Editor’s Note: The following piece, exclusive to GPS, comes from Wikistrat, the world's first massively multiplayer online consultancy. It leverages a global network of subject-matter experts via a crowd-sourcing methodology to provide unique insights.
The countdown has begun for France’s first-round presidential election on Sunday, and while socialist challenger François Hollande is expected to beat center-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, there’s a decent chance that a second run-off election will be required for Hollande to crack the 50 percent of the vote mark. Either way, we’re likely on the verge of a major political shift for one of Europe’s pillars – right after the wobbly Eurozone had hoped to close the door on its threatened dissolution.
We know what you’re thinking: socialists, lots of new government spending, the end of the “Merkozy” tight bond between France and Germany!
So what are we to make of this looming quake? How high will it register on the political Richter scale? Wikistrat asked its global community of experts to ponder this, and here are the 8 points they chose to highlight.
Après Hollande, le Keynesian déluge!
Hollande’s win won’t be the last for Europe’s recently moribund Socialist movement, which is being duly revived by all this German austerity in response to the Eurozone’s ongoing fiscal/sovereign debt crisis. True, it won’t be a genuine return of Keynesian economics, which is more about government spending to jump start consumption during a business-cycle downturn, but the vote will clearly indicate the French public’s rejection of Sarkozy’s standing firm with Germany’s Angela Merkel when it comes to those debt-ravenous PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Portugal). Bottom line: we’ll see a France – and by extension Eurozone – more focused on the cause of growth over debt reduction. Also expect more hostile regulation of financial markets.
La Buffet Norme on steroids!
Exhibit #1 along these lines will be a supersized version of President Barack Obama’s recently defeated “Buffet Rule” (so named for American billionaire Warren Buffet) that promised a high minimum tax on millionaires and above. The U.S. version promised a mere 30 percent levy, whereas the French Socialists are threatening something on the order of 75 percent! Their goal? Reverse Sarkozy’s move to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 by getting all those French fat cats to pay for it. Having already lost its AAA rating, with public debt at 90 percent of GDP and public spending at more than half of GDP, the Socialists are doubling down on government in the country that invented big government.
Le nouveau visage of Euroskepticism
Traditionally, it’s been the European Right that has fought European integration, but the continent’s current “Iron Lady” (Germany’s Merkel) has recently stood tall as its pragmatic champion. Conversely, Europe’s socialists have typically supported the European ideal, but with austerity as the current pricetag, expect that to change with Hollande’s ascent. So say good-bye to Sarkozy’s hyperactivity (for example, his dream of a European Union-cum-Mediterranean Union), as Hollande’s just-say-non attitude marks France as the new poster child of Euroskepticism.
EZ come, EZ go
Hollande’s spend-heavy platform will exacerbate France’s economic problems, sending the country into a downward spiral and dealing a final blow to the Eurozone. By becoming the über-pig-among-PIIGS, Germany’s austerity pitch will go by the wayside and Eurozone defections will follow. The EZ’s resulting implosion will trigger the much-feared “double dip” across the global economy, and many global leaders will ultimately blame Paris for this “betrayal,” reducing France’s international standing to a new low point. Sacre duh!
The return of Gaullism = NATO’s death spiral
Sarkozy brought France back into NATO’s command fold, but Hollande has promised the swiftest possible withdrawal of French forces from Afghanistan. He has also resumed the normal, pre-Sarkozy rhetoric on strengthening the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy – France’s alternative to NATO. Amidst Washington’s purposeful strategic “pivot” to East Asia, this will accelerate the decline of the already drifting European military alliance. History will record the Libyan intervention as NATO’s last-gasp operation.
Does Turkey get a leg up?
The Socialists have always been much more receptive to Turkey’s much-delayed accession into the EU, but in the every-nation-for-itself dynamic that Hollande’s free-spending ways may well trigger, it’s not all that clear there will be anything left for Ankara to join. What is clear is that a rudderless NATO would leave Turkey firmly in the driver’s seat in both war-torn Syria and the wider Arab Spring. That’s a new thing, but not necessarily a bad thing.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
Let’s remember that there’s the candidate for office and then there’s the man after he settles into that big old chair of power. Hollande can promise all the change he wants – just like candidate Obama did – only to find his options far more constrained once sworn into office. This is – at best – a center-right-to-center-left shift, and that might just be the best of both worlds: the marriage of a socialist agenda to forcefully conservative government machinery. It could be just what the EZ doctor ordered: just enough capitulation to France’s burgeoning populist anger to avoid a far more serious political meltdown. The French said it first a long time ago: plus ça change (the more things change), plus c'est la même chose (the more they stay the same).
