggesting more financial help to some of them. France made also a campaign for its position.
But France don't have the power to take the vote for other countries, or to offer money.
US should wonder what these countries decided to not follow the US choice, rather to charge France.
In fact the not enforcement of the resolution gives a good picture of the reality : the large majorities of countries in this world just didn't
want it !

As it turns out France was making millions by administering the food for oil program prior to the war and stood to lose millions if the sanctions ended after the war. It also turns out that France stood to lose nearly 100 billion, due to its exclusive oil exploration contracts with Saddam, if Saddam was defeated since those contracts would end up being voided.
US was not welcomed to this oil for food program by Saddam. It can explain why they were so motivated to change the situation there. US was upset to don't have any control on iraqian oil, and to don't get any money from this UN program.

What you're missing is that America's animosity towards France is not based to their opposition to US interests it is based on their efforts to thwart American interest and on their hypocritical moralism that they gave as reason for doing so.
We are at he same point with US behavior.
The French animosity comes the same hypocritical moralim that give the US administration as reasons : To free the iraqians, to remove a dictator killing his own people. It comes also from the false "proofs"given.
It comes also from some Bush words, very shoking for a French.
Indded in France, Religion and politics are seperated, it's in the constitution. The religion war that occured in France are certainly at the origin of this characteristic.
So, when we heae Bush speaking of a " Crusade", telling that he is "inpired by god", we are very suspecious, and even afraid.
We know something about his past, and his sudden strong "faith", seems highly hypocritical for us.
The recent "increasement" of the anti-US feeling is France, can be put on the count on the features of the actual US president.

The French animosity comes the same hypocritical moralim that give the US administration as reasons : To free the iraqians, to remove a dictator killing his own people. It comes also from the false "proofs"given.

So you're saying that France's support of Saddam Hussein, it's desire to keep the Iraqi's under Saddam's thumb and it's desire to keep a dictator, killing his own people, in power; all the while decrying that they're doing it for highly ethical reasons is somehow alright then?

As to the "false" proofs, I'll remind you that the Niger forgeries came long after the UN's failure to act. They came to light after the US decided to act and enforce UN Res. 1441. Also that it was and IS Britain's position that Saddam tried to buy uranium for Niger, Gabon and Mali, based on intelligence that was shared with them by France.

By the way, you've conveniently forgotten that before 1441 Chriaq claimed Saddam had WMDs and it was only when he saw France's oil interests threatened that he changed France's position on Iraq.

Incidentally, when you say "We are at he same point with US behavior," in reference to America's reaction to France's betrayel, what exactly are you trying to say? Are you accusing the US of betraying France by removing massive oil revenues from France while enforcing UN Resolution 1441? Are you trying to point out some earlier treachery? Something like American fighter/bombers returning to base rather than support, a UN approved, coalition combat mission? Or perhaps you're referring to an American officer giving military information to one of France's enemies?

Maybe you're talking about the kind of hypocrasiy that occurs when a country criticizes another country for not acting multi-laterally and then goes ahead and acts unilaterally when its own oil interests are threatened (Ivory Coast anyone?).

Maybe it's the way we bitch about France unilateralism when it threatens our oil profits and then calling on that country to act unilaterally in North Korea.

Oh wait, those are all examples of French diplomacy in the last decade.

Americans have been forgiving France's hypocrisy and treachery for years. It was France's blatant anti-Americanism and its active work against the US during open hostilities with a third country that finally broke the camel's back and made us take off the blinders regarding France.

Kal

"So you're saying that France's support of Saddam Hussein, it's desire to keep the Iraqi's under Saddam's thumb and it's desire to keep a dictator, killing his own people, in power; all the while decrying that they're doing it for highly ethical reasons is somehow alright then?"
No, I didnt say that. I repeat: French, and not only french consider that the main reasons exposed by the US (free Iraqiqn people, Remove WMD) are highly hypocritical. They are also upset by the US "moralism" around these two reasons, as it seems clear it was not the real one.

