What is it about the word "Schadenfreude" that makes you want to laugh? The French thats what. Now normally I'm not the type to enjoy a laugh at the expense of one of our allies but then I remember that the French aren't really our allies. I will happily argue the point with anyone who desires but let me point out that obviously we have expelled the Germans from their country twice in the last century alone. Since the end of WW2, the French have:

Collaborated with the British against the expressed desires of the United States in order to invade Egypt and force a closure of the Suez Canal.

Dragged the United States into their colonial cesspool in Southeast Asia. (And demanded that the United States provide Army, Navy and Air assets placed under French command.) Mercifully, Eisenhower told them where to get off.

Pulled out of NATO despite enjoying the peace and security ensured by that organization.

Refused American strike aircraft retaliating against Libyan madman Moammar Qaddafi permission to overfly their country.

Systematically engaged in unilateral military engagements in Southeast Asia, Algeria, Central Afria and Sierra Leone without once asking for UN approval while at the same time, demanding that the US do so for any American military action.

I would argue that these are not the acts of an ally but rather of a recalcitrant teen. Hell the Russians don't have that crummy track record but I digress. I mentioned enjoying a good laugh at the frog expense. It seems the French have spent the last decade building a new nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the Charles DeGaulle. This ship was supposed to replace the obsolescent Foch and Clemenceau carriers. The ship has been commissioned and launched and has consistently failed sea and operational trials. Now the frogs are considering quietly retiring the ship and letting it set in port while ordering another carrier from the British who are in the process of building two new ones. (The Brits have far more experience in aircarft carrier construction.) Among the maladies suffered by the Charles DeGaulle:

When the laundry dryers are functioning, they shake the entire ship.

The propellors are recycled from the old Foch because the new ones originally mounted on the ship cavitated and warped and broke off during seatrials.

This nuclear powered ship is actually slower than the ship she replaces.

Speaking of nuclear power, the ship's reactors were installed so poorly, the engineering crew absorbs 5 times the amount of radiation as considered safe in a year.

Best of all, when built the ships' flight deck was 4 feet too short. This doesn't sound like much but it made it impossible to operate the American E2C Hawkeye aircraft that the frogs had purchased for the airwing. Landing aircraft catching the last arresting wire were in danger of going over the flightdeck.

The frogs were forced to eat crow when the catapult system failed and they had to bring in American Naval experts to repair it.

Now I can't imagine why in the world the frogs feel that they need an aircraft carrier in the first place. When they do elect to fight, ever since the debacle at Dien Bien Phu, it is invariably a contest between petulant, arrogant Gauls and some poor tribal band somewhere. Of course, if the frogs do buy a British carrier and anything goes wrong with it, they can always blame the English.

Anyways have a laugh at our "allies" and now on to this week's Republicandy. Word on the street is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a Republican. I hope so, maybe she can turn her considerable talents to slaying the democrats.....



Smilin' Paul Villa U.S. Senate 2004
cyber-Congressman, R-Reno
Proud Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and 2 SUV Family