Le comeback enfant?
Don’t count Sarkozy out. The first round of voting is an exercise in populist spleen-venting, while the second round is a far more serious affair – electing the President of the Republic. Compare Sunday’s vote to the just-concluded Republican primary race and you’ll get the picture. Sarkozy may look a whole lot more acceptable once it devolves into mano a mano slugfest. It’s a short interval between the two votes – just a mere two weeks! And both candidates will struggle to win over the small-but-crucial blocks that went to extremist candidates. Hollande is the Romney in this race, and boring “change agents” face an uphill tactical battle against charismatic incumbents. The undecided vote is still large as of today. Who knows how big it will be on 6 May?
++++
That’s Wikistrat's “wisdom of the crowd” for this week. Now tell us how you see the election and its aftermath playing out.
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A political shift is exactly what France needs but then again, almost every country in Europe does too! This idea of the Eurozone and the willingness to carry out orders from the U.S. and Great Britain need to go and soon too!!!
Well put, George. In fact, if I were the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the first thing I would do is to pull that country out of NATO and quit taking orders from Washington D.C. Moreover, I'd begin to negotiate with Iran and try to find a peaceful way to solve the nuclear issue as the U.N. did with South Africa.
Neville anyone??? Read your history book... Appeasement doesn't work.
Neviile tried to appease Hitler, and we all know what happened. If you give a mouse a cookie...
Negotiate with Iran? How naive art thou? I suppose next you'd "negotiate" with the DPRK.
Don't worry Marine5484, armchair generals have been playing the Neville Chamberlain card for 70 years. They think that cruise missiles and special forces are the only way to interact with countries that don't agree with you. While Iran has more than its share of religious nutjobs, the regime itself is not suicidal. They see that the US has established bases all around them (Iraq, Afghanistan, Gulf States). They know that they are part of the "Axis of Evil". They realize that, of the other two charter Axis members, only the one with nuclear weapons (N. Korea) has not been invaded. They also know what happened to Khadafi when he tried to be a nice guy and preemptively dismantle his WMD program. Who can blame them for trying to create a nuclear deterrent or cozying up to Russia and China?
As an American I wish we were asked to leave NATO. The OAS is where our interest should be and they are no longer aligned with NATO. In fact the problems with Europe and even the middle east are by in large issues that could be of a minimal concern to us if we were properly aligned with an emerging South America. Its time for Europe to pay its own way and get off of the teet of the USA
Yeah, you fools try to appease and suck up to Iran and see what it gets you – Iran going nuclear and unleashing their terrorist idiots to USE the bomb. Hell, no. We had better get someone in office here who'll strengthen and support the military after we boot Bozobama's sorry tail out of office. Then let any country who wants to support terrorism or hide the idiots who do these things will get the crap bombed out of them and their major cities destroyed until they hand over those responsible for terrorist acts.
George: Do you remember your old quote:
"I'd rather have a German division in front of me than a French division behind me." ?
No doubt George Patton had learned a lesson from France during WW II and America can't always rely on France as it can on Britain.
Patton never said anything like that, in fact he counted on the french as shock-troops. When americans were not enough the French always got through.
The "lesson" that Patton learned was never to trust your back to a hoard of spineless cowards.
Patton, who served under French command in WWI, never said that, but clueless patton wannabees will keep this urban legend alive, apaprently. Idiots de tous les pays, unissez-vous.
Cheese eating surender monkeys
The historic and longstanding relationship between the European Union and the United States is based on shared values and a strong fundamental belief in democratic government, the rule of law, human rights, and the market economy. The EU-U.S. partnership includes not only political, trade and economic relations, but active cooperation between the EU and the U.S. encompassing such global challenges as promoting energy security and efficiency, combating climate change, and helping developing nations lift themselves out of poverty, a goal toward which the EU and the U.S. together provide 80 percent of official development assistance worldwide. The partners also cooperate in additional policy areas including counterterrorism, crisis management, research and development, and education and training.
