"Francolateralism"

"The French are Europeans when it suits them," writes Christian D. de Fouloy at TechCentralStation. Despite their willingness to chastise other Europeans on multilateral etiquette, "the French are guilty of the most flagrant foot-dragging of any EU state when implementing new rules," and have ignored EU deficit standards and subsidy rules.

So what? In making itself a consistent nuisance to other EU members, France is undermining its own basis for international influence: a leadership role in an integrated Europe. "French influence in the EU can no longer be exercised through a mixture of posturing and bullying," writes de Fouloy. "An enlarged Union will be one in which alliance-building, negotiation and compromise are crucial. Paris needs to rethink its attitude towards supranational institutions and its own reluctance to comply with their strictures."

Comments

[Pio]

nm156: out of curiosity, how so?

Charles Heuter: Yeah, but the french tend to oppose the sensible ideas (agricultural reform) while supporting the bad ones (the new constitution).

[Dan]

Not to defend France, but there was Charlemange - and if you count Normandy as part of France, I believe they gave England a spot of trouble.

Of course, that may have been after the Vikings left a bunch of bastard children behind.....

[Douglas Fletcher]

If the French elected Al Franken president they could impliment "Frankenlateralism." I guess.

I heard once that Al drinks his beer out of a Frankenstein.

[nm156]

This just in . . Generalissimo Francisco Franco is STILL dead.

[Rob]

Do anyone else find it amusing that we've had an enlightening discussion on Jean Bart's opinions and philosophy, and have done it in Jean Bart's absence?

[Jason Ligon]

There is something inherently funny about the notion of France bullying anyone else ...

[Jean Bart]

Jason Ligon,

We were such bullies at one point that all of Europe was united against French militarism - twice.

[joe]

Go to your happy place, JB. Americans don't call the French sissies because we think it's true.

We do it because it's funny.

[Jason Ligon]

Jean Bart,

I know, I know. Just pushing some buttons. I was reminded of this bit that was on StrategyPage during the U.N. spat:

A Comprehensive Guide to French Military History:

Gallic Wars - Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.
Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."
Italian Wars - Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.
Wars of Religion - France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots
Thirty Years War - France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.
War of Devolution - Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.
The Dutch War - Tied
War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War - Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.
War of the Spanish Succession - Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.
American Revolution - In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."
French Revolution - Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.
The Napoleonic Wars - Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.
The Franco-Prussian War - Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.
World War I - Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.
World War II - Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.
War in Indochina - Lost. French forces plead sickness, take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu
Algerian Rebellion - Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.
War on Terrorism - France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

Let's face it. When it comes to war, France gets rolled more often than a Parisian prostitute with a visible mustache. They've been beaten so many times there's no fight left in them. There's no national anthem in the world as ludicrous as France's

To arms, to arms, ye brave!
Th'avenging sword unsheathe!
March on, march on, all hearts resolved
On liberty or death.

Oh liberty can man resign thee,
Once having felt thy gen'rous flame?
Can dungeons, bolts, and bar confine thee?
Or whips thy noble spirit tame?

Can dungeons, bolts, and bar confine thee? Or whips thy noble spirit tame? Yes, demonstrably.

[Jason Ligon]

Just read through that whole thing again. Suffice it to say there were parts I had forgotten about.

Meant to be light and vaguely annoying to JB, but is more specifically insulting than I remembered.

Sorry to all.

[Anonymous]

Mon Dieu!

Le Roi d' Sol!

[John Smith]

twats

[Harawitz Jodi Harawitz]

EMAIL: [e-mail]
IP: 212.253.2.204
URL: http://preteen-sex.info
DATE: 05/20/2004 02:38:34
It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanisms of friendship.