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French debacle in Afghanistan

Le Monde newspaper quoted French soldiers who had survived the ambush Monday near Kabul. The soldiers said that once they had fallen into the ambush they had to wait for four hours before any backup was sent. “We had no more ammunition for our other weapons and we were left only with our Famas (assault rifles)," one soldier, who was not named, was quoted as saying. When NATO planes finally arrived to help them they sometimes missed their target and hit French troops, the paper quotes the soldiers as saying. Afghan soldiers sent in as backup also mistakenly targeted the French soldiers, it said. afp

By tasco66 on Aug 20, 2008, 15:48 in Off Topic.

pedro says on Aug 20, 2008, 19:01:

This kind of shit happens all the time.

United States debacle in Afghanistan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1936589.stm

Tasco, it's about time you started supporting your allies.

que nota!

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A_Fern says on Aug 20, 2008, 19:17:

if you are not American or on the American military radar.........you take your own chances.

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tasco66 says on Aug 21, 2008, 05:46:

Pedro, I am not sure many countries see the French as a "reliable ally"

In any case, I am just reporting the latest news in Afghanistan, what’s wrong with that?

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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romy says on Aug 21, 2008, 05:49:

it's just daily Tascoganda... the guy should have his own channel to report his "latest news"

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tasco66 says on Aug 21, 2008, 05:51:

and for you romy let's not forget the "leftie propaganda network" jajaja

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pedro says on Aug 21, 2008, 07:03:

The French, as a loyal NATO ally, joined your war in Afghanistan after your country was attacked. 7 years later, they're still there.

They made the correct call in not joining the stupid Iraq war.

Deal with it... they clearly made better decisions than the US administration did.

It sure seems as though you're belittling their contribution and laughing at their misfortunes. They are your ally.

que nota!

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pedro says on Aug 21, 2008, 07:04:

If you don't see the French as a reliable ally, it's your own lack of education.

Switch off Fox News, give yourself an uppercut, and go read some history (recent and otherwise).

que nota!

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 21, 2008, 08:37:

I think the long course of history shows that the French have been a periodic or semi-reliable ally of the US. That said, if the point of the original post was to make fun of battlefield confusion or poor planning that resulted in 10 men being killed, it's in very poor taste, especially considering US military history (and any country's military history) is full of similar debacles, including deaths by friendly fire.

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tasco66 says on Aug 21, 2008, 10:03:

"The French, as a loyal NATO ally, joined your war in Afghanistan after your country was attacked"

Pedro, I suggest you learn a bit about history before making comments here:

“French withdraw navy from NATO

The French government shocks its allies by announcing that it is withdrawing its navy from the North Atlantic fleet of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The French action was viewed in the West as evidence that France would be pursuing an independent policy regarding its nuclear arsenal.�?

“Many NATO members expressed surprise over the French action. In the United States, surprise was also mixed with dismay and no small degree of anger. The French announcement came just as President John F. Kennedy was preparing to go to Europe for a series of talks with America's allies. Privately, some Kennedy advisors were quite vocal in condemning de Gaulle's highly nationalistic independence in moving away from his nation's NATO commitments, thereby threatening the security of France's European allies. And, although the French withdrawal from the NATO North Atlantic fleet did not drastically affect the fleet's military effectiveness, the United States worried that France's action might set a disturbing precedent�?

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2705

That does not look like a reliable or loyal ally to me...

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pobrecito says on Aug 21, 2008, 13:18:

1963 ....
Many things happened since this year.

Sarkozy, for example, is pro-USA (pro-Bush I think).
I do not agree with Sarkozy but t-ass-co has to go 45 years forward ....

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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dwmte7 says on Aug 21, 2008, 15:51:

are we learning how to agree to disagree yet? we always seem to be so rude with each other over our differing oppinions. i don't agree with my wife and we've been together for 20 years...in fact, i rarely agree with her....however, i don't insult her.

dwmte

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pobrecito says on Aug 21, 2008, 16:18:

Fortunately I have not been living with tasco66 for 20 years ....

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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romy says on Aug 21, 2008, 16:28:

That would be the cutest of couples ;)

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tasco66 says on Aug 22, 2008, 05:20:

yep, that would be funny...

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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tasco66 says on Aug 22, 2008, 05:28:

A little more history on France and Nato:

The unity of NATO was breached early on in its history, with a crisis occurring during Charles de Gaulle's presidency of France from 1958 onward. De Gaulle protested the United States' strong role in the organization and what he perceived as a special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. In a memorandum sent to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on 17 September 1958, he argued for the creation of a tripartite directorate that would put France on an equal footing with the United States and the United Kingdom, and also for the expansion of NATO's coverage to include geographical areas of interest to France, most notably Algeria, where France was waging a counter-insurgency and sought NATO assistance.