Perhaps the most defining feature of the global economy, the EU-U.S. economic relationship accounts for more than 30 percent of global trade in goods and 40 percent in services. The two economies each provide the other with its most important source of foreign direct investment and close to a quarter of all EU-U.S. trade consists of transactions within firms based on their investments on either side of the Atlantic. In fact, U.S. investment in Europe ($2 trillion) was nearly four times more than in all of Asia at the end of 2009. The overall transatlantic workforce is estimated at 15 million workers—about half in the U.S. and half in the EU—who owe their jobs directly or indirectly to companies from the other side of the Atlantic.
Such right-wing mumbo-jumbo here! It's the right-wing thugs in Washington who pretty much run things in Europe today through their control of N.A.T.O. Their big concern is that they find it far easier to control a united Europe that a divided one! That's the reason almost all the European politicians today sit in their ivory towers awaiting orders from Washington D.C. to carry out without any though of moral priciples!
What did I say that could be construed as "right wing?"
Patrick – the only thing you have to do to be accused of being right wing is talk perfect sense, with factual evidence to prove your point. Thank you'
The liberals who live in the twilight zone of intellectually challenged, can't understand facts so they fall back on juvenile name calling.
thank you Patrick. the pathetic anti-american jargon on here is disgusting.
Don't forget the U.S. We'll get ours next January.
You will get your what?
I love the anti-american jargon. you sicken me.
Negotiating is not appeasement. Furthermore, if Iran going nuclear is a done deal, then what's the difference between negotiating and bombing? They will still go nuclear in that event as the sites are underground. You "bomb Iran" people are funny, thinking that the firepower of the US will be enough to stop Iran. If it was such an obvious and easy solution, wouldn't Bush have done it?
It's "la norme Buffet" NOT "la Buffet norme".
Sarkozy was such a waste of time for France. The worst time in French history as ever. I was shocked when they elected him in the first place.
Many see him as a bling bling president, wearing designer suits and luxury watches. Perhaps he could need a good strategy from his divorced wife, Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz. She was a very shrewd adviser and he had her to thank for his career, but she had no desire to be France's first lady. So a few months after he moved into the Elysee, they divorced. Soon after in Spring 2008 both remarried, for the third time.
Carla Bruni has a problem if she wants to remain first lady. There's an irrational hatred of Sarkozy. No French president in modern times has been the object of such blatant dislike. It is an animosity quite distinct from opposition to his policies. All leaders expect hostility for the things they do, but few get it in such an extent for the things they are.
you don't have to be voted in as first lady – I know that Hollande has a new love other than Royal but he is unmarried so??? Carla might still have a chance to stay first lady if she dumps Sarkozy. Hollande might just be easy to catch.
a comedy skit is forming in my mind
After he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed two treaties, Mr Cameron said: "Today we open a new chapter in a long history of co-operation on defence and security between Britain and France."
He said it was not about a European army or about sharing nuclear weapons.
"Britain and France are, and will always remain, sovereign nations, able to deploy our armed forces independently and in our national interest when we choose to do so."
But Mr Cameron said the vast bulk of Britain's military operations over the past few decades had been carried out with allies and said co-operating on testing nuclear warheads would save millions of pounds.
The plan to share aircraft carriers looks as if it will be quite ambitious. David Cameron talked of developing an "integrated strike force" to be used in jointly agreed operations.
At the same time both sides are saying they will have a veto on the use of their carrier. This raises the "South Atlantic question".
What would happen, for example, if Britain needed the only available carrier, which happened to be the French one, to defend some threat to the Falklands? And the same for the French with the British carrier of course.
President Nicolas Sarkozy evaded a query on this, saying that France would not "twiddle its thumbs", though that is precisely what it did in 1982.
It is perhaps a mark of the confidence between the two countries that they do not think this will be a real problem.
"It is about defending our national interest. It is about practical, hard-headed co-operation between two sovereign countries."
He added that one treaty would commit the two countries' forces to work "more closely than ever before" while the other – to last 50 years – would increase co-operation on "nuclear safety".
I'm sure it could be worked out that the French carrier would take over the British carrier's duties if the British carrier was needed for the Falklands. The problem, of course, is the same one Ronald Reagan had when Argentina invaded the Falklands in the 80's. Reagan wanted to avoid antagonizing Latin America as much as possible while he wanted -and the vast majority of Americans wanted- to support the British completely. There was absolutely no question that would occur. So, relatively quietly, he provided the British fleet with a submarine escort across the Atlantic, refueled British jets in midocean, and provided the Brits with every bit of intelligence the USA had. The Americans and British have walked the same road too long to even think about abandoning the other in times of peril. I hope the French feel the same.
