News Frenchmen Have the Spines of Escargot?

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The discussion centers on France's stance regarding military interventions and its economic motivations. Initially, the conversation highlights France's reluctance to join the U.S. in the Iraq war, particularly in light of a U.S. decision to exclude French companies from post-war reconstruction contracts. Critics argue that while France may oppose certain wars, it has historically engaged in military actions when economic interests are at stake, citing past interventions in Africa and support for certain regimes. The dialogue also touches on the broader theme of self-interest in international politics, with participants noting that many countries, including the U.S., act primarily out of their own economic benefits. The conversation becomes heated as participants debate the fairness of criticizing France while acknowledging similar actions by the U.S. Ultimately, the discussion reveals a complex interplay of national interests, historical actions, and the ethics of military involvement.
  • #31
man russ you just don't get it do you? we don't consider it justification no matter how many people are doing it.


and kat, fair enough; i knew some of that. but using the term "invaded" is quite a stretch. there were some dirty dealing but it but that was not really perpetuated by "France" but simply a small portion of their government. as for the country as a whole, they only real blame they deserve is being apathetic towards the situation; and we are guilty of that one as well.
 
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  • #32
Originally posted by kyleb
man russ you just don't get it do you? we don't consider it justification no matter how many people are doing it.


there were some dirty dealing but it but that was not really perpetuated by "France" but simply a small portion of their government
GAAAh, are you for real? I'll be back to respond in full when my head is not so plugged..gah, I'm amazed.
 
  • #33
I got this one Kat, not to worry...
Originally posted by kyleb
man russ you just don't get it do you? we don't consider it justification no matter how many people are doing it.
Whoa. Hold on. If its not right for anyone, why isn't anyone screaming about all the terrible things France has done then (not to mention so many other countries)? If its not a justification for ANYONE, why is it that *ONLY* the US is chastized for it? You're right. I don't get it. Now where did I put that DOUBLE STANDARD thread...?
 
  • #34
Originally posted by russ_watters
why is it that *ONLY* the US is chastized for it?


the Us the only ones getting chastised? were have you been, there has been France bashing all over the place and we are feeding Iraqi bombs for breakfast. if you can't see anything but the US getting chastised, you might want to blinders off and come back to reality. it would be helpful, then you could convince others to do the same.
 
  • #35
Originally posted by russ_watters
I got this one Kat, not to worry...

Whoa. Hold on. If its not right for anyone, why isn't anyone screaming about all the terrible things France has done then (not to mention so many other countries)? If its not a justification for ANYONE, why is it that *ONLY* the US is chastized for it? You're right. I don't get it. Now where did I put that DOUBLE STANDARD thread...?

Are you admitting that what the U.S. does is wrong? Do you dare?
 
  • #36
Originally posted by Zero
Are you admitting that what the U.S. does is wrong? Do you dare?
I don't seriously have to respond to that, do I Zero? You're not paying enough attention if you need to speculate there. I have been quite explicit on this point.

the Us the only ones getting chastised? were have you been, there has been France bashing all over the place
France bashing by WHOM? The international community? I think not. We're certainly bashing France from within the US, but outside the US, virtually all of the bashing is focused on the US. WHY?
 
  • #37
Originally posted by russ_watters
I don't seriously have to respond to that, do I Zero? You're not paying enough attention if you need to speculate there. I have been quite explicit on this point.

France bashing by WHOM? The international community? I think not. We're certainly bashing France from within the US, but outside the US, virtually all of the bashing is focused on the US. WHY?

I just wanted to hear you say it again.
 
  • #38
Originally posted by russ_watters
France bashing by WHOM? The international community? I think not. We're certainly bashing France from within the US, but outside the US, virtually all of the bashing is focused on the US. WHY?

well most people are too concerned with America bombing the piss out of people right now to mess with that, but France gets their share of resentment in foreign lands as well.
 
  • #39
Originally posted by kat
No..I'm fairly sure France stated that they would veto any resolution that might open the way to war whether Iraq cooperated with inspections or not. This evasion of consequences that France has continued to support for Saddam was not the agreement that everyone agreed to as far as I'm concerned.

France did not support an evasion of consequences, they did NOT support anything that included Automatic right to war.

I suspect that they, not unlike a lot of other people, wanted to look for an alternative pathway, alternate to War as solution.
 
  • #40
Lets see, US bashing, why?? because the US is the loudest nation on the planet, always singing/praising themselves, and telling all of the rest of us peoples of the world that none of us have anything nearly as good as all of the citizens of the US have.

That has a tendency to get people to respond as it is, simply noted, that the people saying this are from within the US and probably do not know all that much about the rest of the World, how it works, how we too have *Freedoms*, *Rights*, *Liberties*, just under different titles, *Liberte*, *Les Droits*, stuff like that.

That is one of the sources of the reasons for US 'bashing', cause you seem to think that only the US is the best in the World, even though Canada was voted best place to live on the face of the planet three times in a row!

BTW, Canada has it's problems too, don't be fooled, just ask me, as I am one, here in Canada, who tried to get the Prime Minister arrested for theft!

We have other problems too, just like all the rest of the countries, but one of those problems is the US trying to set Canadian policy, so you could figure out why we would tend to bash...The legalization of Marijuana is just one example of that type of American move, Bush is against it, so apparently, according to a very Brave Canadian Senator, we aren't doing it,...just yet...
 
  • #41
ya they were basically just standing behind the old idea of "bad people start wars and good people finish them." granted that argument got sidestepped with a mass of rhetoric insisting that we were not starting a war; and despite how ridiculous that sounds in light of the fact that it was a topic for argument in the first place.
 
  • #42
*deleted because of Physics Forums Guideline violations*
 
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  • #43
*deleted because of Physics Forums Guideline violations*
Alias, you should really make that your new signature. :wink:
 
  • #44
Originally posted by FZ+
Alias, you should really make that your new signature. :wink:
 
  • #45
Done.
 

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