Our Ally the French

Chirac lashes out against US cultural domination Oct 07 2004 21:37:42 ETFrench President Jacques Chirac warned Thursday of a "catastrophe" for global diversity if the United States' cultural hegemony goes unchallenged.Speaking at a French cultural center in Hanoi ahead of Friday's opening of a summit of European and Asian leaders, Chirac said France was right to stand up for cultural and linguistic diversity.The outspoken French president warned that the world's different cultures could be "choked" by US values.This, he said, would lead to a "general world sub-culture" based around the English language, which would be "a real ecological catastrophe". Citing Hollywood's stranglehold over the film industry as an example, Chirac stressed that only with government assistance could countries maintain their cultural heritage.Vietnam is a former French colony, but only around 375,000 of its 81 million people speak French. English is considered by most people a far more valuable and practical second language, particularly among businessmen.

Is this the French Senator Kerry is relying on to help us in Iraq and the larger war against Islamic Fundamentalism. The french have never been good "allies", the last time they helped us was against the British in 1776, and not until they were sure we had a chance. Furthermore, they were clearly interested in making the former British Colonies, French Colonies.

Today the trend continues, the French obviously consider the United States their enemy and I think we should return the favor. They are free to be obnoxious because of the United States Military, in two major wars, freed them and all they can do is try to find a way to stick their thumb in our eye. We have American servicemen buried in that country, I think its time for them to return home, Their sacrifice is obviously not respected or remembered.

They bowed out of NATO, they wouldn't allow our planes fly combat missions over their land. They are clearly viaing for control of the European Union with Germany, with the eye toward using a united Europe against the United States. Is this something we want to allow. Granted they can't agree on a constitution, and the Eastern European Nations have no desire to place themselves under the yoke of France and are resisting, and when their economies begin to flourish should be able to rival moribund economy of France. But we should be cautious, and seek to undermine French control of the Union.

The United States needs to keep an eye on France, and our presidential candidates need to stop relying on this fourth rate power for anything more then a thumb in the eye.