Category Archives: France

French Leave Quickly

The French government is rather disturbed when Afghan soldiers decide to fire on French rather than Taliban forces. Last week, yet again, another Afghan soldier pointed his weapon toward allies rather than enemies.  Afghan President Hamid Karzai was visiting France when both President Sarkozy and he agreed on the following. “We have decided in common accord with President Karzai to ask NATO to consider a total handing of NATO combat missions to the Afghanistan army over the course of 2013.”

In other words, the French are going to take French leave and get the heck out of the country by the end of 2013 wether NATO forces agree or not. Perhaps, in the future Afghan troops will fire on the enemy rather than on their allies.

France Will Not Run Away

Several days ago an Afghan soldier turned his rifle on French members of NATO forces and killed four men. Their deaths were part of an attack by friendly Afghan soldiers that left 15 other  French soldiers wounded including several  who might die. French President Sarkozy was furious and threatened to withdraw his forces from Afghanistan ahead of the 2014 deadline to leave. However, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe assured NATO that France will not panic and will not leave before 2014.

Sources claim the man confessed to the murders because of  a recent video depicting four US Marines urinating on dead Taliban bodies. War is hell, and in war men do things they would never in civilian life. The importance of respecting other cultures once again proves needed on the part of those who fight in that faraway land.

Kahn Wife Keeps Kahn In News

We thought the life and times of French leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn had become more sedate and removed from the public scene once the man with wandering hands got on a plane to return home. Alas, that is not the case. His wife, Anne Sinclair, has joined hands with the Huffington Post to offer a French version entitled: “Le Huffington Post.” There is no question adding an “Le” to the name makes all the difference in the world. Anne insists hubby Dominique will not have any connection to the new online web site. However, what happens when Dominique makes a pass at someone who places his comments online? Somehow, we doubt there will be silence. Why not simply allow Dominique to have his own web site: “Boobs Solicited” would be a good name.

French Political Genocide Games

There is no historical doubt that during World War I hundreds of thousands of Armenian people in Turkey were murdered by the government. There is no doubt that during World War II over six million Jews were murdered by the German government. The people of Germany have acknowledged what happened and through honest education programs enabled their children to learn about a horrible event in their nation’s history. In America, schools teach about the murder of Indians and the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

For some reason, Turkey continues to deny reality as though acknowledging what happened in the past somehow reflects on current society. The French government has made denying the Holocaust a crime and now seeks to make denying the Armenian genocide a crime. Passing laws to forbid people to express opinions is a violation of free speech. If someone denies the Holocaust, it is my responsibility to engage them in the marketplace of ideas. The same is true about the Armenian genocide.

Take Off Veil At Wedding!

The absurd fascination with use of veils or face coverings by Muslim  women reached a new degree of madness in the French town of Lyon. A Muslim couple were getting prepared to be married when a French official demanded the woman remove her veil in order for him to see her face. I assume he was protecting the future husband from being married to the wrong woman. The official insisted the law required him to check the couple’s identity.

Mayor Gerard Collomb indicated a desire to discuss the madness of this wedding. “Perhaps, our councillior could have acted with a bit more sensitivity.”

The French government will man the barricades of freedom to ensure the right woman marries the right man!

Armenians Died, So Admit It!

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is furious at the a proposed bill in the French parliament which makes denying there was a genocide against Armenians in Turkey during WWI to be a crime that could lead to a fine of $58,000 and possible prison sentence. Erdogan threatened sanctions against  France. “Tomorrow I will probably announce what we will do at the first stage and the kind of sanctions we will have in the second and third stages.” He insists printing stories about murder of Armenians “denigrates Turkish history.”

1. The US Congress publicly apologized to people of Japanese American ancestry over their internment during WWII.

2. American school textbooks are filled with stories about oppression of Native  Americans.

3. American school textbooks are filled with stories about the evils of slavery.

4. Germany  has done a fantastic job in its schools to teach children about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Armenians were murdered during this genocide. American Ambassador Morgenthau at the time sent detailed reports what he and his staff witnessed about Armenians being murdered by the thousands. It does NOT denigrate one’s national heritage to be open concerning past mistakes. It demonstrates maturity as a society.

Genocide Wars Rage In Turkey And France

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan is not going to end the genocide war against France until: (a) France admits it committed genocide during its colonial rule in Algeria, (b) France admits there was no  genocide against Armenians in Turkey in 1915, or (c) we all agree that genocide never took place anywhere in the world and millions of humans were killed by Martian invaders. According to Erdogan, “what the French did in Algeria during its colonization was genocide.” He claimed that 15% of Algerians were massacred between 1945-1962. Erdogan also pointed out that President Sarkozy’s father served in the French Legion during this time period and thus was part of the genocide.

There are two issues emanating from his statement. One argues there was genocide in Algeria and the other argues there was no genocide in Turkey against Armenians. I get confused. What does genocide in Algeria have to do with genocide in Turkey? Is Mr. Erdogan attempting to prove that if you commit genocide it means you are not allowed to discuss our genocide? When will Turkey admit it killed over a million Armenians and in order to demonstrate moral and ethical health as a nation? The US Congress apologized to Japanese Americans for their internment. Germany has apologized for the Holocaust. Just admit the truth and everyone who engaged in genocide can finally cleanse their souls.

WWII Lingers On In France

For some reason the people of France simply can not let go of what happened in their nation during World War II when they were defeated and occupied by the German army. Life under an occupation produces confusion and ambiguity regarding how individuals conduct relation with the occupiers. After France was liberated from German rule in 1944, Charles de Gualle, head of the provisional government, confiscated the Renault company on grounds it had collaborated with the enemy and its president eventually died in jail.

Grandchildren of Louis Renault are suing the French government on grounds Renault was the only major business leader who was subject to confiscation although they argue others also collaborated. The key word is, “collaborate.” No doubt, most collaborated in one way or another, but there is also a line one should not cross. Historians agree Renault provided Germany motors, vehicles and technology. The issue is whether this was done willingly or under duress. Unfortunately, this question will probably never be completely answered.

Nick Clegg Is MAD!

There is a very angry political leader in England who is furious at Prime Minister David Cameron for rejecting working with members of the European Union in their effort to contain the  financial crisis on the continent. David Cameron became the first British prime minister to veto an EU  treaty as he made clear that England does not want anything to do with resolving the Euro crisis. In other words, England stands alone from other members of the EU.

Nick Clegg, head of the Liberal party which is a member of the coaltion government, was blunt in his criticism. The PM and I clearly do not agree  on teh outcome of the summit  last week. I made it very clear that I think isolation in Europe when we are one against 26 is potentially a bad thing for jobs, a   bad thing for growth and a bad thing for the livelihoods of millions of people in this country. I think that we  need to do now is build  bridges–re-engage and make sure that the British voice is head loud and clear in the heart of Europe.”

Nick feels David has  nicked him in the heart and also damaged the health of Great Britain. So, what is the next step–step out of the coalition?

Sex To Be Illegal In France

Prostitution has been around as long as there have been humans wandering around this planet. Prostitution is  currently legal in France, but the National Assembly is considering a new law which would make the practice of strangers engaging in sex for monetary compensation to be an illegal activity. Police  estimate there are 20,000 prostitutes in the fair land of France. Under the new law, to engage in prostitution will result in up to six months in jail and a fine of about $4000.

Of course, one can define, “prostitution” in several ways. An individual  who uses her/his physical attractiont to snare someone into marriage could be defined as being a prostitute. A lobbbyist who seduces a politicians with offers of  campaign money is, in essence, having the politician sell his/her body(mind) for money. Why don’t we define that act as one of “prostitution?”