AF:
You lost me there:
I made a rhetorical point about the fact that, on balance, the gifts and the sacrifice of this country far outweigh anything France has done for us, even the Statue of Liberty.
You seem to think I want France to return the remains of Americans buried in Normandy. I said give us back the lives of the Americans who saved their butts in two world wars.
I also can’t make heads or tails of your point about our giving ourselves back our own defense costs because I pointed out that America has spent billions protecting France. Huh? Please clarify.
I am just saying, you got your rhetorical wish, or at least part of it : these tens of thousands of dead American soldiers actually are buried on American soil - or at least on land perpetually given to the United States.
As for the billions America spent in defense of Western Europe - including France - I am just pointing out that Western Europe also paid billions for NATO defense during the same period, and used the forces paid by these billions in operations alongside US forces, including operations that are curezntly going underway. So IMHO, it would seem only fair to take these billions into account.
Other than that, I make no assertions. I was just bringing my rhetorical 2 cents as an answer to the rhetorical points you were making.