Considering the response given to be unsatisfactory, and in order to give France, in the event of a East German incursion into West Germany, the option of coming to a separate peace with the Eastern bloc instead of being drawn into a NATO-Warsaw Pact global war, de Gaulle began to build an independent defence for his country. On 11 March 1959, France withdrew its Mediterranean fleet from NATO command; three months later, in June 1959, de Gaulle banned the stationing of foreign nuclear weapons on French soil. This caused the United States to transfer two hundred military aircraft out of France and return control of the ten major air force bases that had operated in France since 1950 to the French by 1967.

In the meantime, France had initiated an independent nuclear deterrence programme, spearheaded by the "Force de frappe" ("Striking force"). France tested its first nuclear weapon, Gerboise Bleue, on 13 February 1960, in (what was then) French Algeria.

De Gaulle continued his pursuit of an independent defence by removing France's Atlantic and Channel fleets from NATO command. In 1966, all French armed forces were removed from NATO's integrated military command, and all non-French NATO troops were asked to leave France. This withdrawal forced the relocation of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) from Paris to Casteau, north of Mons, Belgium, by 16 October 1967.

France rejoined NATO's Military Committee in 1995, and since that time has intensified working relations with the military structure. France did not, however, rejoin the integrated military command and no non-French NATO troops are allowed to be based on its soil.

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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tasco66 says on Aug 22, 2008, 05:36:

Now for some Friday funnies:

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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dwmte7 says on Aug 22, 2008, 07:12:

pity.....there should be some way to reconstruct this tri partite groupe with the result being truly constructive, mutually helpful and defensive and strong in committment. what thinkest thee?

dwmte

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tasco66 says on Aug 22, 2008, 07:25:

France shocked by Afghan deaths, questions asked
20 Aug 2008 21:51:17 GMT
Source: Reuters

By James Mackenzie

PARIS, Aug 20 (Reuters) - France reacted in shock on Wednesday to the death of 10 of its soldiers in an ambush in Afghanistan and questions began to be asked about the country's worst military loss in 25 years.

President Nicolas Sarkozy, who flew to Kabul on Tuesday, said France was committed to its engagement in Afghanistan where it took part in the 2001 invasion to topple the Taliban.

But the opposition Socialists called for a parliamentary committee to meet and doubts were expressed about the official account of the incident in which the 10 soldiers were killed and 21 wounded in a fierce mountain battle.

"Afghanistan -- should we leave?" ran the front-page headline of the Thursday edition of left-wing newspaper Liberation, which is strongly critical of Sarkozy's policies.

The daily Le Monde quoted an unidentified French soldier wounded in the ambush who said there had been communications breakdowns and long delays in relieving the outnumbered patrol.

It also said some soldiers had been hit by the allied air strikes called in to help them.

The Pentagon said there had been no reports of soldiers killed by close air support and the head of the French general staff denied on Tuesday there had been any major tactical errors made by the patrol.

But families of some of the men, whose bodies arrived in Paris on Wednesday night, reacted bitterly.

"We shouldn't have sent these young men to go and get killed," Roland Gregoire, the uncle of one of the dead, told Reuters. "What's certain is that they died in an ambush, like game animals," he said.

Army chief of staff General Elrick Irastorza said lessons would be drawn from the engagement to "improve procedures and our way of working".

HEAVIEST LOSS

The heaviest loss by the French army since a suicide bomber killed 58 paratroopers in Lebanon in 1983, the attack raised the number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 24 and was the worst loss by allied forces there since the 2001 invasion.

Flags flew at half mast in the southwestern town of Castres, where the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, the unit in which most of the killed and wounded served, is based.

French television carried live coverage of the arrival of some of the most seriously wounded in Paris and a commemoration was planned on Thursday at Les Invalides, the golden-domed palace where France's war dead are remembered.

Calls for a pullout have so far come only from the extremes of the political spectrum -- the Communist party and the leader of the far-right National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen.

But there were growing questions about the strategy followed by France and its allies in the region.

Socialist party leader Francois Hollande, who had previously criticised Sarkozy's decision to send an extra 700 troops to the region, said parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee should meet, although he held back from urging a pullout.

He expressed sympathy for the families and paid tribute to the soldiers and said there should be no instant decisions.

"But there also has to be a time for reflection on the sense of our presence in Afghanistan," he said. "The priority should first be reconstruction, rebuilding Afghanistan and above all training the Afghan army."

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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papiChulo says on Aug 22, 2008, 07:58:

tasco66... you are more educated than me but what if the French didn't support the yanks during the war of independance... then what?

some of the rudest people I know don't smoke

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dwmte7 says on Aug 22, 2008, 10:17:

yeah, tasco buddy, then what?

