Bill Targets U.S. Troops Buried in France

guardian ^ | 3/13/03

[knak]

WASHINGTON (AP) - In another swipe at the French, a Florida congresswoman has proposed that the government pay for families who might want to bring home from France the remains of Americans who fought and died in the world wars.

``I, along with many other Americans, do not feel that the French government appreciates the sacrifices men and women in uniform have made to defend the freedom that the French enjoy today,'' Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite said in introducing legislation providing financial help for the reburial of veterans from the two world wars.

The legislation, which faces uncertain prospects, is the latest show of congressional frustration over French threats to veto a U.N. resolution that would open the way for U.S. military action against Iraq.

Earlier this week, the chairman of the House Administration Committee, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, ordered that House restaurants change their menus to read ``freedom fries'' instead of French fries. French toast would also become freedom toast.

Lawmakers have also introduced bills to prevent France from participating in any postwar reconstruction projects.

Brown-Waite, a freshman Republican, said she decided to sponsor the bill after she was approached by a constituent who said he wanted to bring home his father, who was killed in World War II and buried in France.

Some 74,000 American war casualties are buried in France and Belgium, including 30,000 from World War I. The host nations, while retaining sovereignty over the burial grounds, have granted the land in perpetuity to the United States as military cemeteries.

Steve Thomas, a spokesman for the American Legion, said the veterans' group would need some time to look at the legislation. He said the American Legion has always respected the wishes of the families concerning those who died in combat, but noted that ``a lot of people may not want to repatriate their fallen loved ones, separating them from their comrades, to make a statement about the French government.''

[TheLooseThread]

Imagine if the D-Day attack had been vetoed.

[schaketo]

French Products and Companies to Boycott

A list of French companies products to boycott. Some are well known, but many are not. Here goes.

The gang at FrogWeenies (www.metrospy.com) notes: "France's behavior in front of the UN has been disgraceful. Their attempts to block, veto and prevent the US lead military action in Iraq does not promote peace, it simply reinforces the will of tyrants and terrorists."

It lists French products to boycott. You will probably be surprised to learn the French own everything from Wild Turkey to Car & Driver to Motel 6 to cheesy Spencer Gifts to disgusting Democrat schlock-show host Jerry Springer.

• Air France. Air Liquide. Airbus. Alcatel. Allegra (allergy medication). Aqualung (including :Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest). AXA Advisors

• Bank of the West (owned by BNP Paribas). Beneteau (boats). BF Goodrich (owned by Michelin). BIC (razors, pens and lighters). Biotherm (cosmetics). Black Bush. Bollinger (champagne).

• Car & Driver Magazine. Cartier. Chanel. Chivas Regal (scotch). Christian Dior. Club Med (vacations). Culligan (owned by Vivendi).

• Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods). DKNY. Dom Perignon. Durand Crystal

• Elle Magazine. Essilor Optical Products. Evian.

• Fina gas stations and Fina Oil (billions invested in Iraqi oil fields). First Hawaiian Bank.

• George Magazine. Givenchy. Glenlivet (scotch).

• Hennessy. Houghton Mifflin (books).

• International Herald Tribune.

• Jacobs Creek (owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989). Jameson (whiskey). Jerry Springer (talk show)

• Krups (coffee and cappuccino makers).

• Lancome. Le Creuset (cookware). L'Oreal (health and beauty products). Louis Vuitton.

• Marie Claire. Martel Cognac. Maybelline. Méphisto (shoes and clothes). Michelin (tires and auto parts). Mikasa (crystal and glass). Moet (champagne). Motel 6. Motown Records. MP3.com. Mumms (champagne).

• Nissan (cars; majority owned by Renault). Nivea. Normany Butter.

• Parents Magazine. Peugeot (automobiles). Pierre Cardin. Playstation Magazine. ProScan (owned by Thomson Electronics, France). Publicis Group (including Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising).

• RCA (televisions and electronics; owned by Thomson Electronics). Red Magazine. Red Roof Inns (owned by Accor group in France). Renault (automobiles). Road & Track Magazine. Roquefort cheese (all Roquefort cheese is made in France). Rowenta (toasters, irons, coffee makers, etc.). Royal Canadian.

• Salomon (skis). Seagram's Gin. Sierra Software and Computer Games. Smart & Final. Sofitel (hotels, owned by Accor). Sparkletts (water, owned by Danone). Spencer Gifts. Sundance Channel.

• Taylor Made (golf). Technicolor. T-Fal (kitchenware). Total gas stations.

