Posted on 02/17/2003 4:33:49 PM PST by COBOL2Java
I saw an amazing quote from the mop-haired French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin, who said, while trying to urge on the European Union over this Iraq business, “One single power cannot ensure the security of the world.”
Can somebody answer a question for me? When was the last time France defended itself? Didn't Germany just march in there and basically sit down under the trees on the Champs-Elysees, enjoying the shade as they took over the country? The French have only enjoyed military victory once in history, and that was the French civil war when the French were their opponents. The French have beaten the French but they haven't beaten anybody else. And don’t give me World War I - that's a stretch.
In fact, the only time the French did put up a big fight in war was against us. The Vichy French, the French stooges for the Nazis, used the French navy to attack U.S. forces landing in North Africa. They didn't just surrender either, as is their custom. They destroyed their own remaining ships when it was clear the U.S. Navy would defeat them.
The bottom line is that the safety of the world right now, because of attitudes of nations like the French, does depend on a single nation. That's why we must be who we are, and continue to act as we do. Let me give you a synonym for safety - freedom. The freedom of the world does indeed depend on one single nation. You can throw the Brits in too.
De Villepin is trying to water down the influence of the United States and, among other things, attempting to build France up in the eyes of their European neighbors so that they can end up running the European Union. Now, from a competitive, economic standpoint that would be fabulous for us, because with France running the European Union, we could walk all over them. They won't defend themselves on anything.
French farce of the force de frappe
In 1940, however, their performance was dismal. What is your source for the claim that the French lost more men killed in combat in the six week war in 1940 than the US did in all of Europe during WWII. Absent good sources, I simply don't believe it.
Wasn't it when Joan of Arc fought the invaders? Oh wait! I think she was backstabbed by the King of France and thrown to the wolves.
Any half way decent WWII atlas will list the casualties of the combatants or even check any encyclopedia. If I remember correctly France lost 125,000 killed in the 6 weeks of the 1940 campaign and another 150,000 casualties from then till VE day. Also France lost 45% of total national wealth during the war. The US had a million casualties during the entire war of which just under 400,000 were killed, all fronts, including navy. Don't believe if you like but it is very easy to check on.
It would be left to "El Cid", a Spaniard, {great roles by Charleton Heston and Sophia Loren} to push the Islamists out of Europe, until recently!!
As far as WWII, it was not their finest moment.
Mr. Limbaugh should read a book about Verdun (that's WWI in case he never heard of it) Better yet, since he's such a big time jet setter he should visit the battlefield.
Remember that the U.S. total includes losses against Japan.
Huh?
Table 1--UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES TOTAL STRENGTH AND CASUALTIES IN WORLD WAR II,
DEC. 7, 1941-DEC. 31, 1946
Service--Total strength--Battle deaths--Deaths from other causes--Wounds(1)--Captured or missing
Army(2) 11,260,000 234,874 83,400 565,861 135,524 Navy 4,183,466 36,950 25,664 37,778 2,429 Marine Corps 669,100 19,733 4,778 67,207 1,756 Coast Guard 241,093 574 1,345 955 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 16,353,659 292,131 115,187 671,801 139,709
(1) Not mortal. (2) Includes Army Air Forces.
Table 2--ARMED FORCES PEAK STRENGTHS AND BATTLE DEATHS OF THE
PRINCIPAL ALLIED POWERS
Nation Peak strength Battle deaths Australia 680,000 23,365 Belgium 650,000 7,760 Canada 780,000 37,476 China 5,000,000 2,200,000(1) Denmark 25,000 3,006(2) France 5,000,000 210,671 Greece 414,000 73,700(2) India 2,150,000 24,338 Netherlands 410,000 6,238 New Zealand 157,000 10,033 Norway 45,000 1,000 Poland 1,000,000 320,000 USSR 12,500,000 7,500,000 Union of South Africa 140,000 6,840 United Kingdom 5,120,000 244,723 United States 12,300,000 292,131 Yugoslavia 500,000 410,000(2)
(1) Casualties beginning with the Japanese invasion in 1937.
(2) Most of these casualties were suffered in guerrilla warfare that followed German occupation of the country. In the case of Denmark they include more than 1,200 merchant sailors in the service of the Allied powers.
Table 3--ARMED FORCES PEAK STRENGTHS AND BATTLE DEATHS OF THE AXIS POWERS
Nation Peak strength Battle deaths Bulgaria 450,000 10,000(1) Finland 250,000 82,000 Germany 10,200,000 3,500,000 Hungary 350,000 140,000 Italy 3,750,000 77,494(2) Japan 6,095,000 1,219,000 Romania 600,000 300,000(1)
(1) A limited number of these casualties occurred after the country joined the Allies.
(2) Of these, 17,494 were killed after Italy became a cobelligerent with the Allies.
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