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Aug 22, 2008, 10:18:

we wouldn't have had that great movie, "patriot" wouldn't want that now, would we?

dwmte

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tasco66 says on Aug 22, 2008, 10:56:

Well, I guess the French would be wearing brown shirts and would be speaking German now...

Their soldiers would look like this:

Notice the Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht Heer French Volunteers National Sleeve Shield on the Frenchman's uniform

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pobrecito says on Aug 22, 2008, 13:49:

Tasco66 must be overtired. May I recommend to him to see a good specialist who will be able to treat his phantasms and psychosis? In Paris there is a good hospital named Sainte-Anne.

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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tasco66 says on Aug 22, 2008, 14:53:

I assume you are talking from your own previous experience there?

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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papiChulo says on Aug 22, 2008, 21:59:

douglas... "patriot" was that the movie with Mel Gibson? Man that sucked arse... there's not much I won't look at but that... he should be stoned to death for that one, then Tom Cruise.

some of the rudest people I know don't smoke

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romy says on Aug 23, 2008, 00:53:

Mel Gibson would stilll have freed America hahah OH and Scotland, that movie was better... damn those Imperilists...

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tasco66 says on Aug 23, 2008, 07:33:

Saturday funnies for my good friend Cassini, aka buggy aka hans-paisa aka pobrecito aka dolfi, etc…

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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dwmte7 says on Aug 23, 2008, 07:49:

more of those please...too funny

papi, gonna have to send you back to movie appreciation school, or the 'snap out of it institute' in berkeley, to get you back on course. what the hell was wrong with patriot?

it's like my buddy southbound that likes drinking sailor jerry rum? what?????

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Aug 23, 2008, 07:51:

wish i knew how to pull that french missle flick and forward it to a friend. too cool.

dwmte

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pobrecito says on Aug 23, 2008, 08:57:

The info in Youtube for the first video tascoed is:

"Jay Leno was over the last six years one of the most notorious French Bashers. By acting like the king's jester, he simply gave creedence to the administration's position on France and exploited the surrender of 1940 - a subject as funny to the French as 9/11 is to Americans. "

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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tasco66 says on Aug 23, 2008, 09:03:

Another well know "French basher":

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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tasco66 says on Aug 23, 2008, 09:04:

The known attitude of the French (French made this time):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVf99YebfUc&feature=related

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pobrecito says on Aug 23, 2008, 09:07:

And an extract of the comments of this video:

"stupid guy! "

"Parisians rude? Who are the parisians? Once you visit Paris you realize that is like being in New York City, full of all the races in the world. So, who is really the rude ones?"

"I just spent 2 months in France this Summer, I think the French are the nicest and most civilized people in this world. We should reserve all kind ignorant comments about any ethnic group. We all are a part of an ethnic group, don't we forget it."

"That's true we are very rude. We are famous for that. When Jay Leno came to france for the first time, a policeman of the airport put a hand in his ass to search hidden drugs. He'll never forgive that."

"That was a lame joke. I guess Leno's not getting the concept that xenophobia is not funny. Swap "jew/cheap" or "black/lazy" in there for "french/rude," and he'd be out of a show. What's he (and his audience) not getting about the general concept?"

"You can hate FRance if you want I don't care but don't say we are the worse people in the world

maybe you don't like us or where we live but we don't think we are the better

We are just proud (sometimes) to be french
ok I don't like bush but i don't even like my president sarko (too young to vote)

but it's not because he is american

I'll be happy if the next president is Obama (sorry for people who don't like him)
Try to open your mind
we don't want to do everyting like you "

"in america only the stupid people hate the french "

"well if it wasnt for the french there wouldnt be a united states today.britain wouldve overpowered the colonies and i wouldnt have the life i have now."

"O DEAR, AIR FRANCE is just about 10 times BETTER than AA and UA. "

"Well it seems lots of peoples are obsesed by french peoples at wasting times to bash them, those lil irrelevant and helpless peoples!"

"I've visited that beautiful country and just fell in love. People are very nice once they get to know you."

"That's so funny. He's behaving like an ugly american. "

"Air France is amazing. French people are also some of the nicest in the world. For many of you ignorant people out there, instead of listining to Jay Leno, get off your couches and learn for yourself. Buy a ticket on Air France... and fly to Paris.. then you'll know the truth. :D"

"take air france and then take united airlines
youll see who's fuckin rude

air france= clean planes, free champagne, nice stewardess
unites = run down aircraft, 5$ a drink and the rudest service "

"and then american ask themselves: "why ALL the world hate us?" "

"lol an American calling another nation rude. "

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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tasco66 says on Aug 23, 2008, 09:13:

This is what happens in the cockpit of Air France planes

The internet is full of these French XXX rated cockpit movies.

