Run by elitist socialists, France is not a popular nation in conservative circles around the world these days. Nonetheless, to dismiss them on the fight against terror based on stereotypes is a faulty route to follow.
This aside, militarily France has much to offer in the fight against terrorism. France is a country that takes its historical heritage seriously and will do anything to preserve its legacy. France seems like a hypocritical country because it has mastered the art of Machiavellian politics. Where American hypocrisy lays in their inability to act like an empire proper, France's hypocrisy lays in its inability to come to terms that it is no longer one.
Their musings to flex their muscles on the world stage was, in part, to exert their independence of American foreign policy and sovereignty. Behind the scenes, however, France is much more astute and pragmatic, and has the exact same interest as America. True, the French have often acted on its own interests (self-interest tends to do that to people) against the benefits of their allies but they are still crucial in this game.
France is a like an actor when it comes to the international stage. They know how to play the game and are more adept at it than the Americans who give the impression of awkwardness in playing similar games.
During the Iraq debate, France simply over played their rhetorical hand. American power is what matters now. The sooner they can come to terms with this the sooner we can convince them to close ranks. .
What the rest of the world needs is France to join their fight and to state this frankly and publicly. Rather than chastise the U.S. and her allies they need to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
Why? France faces serious terrorist threats itself and are perhaps the most advanced country in combating terrorism. French elite commando forces are among the best in the world- and the most lethal.
France doesn't mess around with terrorists. I witnessed this first hand in Paris in 1994 when terrorists took a plane hostage Christmas eve. The government dispatched special forces units within an hour and gave orders to storm the plane. They got the job done and it made me proud to have been on French soil for that incident.
French laws are unambiguous towards terrorists. Theydo not accord the privilege the rest of its law-abiding citizens enjoy of civil law. They will arrest, detain and interrogate any suspects on the slightest of evidence. Why treat terrorists who do not acknowledge our legal practices to begin with any rights? Here in North America and Britain, we seem to observe human rights accords more tightly even for people who shun any document of civility the world has drawn up.
Remaining fixated on the Great Wars is also a little misleading if not unfair. France was on the downside of its greatness by 1914 and were psychologically unprepared for those wars. They impractically relied on the spirit of the French warrior to come and rise up. There was no Charlemagne or Napoleon to save them.
Plainly put, the world needs France fight the scourge of our times. It certainly can't hurt.
Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing.
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