[78-L] Freedom Fries^

[Michael Biel]

> Bill Knowlton wrote:
>   
>> "Be that as it may, back during gulf war two under GWB, the cafeterias 
>> in the US Capitol renamed French Fries to 'Freedom Fries' in shades 
>> of the newspeak of 1984". 
>>
>>  
>>
>> I always get quite a kick out of the "offense" some of my political friends on the left take on the Bush era's shocking use of "Freedom Fries" as a reaction to France's policies at the time.
>>
>>  
>>     
Before you go shooting your mouth off about the France's policies, take 
a look at what their policies actually were in 2004 instead of wollowing 
in the mud with Bill O'Liely and his asinine boycott of France.

http://www.un.int/france/documents_anglais/041022_armee_facts_sheet.htm

*3) France is Actively Involved in Afghanistan*.

*- A total of 1,800 French troops are involved in the stabilization of 
Afghanistan, including the French Navy’s contribution to Operation 
Enduring Freedom*.

*- 950 French troops are deployed in that country as part of the 
International Security Assistance Force*. France is also playing a 
significant role in training the Afghan national army, alongside the 
U.S. and the United Kingdom, having initially organized three Afghan 
battalions of 500 men and being presently involved in the training of 
all Afghan officers. Additionally, 200 special troops are involved 
alongside American troops in the fight against the remnants of the 
Taliban regime in southern Afghanistan.

- *In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, France offered its military 
resources and capabilities to support the American-led military 
campaign, Operation Enduring Freedom/,/ in Afghanistan.* Immediately, 
the exchanges of information between our naval commanders increased, 
particularly in the Indian Ocean, thus intensifying the fight against 
all types of trafficking.

*- Since October 21, 2001, French reconnaissance aircraft and air 
tankers have contributed to the air campaign over Afghanistan*. They 
were reinforced from the winter of 2001 to the summer of 2002 by French 
naval aviation forces and French Air Force transport planes and 
fighters. France was, indeed, the only country, along with the United 
States, to have flown bombing missions over Afghanistan in direct 
support of American ground troops, in particular during Operation 
Anaconda. From October 23, 2001 to September 30, 2002, a total of 12,000 
flying hours were conducted in support of operations in Afghanistan. The 
Mirage 2000D and Super Etendard destroyed 33 targets linked to Al Qaeda 
or the Taliban regime in direct support of American Special Forces. 
Today, 130 military are based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, helping to 
operate the airport and supporting 2 transport aircraft, 3 
reconnaissance jet fighters and 1 tanker engaged in the support of the 
French contingent in Afghanistan.

*- French forces arrived early on the ground in Afghanistan*. From 
December 2, 2001 to January 27, 2002, a reinforced company secured in 
Mazar-e-Sharif the detachment of U.S. engineers repairing the airfield 
in order to fly in humanitarian assistance. In total, some 5,500 French 
soldiers were sent to the region.

*- The French Navy continues to patrol the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of 
Oman*. It has been monitoring commercial sea lanes, detecting and 
boarding suspicious vessels, as well as escorting coalition boats 
through the area since December 2001. France is the second largest 
contributor to the maritime task force in charge of this mission.

*4) With 33,000 Troops Overseas, France is a Major U.S. Partner in 
Advancing Security Throughout the World. *

*- In the broader context of international security, France is working 
closely with the U.S. military to control proliferation and drug 
trafficking*. The French Armed Forces in the Caribbean are closely 
coordinating with the U.S. Joint Inter Agency Task Force South to 
counter drug trafficking. The 7,000 French troops in the French 
Caribbean and Guyana play a major role in this matter. They also made up 
the bulk of the French contribution to the multinational interim force 
in Haiti (870 servicemen, 24% of MIFH), which was recently terminated.

*- France became a full partner in the Proliferation Security 
Initiative*, *following President Bush’s initiative. *France offered air 
control training exercises, as well as contributions to, and 
organization of, naval exercises. Last year, the French Navy also led a 
PSI exercise, code-named Basilic, in Toulon.

- *10,000 French forces are present in the Pacific region and the 
Southern Indian Ocean*, where they are controlling sea lanes and 
protecting important areas for the preservation of natural wealth. They 
are also able to assist countries of the region ravaged by conflicts or 
natural disasters, such as the East Timor crisis or typhoons in Madagascar.





>>   
>>     
> I know.  Wasn't it disgusting that the French decided to have their 
> troops fighting along side ours in Afghanistan.  The nerve of them to 
> have maintained in 2004 the largest troop deployment there after that of 
> the U.S. and Germany.  I mean, they had no right to keep fighting 
> against those who were REALLY responsible for 9/11 instead of following 
> our lead and pulling out and going on wild goose chases after people who 
> had nothing to do with 9/11.  The nerve of them to not believe the lies 
> we were able to get out of a drunken taxicab driver who knew where the 
> WMD were, and instead stay where the fight should have stayed. 
>   
>> As I recall, "Freedom Fries" was settled on in order to avoid the very offensive and un-PC suggestion to rename them "Frog Fries..."
>>
>> BILL KNOWLTON
>>
>>   
>>     
>
> Yeah, darn, it would have been great to make fun of the French troops 
> fighting along side of us in Afghanistan. 
>
> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>
>   
>>
>>
>>   
>>     
>
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