My research shows that the relationship is fully intertwined.
The_Mick – The only fly in the ointment for me as a Brit who loved the pre-Obama America [ but still trusts the American PEOPLE 150%] , is the fact that Obama has made no secret of the fact that he can't stand Britain. Oh, he put on the act when he visited because we gave him the "full treatment" BUT – ANY foreign Head of State who keeps talking through our National Anthem while standing next to the Queenis ill-equipped for the role.
That aside – the first thing he did in the Oval office was throw out the bust of Winston Churchill because he represented the Brotain he detests. Bearing in mind that Churchill was half American, this is a double insult.
As a Brit I can no longer trust America, with the current Administration, to keep up the mutual support we have always maintained. That is a hard thing for me to say, but it is true.
who is disrespectful enough to throw out the bust of Churchill because of some long past imagined slight by the British on his black forebears
They like Communist in France too, You should never be surprised by a French election.
France is a no op today. It's unimportant.
Except for the fact that it's a nuclear power whose military forces deploy all over the world ,and the fact that it is Europe's second strongest economy. Yeah, other than that, it's totally unimportant.
If its people keep insisting that they be allowed to live beyond their means, then they are on their way to becoming Greece.
Touche
Truth indeed. Well said.
He's correct. FRANCE is NOT respected throughout the world & is, in fact, more likely to declare Paris (and indeed all of France) an "OPEN" city & allow the muslims, Germans, or any other nationality to "take over' as opposed to standing their ground and fighting for their own country. Look at their track record. The French that I was stationed with as a multi-lateral force (just a few years ago) were more likely to surrender than to stand & fight. As a whole, they are reminiscent of the American democratic party (liberals, progressives, etc.) To be fair however, there were a "FEW" individuals who were men made of a straight backbone & a brain with a fair intellect. MOSTLY though......I wouldn't want to depend on the French for any serious combat support.
The fifth largest economy in the world, the 4th largest military in the world (in terms of dollars spent), a nuclear power and it is unimportant? Just how powerful and influential does a nation have to be to be "important" to you?
About equal to the economy of Texas, California is bigger
If a group like the Nazis invaded today how many Americans do you think would come to their rescue today.
all of them
Rescue? French? from Nazis? Rid the history, dude. Most of the french were just happy living under Nazi occupation. A small and amusing detail: Gestapo in France was so overwhelmed french people denouncing their friends, neighbors, relatives etc, at some point it refuses to accept any more of that. So, french adjusted to Nazis very quickly and relatively painlessly.
Apparently you never heard of the French Resistance? Never saw those images of French people hugging and kissing American troops who helped drive the Germans out of France? Painless occupation? Hardly. Check out the actual reality of history and you'll find that the French resisted the Nazi invasion more fiercely than most of the occupied nations and collaborators were punished severely after the occupation ended.
You might be thinking of Vichy France.
You should really learn some history. There were people who supported the Nazis everywhere, including in the USA, and including celebrities like Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaperelli and Charles Lindbergh. France was hopelessly trapped and every person was under almost constant threat of execution. Did people try to live quiet lives under the radar, of course they did, it is how they survived. It also enabled them to hide Jews, and help the resistance and the Allies when the invasions began. They welcomed the Americans and British with open arms because they did not want to continue to be occupied by the Nazis. Like people everywhere, there were different beliefs and different wishes, but for the most part the French helped get the Nazis out, they did not want to be a part of that empire.
A man I met in Calais once told me that the Germans weren't causing any problems; it was the British and Americans bombing and straffing that was the problem. As I recall, his father was a railroad egineer and was killed when his train was straffed.
arc de triomphe – never used by the French
France is a nuclear power. Nobody's going to invade France. France doesn't need anybody's help. Keep in mind that France conquered most of Europe under Napoleon. France helped the U.S. in its war of independence from England. France is our NATO ally and French troops fought alongside U.S. troops to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. Let's give them the respect that is due to any close ally. Oh, yeah, and they gave us the Statue of Liberty, too.
Consider as well that if you were to write a book about French military victories since Napoleon, it would be blank. As far as the resistance, it was a minority. France cooperated with the Germans en masse. When the victors drove in they were all kissy kissy, they were pretty chummy with les Boches during the occupation.
I wish they would take the statue back! Its message has been nothing but trouble for us for the last 50 years!
