No more French Fries???

Of course none of this nonsense is going to get the French government to change its position. As a French official said on the radio (PRI) this morning: "If the Americans only want to eat American food, that's their problem." All it does is raise the levels of hysteria and irrationality here. And that is very, very scary, because it obfuscates the real underlying issues. Not that the general populace has been allowed to learn much about those issues and make their own informed decisions anyway.

In the WSJ there was an article about people boycotting French restaurants. At Le Bernadin for example, business is about half what it used to be before this whole anti-France thing started. People don't realize that they're hurting local business, not France.

Kuan

Freedom Silk Pie? Freedom Onion Soup? "Freedomed" lamb racks? How about "Freedom" Ticklers? LOL!!!!

Read about this rediculousness. Thank goodness we have not gotten into this renaming French things down here. We did chuckle about it as we gather nights to clean our guns.

Suzanne, there was a good article in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about how the American oil companies, and those who provide infrastructure for oil (like our own V.P. Cheney's Haliburton) stand to get very lucrative oil contracts when the shooting's over. The U.S. oil companies are trying to beat the French and Russian oil concerns to the punch. I'm sure the article was syndicated, so it's probably in other papers, too.

By why? It's not just about SUVs; can't be, because there aren't many in either France or Russia. It's about power.

Whoever has the hand on the tap, has a lot to say about what happens to industry and the economies of the countries who depend on that oil. Remember, a lot of products besides fuel are made from oil: plastics, cosmetics, textiles.... all of which are consumer goods needed to fuel economies.

I recommend everyone watch "Three Days of the Condor" again.

Ooh, young Robert Redford! And they shot one scene right next door to where I used to live.:bounce: :bounce:

Sorry, Mezz, you are right. It IS about power, and the abuse of power. And the self-deluded omnipotence of our un-elected President.

I am NOT opening (or trying to open) the proverbial can of worms here, but do you feel just a little 'itch' that there isn't just a bit more support from France? I understand there is a bit of European support for our latest campaign, sans France, Germany and Denmark. However, I can find more than a few times when, as a nation, we (and our allies) have stepped up to bat for France. Not trying to be counter-culture or pro-war, just inquisitive.

I would like to add my two pennies regarding Iraq.Here in Britain,our government are seeing a lot of their plans go down the toilet.They are willing to send Britain`s forces even though they are very poorly equipped for the job.Our health service is straddled with red tape,our transport system is a shambles and violent crime is increasing.We have a government that are out for themselves.They just want to give the impression that that care and want to do the "right thing".This has practically become a cliche over here amongst our politicians and they wonder why people over here are cynical.
Sorry about,that`s my rant out of the way
Pete,i`m glad to see you were joking about England needing some good food.I as an Englishman,do not consider Burger King,McDonalds etc,to be "good food"and there are lots of them over here.Have we upset someone in the U.S.,what did we do to deserve that bunch?:cry:

I think General Patton said it all when he said :
" Id rather have a German division in front of me than a French division behind me " .
Maybe instead of sending our men to fight and die to bail out Europe ( and especially the French ) in the last two world wars we should have sent in inspectors and observers to see if them Germans were realy as bad as everyone was saying . Im not for war but I am not for the French either .
As the saying goes : raise one hand if you like the French and raise both hands if you are French .

I believe we sent troops to the two world wars to fight and die for the freedom of occupied countries, not to set up puppet governments that would kow-tow to the USA's every wish. If we are only helping countries to ingratiate them to us, then we shouldn't help at all. I can think of nothing more American in principle and spirit than France's right to disagree with the USA in this matter.

So that`s the idea Pete,do you think Gen.Powell might take this on board?This strategy could be deployed in a covert operation,to infiltrate,undermine and cause apathy and nausea.
:D

So that`s the idea Pete,do you think Gen.Powell might take this on board?This strategy could be deployed in a covert operation,to infiltrate,undermine and cause apathy and nausea.

That's the idea behind being a Super Power. (SuperSize)

How about Freedom Underwear!?!?

Freedom Poodle?

Freedom Wine and Freedom Cheese. Oh, let's see, Freedom Souffle. Olay!

I agree with Greg. The Bill of Rights isn't easy. Accepting and even championing someone's right to say something you absolutely hate, isn't easy. The French do not disrespect America, they do not dislike Americans (at least not in my limited experience), and they have not forgotten what a friend we have been to them in the past. But friends can disagree, even over deadly serious matters. If they cannot, it doesn't say much for the friendship.
I am far more comfortable having France refuse to support our government's call for war than I am having countries accept our bribes of money and influence to back us up.

Thank you Greg

Leo and Jeff, I would also add the effects of fast-food induced obesity to the list. Clog up their arteries and make their bellies so flabby that the effort involved in moving isn't worth it; or their midsections are too rotund to be able to strap on explosives belts....

Freedom kisses? :lips: :eek:

Tsk!Tsk!You will have the "politically correct"brigade after you for making references about people who have "a greater surface area".
Kokopuffs,isn`t "freedom underwear" reminiscent of the 1960`s?

Leo: ...don't remember any such reference to freedom u'wear in the 60's.

Leo, I have pretty respectable surface area myself. :D

Leo and Kokopuffs,

As I recall, it was freedom FROM underwear. :D

I have so much surface, I just might be able to hide the explosives.:D

Ooooooohhhhh, Phoebe, ban the bra rhetoric! :eek:

Oh, for...

Is no one on any discussion board old enough to remember that they did the exact same thing during World War II???

Frankfurters = Victory Dogs (It was during this time they became "hot" dogs)
Sauerkraut = Victory Cabbage
Cole Slaw = Victory Slaw


My mother often regaled us about how the homefront supported the soldiers who fought in WWII. The difference I'm seeing here is that now, the general public tends to scoff at such efforts to present a united front. Why is that? Is freedom any less valuable now than it was during WWII??

It's easy to blurt out "it's an oil war" then sit back and relax on the platform of moral awareness. It's not an oil war. There is a huge hole in a block in lower Manhattan that is a very tangible reminder of this.

People can't seem to get their minds wrapped around the fact that this is a conflict between free nations and Islamic Fanatics. These are not people who are living by the Koran, they are mocking it. That's why Muhammed Ali and Will Smith rose to the occasion and spoke about true Muslims and their love of peace. I don't believe the Koran states that blowing yourself and others up in the name of Allah is valid worship. The enemy does not occupy one continent or another, rather it's spread under cover of "religion" all over the place! Sadaam and Osama are the same nut with different facial hair.

As far as I'm concerned, this war is 2 years late. It didn't take the US 2 years to declare war on Japan after Pearl Harbor - a military base and assumed target - and it d@mned well shouldn't have taken two years after nearly 3,000 civilians lost their lives in the World Trade Center just for going to work that day.

No one wants war - me included. Heck, I'm not even a Republican! But if it weren't for earlier wars, I know I wouldn't enjoy the freedom I now do.

For me, it's personal. The WTC was a frequent haven of mine, when I had time to kill or needed something. The place was like a self-contained city. For me, there's a score to settle. And I'm going to support the troops as they go "over there*" to rid the world of the likes of Sadaam.

*"Over There" is another war reference - it was a popular song in support of the troops.