• UbiSoft (computer games). Uniroyal. Universal Studios (music, movies and amusement parks; owned by Vivendi-Universal). USFilter.

• Veritas Group. Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Vittel. Vivendi.

• Wild Turkey (bourbon). Woman's Day Magazine.

• Yoplait (The French company Sodiaal owns a 50 percent stake). Yves Saint Laurent.

• Zodiac Inflatable Boats.

Please add to the list and email to your like-minded friends.

[Az Joe]

As much as I detest the Frogs, disinterring and disturbing the remains of our fine men just doesn't seem appealing to me, although I understand the sentiment.

I say let them lie there as a mute testimony of United States courage to the yellow bastards.

[ladtx]

Wild Turkey??

Good thing I picked up the Maker's Mark last weekend (almost got the Wild Turkey) or my heart would have been broken.

[Freeper]

lie there as a mute testimony of United States courage to the yellow bastards.

I hope no one ever lets me lie in mute testimony to ANYONE! Every American deserves respect for their efforts in defense of their Country and any allies.

[SouthParkRepublican]

I disagree with this bill and think that if anything, the French (although they would make a show of disapproval) would secretly like to be free of that constant reminder. US Soldiers died defeating the Nazis (something they were incapable of) and surreptitiously liberated their asses.

Besides, our soldiers died there for noble ideals. I don’t think any of us would have wanted our soldiers exhumed from Arlington during the Clinton administration just because at the moment we did not like much of what was spewing out of the Oval Office.

[Weimdog]

TaylorMade is owned by Adidas-Salomon group which is German not French.

Adidas-Salomon also owns -

Adidas
Salomon (skis)
TaylorMade (golf)
Mavic (cycling)
MaxFli (golf balls)

FYI - TaylorMade is a golf club manufacturer in Carlsbad, California and is the #2 or 3 club maker in the country. They employ many people in Southern California.

Please be careful and check your sources carefully before forwarding them as boycott targets. The job you save may be your own.

Regards,

Weimdog (golf industry insider)

[Jennifer in Florida]

Wow. Thanks for the list, I will pass it on!

[Jay D. Dyson]

As much as I detest the Frogs, disinterring and disturbing the remains of our fine men just doesn't seem appealing to me, although I understand the sentiment.

I say let them lie there as a mute testimony of United States courage to the yellow bastards.

I will speak as a surviving blood relative of one of the dead, then.

My eldest uncle was killed in World War II while fighting to liberate these ingrates. Out of respect for his ultimate sacrifice, I would prefer that his remains be moved to a nation that has the decency to HONOR HIS SACRIFICE.

-Jay

[iceskater]

First it was Allegra (which I take for my horrible allergies) and now Wild Turkey. Sheesh. D*mn frogs.

[wimpycat]

I agree. I think they need to stay there, as a constant reminder, to silently mock the French and stupid notions of how peace is achieved.


We rescued them from the Germans twice and they've never forgiven us for it. But we can't save the French from the French.

[Steven W.]

Before you do (it's being posted on every post at FR these days) be sure to remove Yoplait which is since now owned by a fine AMERICAN Company (General Mills)

[TADSLOS]

I agree. The U.S. paid for that soil in blood, twice. I want the French to be visibly reminded of that every single day of their miserable lives.

[husky ed]

I will have to hang onto my ProScan big screen and RCA sat receiver since I am disable and don't have the money to replace them.
The subscription to Car & Driver was a school thing I did for my wife's niece. I'll call and cancel that one today.
I might have some MoTown, but those were bought way before France got involved.
And as for Universal Studios, the wife and I don't go to the movies anymore. Why pay $8-$10 a person then have to sit thru 20 minutes of commericals.
However my Abbot & Costello Meet the Monsters Collections is a Universal release. But again before the surrender monkeys got a hold of it.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

First it was Allegra (which I take for my horrible allergies) and now Wild Turkey.

Wild Turkey quit distilling years ago and just buys local brands and mixes them. You should have stopped buying it then, now you have a second chance! ;-)

[cynicom]

My brother lies somewhere in German soil. Rest assured, if it were possible and an option, I would have him brought back. He fought all across France into Germany, for something that people now try to obscure with time and words. Death is never obscured.

[ladtx]

Wild Turkey is still distilling is own bourbon. I've pretty much changed to Maker's Mark anyway.

[coder2]

Thank you for posting this list...

There are a number of things I need to purchase --- will make sure that NONE are from this list.

Already convinced hubby to buy a new Ford truck instead of the Dodge (Daimler Chryster --- German product).

One baby step at a time...