I have a new-found respect for the French. I have learned it was the French who stopped the first attempted Muslim invasion of western Europe in the seventh century. Three cheers!
@Punisher2000 who was the first to bomb Gaddafi's forces in last years NATO mission?
"I wish they would take the statue back! Its message has been nothing but trouble for us for the last 50 years!"
No. It's message has been forgotten.
Some perspective on post Napoleonic French military history. Frances casualties in WWI (killed, wounded and missing) were greater than the total casualties suffered by the US IN ALL ITS WARS up to and including current involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Had it not been for the French 1st army's dogged defensive actions, pinning down 7 German divisions while surrounded, at the end of May 1940 the British would have been slaughtered on the beach at Dunkirk and the entire outcome of WWII could have been different. Vichy France was largely a creature of the French right. The resistance, which as in most German occupied territories was dominated by anti-Fascist Socialists and Communists was instrumental in the disruption of supply and command and control of German forces in the initial stages of D-day. Her casualties in Vietnam in the 1950's, as a percentage of population, were considerably higher than the US's in the '60s and '70s
One last point regarding WWII, US deaths approx 418,000 or 0.32% of 1939 population; French deaths 563,000 or 1.32% of 1939 population.
Syria was their colony.
Siege of Toulon (1793): 10 British warships go up in flames as French forces led by (later) Dugommier, who was implementing the ideas of Napoleon Bonaparte, thoroughly squash counter-revolutionary activity.
-Battle of Fleurus (1794): A French army under Jourdan inflicts a crushing defeat on the Austrians. The victory allows French forces to overrun Belgium and the Netherlands.
-First Italian Campaign (1796-1797): A whirlwind tour de force, the Army of Italy under Napoleon Bonaparte repeatedly defeats larger Austrian forces, captures Mantua, and imposes the Treaty of Campo Formio on the Habsburgs, leaving France in control of Italy. Some important victories:
-Battle of Lodi (1796): The main Austrian army manages to escape, but the French crush the Austrian rearguard, inflicting 2,000 casualties.
-Battle of Castiglione (1796): The French defeat another Austrian army.
-Battle of Arcole (1796): And another....
Battle of Rivoli (1797): And yet another...this is Napoleon's most spectacular victory up until 1797. 17,000 French troops defeat an Austrian army of 28,000, leaving the Austrians with 14,000 casualties at the cost of just 5,000 French losses.
Campo Formio ends the First Coalition with a resounding French victory....begin War of the Second Coalition (1798-1801)....
Egyptian Campaign (1798-1799)...
-Battle of the Pyramids (1798): Western-style tactics destroy an Egyptian army led by brave but foolish mamelukes. 6,000 Egyptian casualties vs. 300 French.
-Battle of Mount Tabor (1799): French forces hovering around 2,000 crush a Turkish army of 35,000 in the Levant.
-Battle of Abukir (1799): Napoleon marches his troops back to Egypt to defeat another Turkish force at Abukir, causing the loss of the entire Turkish army which had been ferried to Egypt by the Royal Navy. At this point, both the Army of Damascus and the Army of Rhodes have been defeated by the French, leaving Egypt momentarily secure from foreign invasions.
In Europe....
-Second Battle of Zurich (1799): French forces under Massena crush a Russian army in Switzerland, turning the tide of the war.
-Battle of Marengo (1800): French troops under Napoleon inflict a narrow but sufficient defeat on the Austrians under Melas.
-Battle of Hohenlinden (1800): The French under General Moreau sharply defeat an Austrian army led by Archduke John. The threat of an advance on Vienna prompts the Habsburgs to seek another peace treaty at Luneville. 1801 is the final year of the Second Coalition, which, like the first, was heavily defeated by the French. Britain makes peace in 1802 at the Treaty of Amiens.
Napoleonic Wars (1805-1815)....
War of the Third Coalition...
Ulm Maneuver (1805): A rapid march by the French army bags an entire Austrian army under the unfortunate Mack. At 2,000 French casualties, the French capture 60,000 Austrian troops.
Battle of Austerlitz (1805): French forces under Napoleon severely rout a Russo-Austrian army of equivalent strength. 27,000 Allied casualties vs. 9,000 French. The Third Coalition ends in another spectacular French victory when Austria signs the Treaty of Pressburg on December 26, 1805.
War of the Fourth Coalition....
-Prussian Campaign (1806): The French under Napoleon inflict the worst military defeat in Prussian history. By the end of the campaign, the Prussians have lost 25,000 killed and wounded, 140,000 captured, and over 2,000 cannon. Practically all of the Prussian army has been eliminated, although a few units do survive. Some important engagements:
-Battle of Jena (1806): The French crush a Prussian army, inflicting 25,000 casualties out of 38,000.
-Battle of Auerstadt (1806): 27,000 French troops under the legendary Marshal Davout defeat a Prussian army of 63,000. The Prussians break with 13,000 casualties and 115 captured guns. It is one of the most impressive tactical victories in all of the Napoleonic Wars.
-Polish Campaign (1807): The French defeat the Russian armies that were too late to help Prussia in 1806, bringing to an end two years of bloodshed on the European continent at Tilsit.
-Battle of Friedland (1807): French forces under Napoleon trounce a Russian army led by Bennigsen. 20,000 Russian casulaties vs. 8,000 French. The enormous victory leads to the Treaty of Tilsit and leaves France as the overwhelming military power on the European continent. End of the Fourth Coalition, once again in French victory.
War of the Fifth Coalition....
-Danube Campaign (1809): After a hard fight against a much better Austrian army, the French manage to impose yet another peace treaty on Vienna by the Autumn of 1809. Significant French victories:
-Battle of Eckmuhl (1809): The French defeat an Austrian army under Archduke Charles. 12,000 Austrian casualties vs. 6,000 French. The fall of Ratisbon after this battle leads the Austrian army to flee and abandon Vienna once more to French occupation.
-Battle of Wagram (1809): French forces under Napoleon defeat the Austrians at this massive two-day battle. It is not a spectacular victory, but the Austrians sue for peace nonetheless. 32,500 French casualties vs. 40,000 Austrian losses. End of the Fifth Coalition with yet another French victory; Peace of Schonbrunn redraws map and causes loss of 3 million people to the Austrian Empire.
Peninsular War, Russian invasion, War of the Sixth Coalition, and War of the Seventh Coalition were all French defeats, but there were a few prominent French victories in them.....
-Battle of Medellin (1809): French troops under Marshal Victor crush a Spanish army under Cuesta.
-Battle of Ocana (1809): French troops under Marshal Soult rout a larger Spanish army and take control of Southern Spain.
-Battle of Borodino (1812): A very mild victory by a multi-national army under Napoleon. 30,000 French casualties vs. 45,000 Russian. Kutuzov decides to retreat after the defeat and the road to Moscow is open.
-Battle of Dresden (1813): Even though in an ultimately losing effort, this battle was one of Napoleon's greatest victories. An outnumbered French army heavily defeats an Allied army converging on Dresden; 38,000 Allied casualties vs. 10,000 French.
-Six Days Campaign (1814): Napoleon takes a miniscule French army of 30,000 and inflicts 20,000 casualties on Blucher's 100,000-strong Prussian army.
-Battle of Ligny (1815): Napoleon's last victory. It could have been more impressive were it not for incompetent staffwork. 16,000 Prussian casualties vs. 11,500 French.
Waterloo ends Napoleonic Wars....begin modern period...
Battle of Trocadero (1823): A French army defeats Spanish liberals who refuse to make Spain a monarchy.
-Crimean War (1864-1856): French, British, Sardinian, and Ottoman armies invade the Crimea to stop possible Russian expansionism in the Mediterranean. The war ends successfully for the Allies when Sevastopol is taken.
-Battle of Malakoff (1855): The decisive attacks on the Malakoff redoubts were made by French forces. The Russian position was now hopeless. Sevastopol fell and the war ended.
-Franco-Austrian War of 1859 (also known as the Second Risorgimento War, referring to the wars for Italian independence): 130,000 French troops join 70,000 Sardinian allies in permanently ending Austrian domination of Italy. After this victory, Italy becomes an independent nation in 1861.
-Battle of Solferino (1859): A gruesome battle which inspired the founding of the International Red Cross, Solferino saw the greatest Austrian defeat of the entire war. 22,000 Austrian casualties vs. 18,000 French. Napoleon III signed the Treaty of Villafranca to end the war and gained Nice and Savoy from Sardinia as recompense for the French efforts.
World War I (1914-1918): The greatest conflict in human history up until that time, World War I saw French armies ultimately arrayed throughout the European continent in a manner not seen since Napoleonic times, from the Rhine in Germany to Hungary in the Balkans. Important conflicts:
-First Battle of the Marne (1914): 1.2 million French and British soldiers (1.1 million were French troops) defeat 1.5 millin German soldiers. 250,000 French casualties and 250,000 German. The Marne was the largest battle in human history when it was fought. Defeat there denied the Schlieffen Plan and may have been one of the most resounding strategic triumphs of the 20th century.
-Battle of Verdun (1916): Thinking he could "bleed the French white," Falkenhayn underestimated French resistance. In this epic struggle between France and Germany, French forces regain all initially lost positions. 380,000 French casualties vs. 340,000 German.
-Second Battle of the Marne (1918): What began as a German attack was transformed into a counter-attack by one of the finest commanders in the war: Ferdinand Foch. 24 French army divisions, backed by American, British, and Italian troops, inflicted a sharp reversal on the Germans, one which began a chain reaction of Allied victories that finally ended the war. 95,000 French casualties, 13,000 British, 12,000 American, and 170,000 German.
-Balkan Offensive (1918): Mainly French and British troops, led by French general d'Esperey, one of the greatest commanders of the war, broke through and overran nearly all of the Balkans by the time the armistice was signed.
World War I ends with the Treaty of Versailles. France becomes the most powerful nation in Europe once again and retrieves Alsace-Lorraine after losing it to the German states in the Franco-Prussian War.
-Over 17 years, the French subdue Algeria by successively defeating a number of local warlords.
Sino-French War...
-Battle of Foochow (1884): The decisive engagement of the Sino-French War, the French destroy the Chinese navy that, ironically, they themselves had helped create. France established dominance over Indochina.
Syrian Mandate...
-Battle of Maysalun (1922): French forces easily rout a poorly-equipped Syrian army designed to prevent the mandated French takeover.
In the Ivory Coast in 2004....
-The French destroy the air force of the Ivory Coast.
The End. Once again, this list is very incomplete and certainly scores of battles and wars that have ended in victories for French peoples have either been forgotten or deliberately ignored. For example, from 1792 to 1815, French armies won 172 battles (whose names you can see in the Arc de Triomphe in Paris). Mentioning all of them would be ridiculous.
France is our NATO ally... yes, after a 40 year absence. This, after we'd save their country for a SECOND time. Yes, they supported us 250 years ago during the American Revolutions, but with "friends" like that, who needs enemies?
What are you talking about?
@Patrick: "battle of Borodino (1812): A very mild victory by a multi-national army under Napoleon.... the road to Moscow is open" - obviously a classical Western interpretation of the outcome of The Battle of Borodino in August, 1812.
Let me remind you that Borodino was THE LAST major battle in that war, and, in fact, THE LAST noticeable event - all what followed after it is just Nopoleon staying in Moscow for few months with the remains of his army, followed by tunneled withdrawal for the army along the Old Smolesk Road. Remember this? The Russian border with Eastern Prussia was just a walking distance of 1200km away from Moscow. Napoleon fled in relative comfort riding in a horse-diven sled. His soldiers were not so lucky: disarmed French soldier had to walk along exactly the same route the come - the Old Smolensk Road. The term Old Smolensk Road has purely historical meaning - in reality there was no road. It is just a line on the map connecting village to village where everything was already robbed, burned, and destroyed. French soldiers were in relative safety when stain on The Road. However, every step away from it to gather any food was immediate prosecuted by Russian army. Kill the starved men without warning. Just kill or left wounded to die in the frost - do not discuss anything, like Geneva convention blah blah blah. Of the 220,000 men of Napoleon Army entered Russia only 6,000 ever saw France again. This is not just defeat. This is a catastrophy by all standards.
This is what happened and will happen to any invader who wants to teach Russia western values and democracy - The Old Smolensk Road.
About the same as in 1940 none. Bottom line is this if your a politician and your countries economy is doing badly you will more than likely lose the election . Since the Eurozone Debt crisis began eleven governments have changed hands. Since Barack Obama won election in 2008 almost every Western Government except for Canada has changed. Even Germany which has weathered the crisis the best has seen shrinking majorities.
Alan – what he said is that the French not only provided all the logistics for the safe landing of allied forces but, also, the free French forces harassed the German so that they had to divert some of their forces to fight on 2 sides.
It was a cooperative effort.
Amerika is currently the nazis.