"Also that it was and IS Britain's position that Saddam tried to buy uranium for Niger, Gabon and Mali, based on intelligence that was shared with them by France. ".
Yes, France is charged to give false informations to Brits that transmitted them to the US.
It's not coherent. France wouldn't spread false informations that would give US the perfect good reasons to start a war, and in same time leading a hard fight with the US against the war at the UN.
Against, France is used a s a "scapeegoat" . It's easier to charge France, than to put in question the efficiency of the CIA on this Niger subject.
Even if CIA has already proven it can fail terribly (9/11) case.

Incidentally, when you say "We are at he same point with US behavior," in reference to America's reaction to France's betrayel, what exactly are you trying to say?
I try to say that in France we consider the US administaration as Hypocritical, nothing more.
It refers to your sentence, telling that the US feels animosity towards French "hypocritical moralism "

I don't know Marc. We kind of feel that insisting that Saddam only be removed from Kuwait because he can be contained, then not contributing any assistance to containing him, infact trying to defeat attempts to contain him, and then suddenly find the containment strategy is working perfectly is well... could be thought of as hypocritical by some.

Curiously I believe these pinheaded losers who feel the need to desicrate a grave are pussys. Period! But since they are French that is redundant.

Yes, France is charged to give false informations to Brits that transmitted them to the US.

Who is charging that France gave Britain false information? As far as I know France put some very convincing evidence in front of the Brits.

Pierre, I guess you have never seen LGF.

Wrong guess, Charles, I did (Are you the the same Charles than the lgf webmaster ?).

But your guess is right about my reaction to this blog ;-))... To browse the threads, photos and comments, OUH LALA, NON DE DIEU! a strongly hoocked heart is required ! (no heart at all may also fit). I sometimes dare to "add my 2 cents" there but, most of these people accept contradiction as easy than I would accept ice rocks in my glass of wine ;-) I got in return loads of 'FOAD, GAZE", phonetics transcriptions of Hebrew insults... as we tell in French: "la totale".

However I must balance my first reaction with a bit of second thought. They are deeply and, for most of them, sincerly involved into Isreael support. They promote the "hard line", something like "win the battle first and discuss after". I don't share this view but I know that what is for me in Europe a matter of ideas, opinion, philosophy etc is in Israel simply matter of death or life. And people defending there life cannot apply the same rules than people defending opinions.

So, for the people in lgf who REALLY give from themselves to Israel by doing something ON THE FIELD, I have full respect and admiration. For those of them who just spread hatred hidden behind their computer in a comfortable office near San Francisco, Paris or any quiet country... "FOAD"

Now if you think about all pics on lgf showing palestinian kids teached to hate and kill, It is a shame as well but, here also, I don't feel having any right to critic WHY ? simple : I can understand someone living in an hopeless land like Gaza, having his workshop or field crushed by tanks or/and relatives killed by retailiation raids getting mad enough to go at any bloody thing. I cannot understand a citizen of a safe country like USA, having access to all information, education and expression freedom who uses and drives his daughter to spread his own xenophobic hate in full batch against any nation and (I know it is not fair or righteous) I take it worth when it is MY nation. Eh...

Kind regards from
Pierre

Google's showed me eleven American Military cemeteries in France. That is a small figure compared with the other countries - allied or enemy- in WWI and WWII. But of course they are enormous, like the German ones, as the US administration apparently did not trust the French. So it would not be difficult to move all the graves back to the States, as it has been suggested. After all, it is your money.

Googles did not give me any French military cemeteries in America. Could anybody tell me where they are, what they look like ? I imagine they are wonderfully well cared for.

Please Americans

Do we really care what the French think of us

Think about it. Think long and deep and who cares what they think. Just look at their society where 15,000 people die in a heatwave becquse they are all to busy working ont heir tans and tell me that you care what they think of us.