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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tasco66 says on Aug 23, 2008, 09:30:

More funnies: "Is France a country?" Even Cassini will laugh about that one..

58% of French think the sun rotates around the earth

French driving

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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dwmte7 says on Aug 23, 2008, 10:13:

what was the link on the missle one. would love to e it to friends. thanks. douglas

dwmte

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tasco66 says on Aug 23, 2008, 10:32:

dwmte7, just double click on the video

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pobrecito says on Aug 27, 2008, 03:34:

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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dwmte7 says on Aug 27, 2008, 06:33:

thanks tasco....tried that, no luck. i just went into google and poked around a bit til i found it.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Aug 27, 2008, 06:38:

ten points for that one, pobrecito....that should be top of the hour at the DNC AND THE RNC.

great, thanks.
douglas

dwmte

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sloopskipper says on Aug 27, 2008, 09:34:

Douglas, at the end of the videos youtube displays a link, and embed coding. The missle is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXYuTpHZrMk

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tasco66 says on Aug 27, 2008, 09:46:

Whitney Houston on French TV welcomed by real French gentlemen who can't keep their hands off of her...

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pobrecito says on Aug 27, 2008, 12:26:

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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tasco66 says on Aug 27, 2008, 12:36:

Nice video of French soldiers in action pobre...

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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tasco66 says on Aug 27, 2008, 14:01:

Famous Quotes on

French history
"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." --- Jacques Chirac, President of France.
"As far as France is concerned, you're right." --- Rush Limbaugh 5

The history of defeat
"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." --- General George S. Patton 5

The history of surrender
"It's no surprise the French won't help us get Saddam Hussein out of Iraq. They didn't help us get Germany out of France, either. Still, it's essential for them to join us in the war against Iraq. They can teach the Iraqis how to surrender." --- Jay Leno 5

Great French Generals
"Did you see the new bomb the government came up with? It weights 21,000 pounds. The Air Force tested this bomb in Florida and the bomb blast was so strong at Disneyworld 25 French tourists surrendered." --- Jay Leno 5

Great French Admirals
"French troops arrived in Afghanistan last week, and not a minute too soon. The French are acting as advisers to the Taliban, to teach them how to surrender properly." --- Jay Leno 5

Great French fighter aces
"Finally, this week the French soldiers have showed up in Afghanistan. Figures - just like the French to show up after the hard work has been done." --- Jay Leno 5

Great French war hero's
"Army personnel in Kuwait unloaded a dozen faulty tanks that only go in reverse. Tanks that only go in reverse - they've been repackaged and sold to France." --- Craig Kilborn 5

French medal of honor
"What do you expect from a culture and a nation that exerted more of its national will fighting against Disney World and Big Macs than the Nazis?" --- Dennis Miller

French medal of honour
"They've taken their own precautions against al-Qa'ida. To prepare for an attack, each Frenchman is urged to keep duct tape, a white flag, and a three-day supply of mistresses in the house." --- Argus Hamilton

Great French military successes
"Do you know it only took Germany three days to conquer France in WWII? And that's because it was raining." --- John Xereas, Manager, DC Improv.

The road to victory
"The French are always reticent to surrender to the wishes of their friends and always more than willing to surrender to the wishes of their enemies." -- unattributed 5

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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pobrecito says on Aug 27, 2008, 15:08:

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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pobrecito says on Aug 27, 2008, 15:09:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmmtR8KAMBTkg3qKOHd61uYjz...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtwV1GFKRCR1jLOXYt6GibAjz...

De que vale la vida si cuando la tenemos parece muerta. La vida es para sentirla, para vibrar, para luchar, para combatir. Eso justifica nuestro paso por la tierra........Jaime Pardo Leal

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tasco66 says on Aug 28, 2008, 06:13:

More funnies:

Q: What are they calling the Germans, French and Belgians, at the Pentagon?
A: "The Axis of Weasels."

Q: How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
A: Nobody knows, it's never been tried.

Q. Why don't they have fireworks at Euro Disney?
A. Because every time they shoot them off, the French try to surrender.

Q. Why did the French plant trees along the Champs Elysees?
A. So the Germans could march in the shade.

Q: How many gears does a French tank have?
A: 4 reverse and 1 forward, in case the enemy attacks from the rear.

Q: How can you identify a French Infantryman?
A: Sunburned armpits.

Q. What's the difference between Frenchmen and toast?
A. You can make soldiers out of toast.

Q. What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up?
A. The Army.

Anyone see the French Military Rifle on eBay? It's never been shot and only dropped once!

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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dwmte7 says on Aug 28, 2008, 08:01:

you guys are so bad.

dwmte

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tasco66 says on Aug 28, 2008, 09:36: