lavisj
Posts: 89
Joined: 10/17/2006 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Murat Lafayette and his cousins and we still love Lafayette and even tried several times to pay him and his decendants for his service. You came here once and it was half-hearted (Lafayette had to beg his cousin to bring up the Caribbean fleet to Yorktown and Rochambeau spent the whole war except Yorktown pretty much sitting safely in Rhode Island instead of fighting). We came to your aid with all that we could in 1812, 1914, 1941 and 1955 receiving nothing for our troubles while restoring you to your lands (obviously not the ones Nappy sold to us, I mean we bought those after all). We have been, and continue to be, your military shield. We avoided your civil wars, you chose piracy against us in 1798 and 1806, interfered in our civil war and tried to subjugate Mexico while doing it. You would not even let us fly over your nation so we could get Libya for unprovoked attacks. While intended as a dig at French military prowess, especially as of late, it does have some backing in history. Murat, since you like historical discussion let' see: Even if Rochambeau and the French fleet were only decisive at Yorktown it is their doing that sealed the fate of Lord Cornwallis. Now about your other notes: 1812: The US did not declare war on Britain in order to help France since at the time the US was actually not that friendly with France due to the incessant war between France and England at sea which took US neutral ships in the crossfire. The reason to the war of 1812 are well known and none were an interest into helping France. In any case, the US intervention in the war did not influence the European wars. 1914: I am sure you mean 1917. And on this one I agree that the US had a very clear helping hand motive. 1941: If my memory serves me right the US only entered the war in Europe after a DoW from Germany and Italy. And if memory also serves me right, the US wanted to impose a military occupation of France, and even had printed their own money. It was only the sudden resurection of a French civil authority that prohibited the AMGOT from being applied to France. 1955? I am not sure what you are refering to? Are you refering to Indochina, in which case the war ended in 1954, nd it is true that military aid was given by the US, but no other involvement. Or are talking about Algeria which really started in 1954? In this case the US actually had mixed feelings. Initially supporting the French effort (but only reluctantly) to finally play a part in the collapse of the French government in 1958. Most of the aid the US gave was through NATO allowing redeployment of troops and giving arms to the French army. Now the only time that those intervention restored France to its land was WWII, and we are gratefull. Now, I do not know which civil war you are talking about, as France did not have civil war in the period 1783-2008. So I would assume that of course you stayed out of it. Piracy in 1798 and 1806? I am not sure I understand what you are talking about. The real issue at hand was one of right of neutral nation in conflicts and the issue of countraband of war, which did plague the relations between France and the US during that whole period. And the US navy took punitive actions during the Quasi War. France did not interfere in the US Civil War. I do not know where you get that information. Of course Sewell (the US secretary of state) had asked Lincoln to declare war on both Britain and France.... which Lincoln wisely refused.... but that is another story. The operation in Mexico is none of the US business, and actually the US sent arms and volunteers to fight the French there, so I would have to say that the US were the one who interfered into French affairs in Mexico. As for Lybia.... maybee France would have allowed it if the US had not asked permission as the mission was being launched. Of course we could add the Suez affair where the US went overtly against France, Britain and Israel. If you want an event that drastically changed the nature of French - US relation for a long, very long period, this is the one. Now if you want to pock at French military prowess, I suggest you actually bring facts to back it up instead of just rehashing anti-french propaganda.... and get your facts straight.
< Message edited by lavisj -- 2/6/2008 4:15:58 AM >
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