France And Nato

[La_Dolce_Vita]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/...nt_11031070.htm

 

I think it is a shame that France does not appear to want to diminish the NATO alliance and no longer wants to create a viable European defence force as an alternative to NATO. I thought these were sensible ideas.

[manxman2]

i liked the line the american gave to the french general or the equivalent.

 

he was moaning about how the nato meetings were always taken using the english language and never in french.

 

and the american pointed out to him that if it wasnt for the english speaking nations .. he would be speaking german as his native tongue as french would no longer exist..

[Stavros]

Was that because he could only speak French, English or German then?

[Jimcalagon]

As far as I know, the French are actually members of NATO (or OTAN, as they call it), supply troops and support but don't actually contribute to any high-level command decisions.

[manxman2]

Was that because he could only speak French, English or German then?

 

ive been trying to hunt the quote down stav .. as its a cracker in the right context..

[Stavros]

These ones?

 

An officer in the U.S. Naval reserve was attending a conference of officers from the U.S. navy and the French navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies.

 

A French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: ‘Why is it that we have to speak English at these conferences rather than speak French?’ Without hesitating, an American admiral replied: ‘Maybe it’s because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.’

 

Source: 'We love the French'

 

In 1966, upon being told that Charles de Gaulle had taken France out of NATO and that all U.S. troops must be evacuated from French soil, President Lyndon Johnson told Secretary of State Dean Rusk: ‘Ask him about the cemeteries, Dean!’

 

So, at end of the meeting, Dean asked de Gaulle if his order to remove all U.S. troops from French soil also included the 60,000 plus soldiers buried in France from World War I and World War II. De Gaulle never answered.

[manxman2]

yeah thats the one stav .. french have always been quick too forget..

[La_Dolce_Vita]

These ones?

 

An officer in the U.S. Naval reserve was attending a conference of officers from the U.S. navy and the French navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies.

 

A French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: ‘Why is it that we have to speak English at these conferences rather than speak French?’ Without hesitating, an American admiral replied: ‘Maybe it’s because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.’

 

Source: 'We love the French'

 

In 1966, upon being told that Charles de Gaulle had taken France out of NATO and that all U.S. troops must be evacuated from French soil, President Lyndon Johnson told Secretary of State Dean Rusk: ‘Ask him about the cemeteries, Dean!’

 

So, at end of the meeting, Dean asked de Gaulle if his order to remove all U.S. troops from French soil also included the 60,000 plus soldiers buried in France from World War I and World War II. De Gaulle never answered.

 

But maybe a silly thing to say in respect of the fact that if it weren't for French efforts the British would have had no army to pull out of France to continue the fight.

 

Besides the Americans didn't fight WW1 and WW2 to fight for France.