How so?
this is France and we (US) owe them huge and we will always owe them huge if not for the french we would not even exist today. That being said, the french seem to have a handle on how far left to go. They have done this before, found that it didn't work and shifted back to the right. They will continue to do this until they too have exhausted other peoples money, but just like the times before we will be there to pick up the pieces and let them start over. We treat France like a little brother, we can harp but no one else can. as a proud american I can only say vive la france
Yes, Steve, vive la France, but the bigger question, which the article tried to explore, is what impact will French decisions have on American lives? The economic question seems to be the biggest one. If France goes left "until they too have exhausted other peoples money", and if the Euro and even the Eurozone then collapse, causing a years-long drop in the DJIA, that will have a big impact on us in the U.S. We really don't need another recession.
And we caused the first one...which helped to set this one up. Do we (US) have any responsibility in it?
True, Steve, Lafayette fought for you. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were groomed in Paris. France is a nice country and deserves a good future. The problems are the modern politics in France.
The French did not help us during our revolution out of pure and noble friendship. They relished the opportunity to set Britain back on its heels.
New treaties on defence and nuclear joint working with France marked a "new chapter" in a long history of defence co-operation, David Cameron has said.
A UK centre will develop nuclear testing technology while one in France carries it out and there are plans for a joint army expeditionary force.
After signing the treaties with Nicolas Sarkozy, the UK PM said it would make citizens safer and would save money.
Who cares what motivations were, without the French and their endless conflicts with England, we never would have had a successful revolution. We also likely never would have had a successful invasion at Normandy. Their culture, their society , everything about them is thousand years older than our country is, so we have no right to tell them how to be.
To e: You wrote that without the French the U.S. would not have had a successful invasion of Normandy. That's a rather odd statement. Do you mean the U.S. is indebted to France because the Americans liberated them from Nazi Germany? If so, that is certainly unusual reasoning.
Absolutely.
After saving their country for them in two world wars, that 2 1/2 century old debt has been repaid tenfold.
I like France. I've always found the people nice. I'm confident they'll find a way
At 50% debt to GDP, and growing, their options are very slim.
France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. With at least 75 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. France has weathered the global economic crisis better than most other big EU economies because of the relative resilience of domestic consumer spending, a large public sector, and less exposure to the downturn in global demand than in some other countries. Nonetheless, France's real GDP contracted 2.5% in 2009, but recovered somewhat in 2010, while the unemployment rate increased from 7.4% in 2008 to 9.5% in 2010. The government pursuit of aggressive stimulus and investment measures in response to the economic crisis, however, are contributing to a deterioration of France's public finances.
Just by your ranting piece of how wonderful France is.....a country without fault....the poster child for the world, etc. demonstrates your less-than-educationally oriented posture regarding France. You sound like an American democrat (liberal, etc.) spouting off at the mouth with few facts (or sources to support your words or inclinations). Look, suck it up and step into the world of reality; we (France) is in profound economic trouble. Extremely profound trouble with the ever increasing population of muslims & just to enlighten you, we're darn well almost broke & the Germans COULD (if they wanted to) march in and "TAKE US" like a virgin in waiting. If you're French, you'd better worry about our continuing "fall" as a result of poor socio-political judgements and obama like decisions by our "elected" leaders.
I never said that France was "a country without fault."
You've found French people to be nice? You must have a very thick skin.
I found them to be lazy, but I liked them otherwise.
Whats interesting here is that the article asks and is supplied answers about what happens if France goes left and starts a massive spending binge – destabling both France and the EU. Then look at Obama – and ask, what happens if the US votes in Obama (already the biggest spender in American history in both actual dollars and percentages) for a 2nd term – it will destable the US and the World. You can't spend your way out of debt – every house hold in America knows they can't do it, so does any sane persona believe our governments can do it? IT CAN'T BE DONE.
more socialism. . . just what Europe needs to finish it off. . .
Hilarious, considering the most "socialist" countries in Europe (Germany and Scandinavia) are all in far better economic shape than the US. Where's the US debt to GDP ratio again? How many americans work for less than 10 dollars an hour? (hint, 22% of the population).
Americans will let corporations steal everything they own, while congratulating themselves on how "free market" they can be.
Ivan – you are so right about that.
The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union established In 1993 with the Maastricht Treaty aims to: preserve peace and strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter; to promote international co-operation; and to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
An important decision in terms of improving the effectiveness and profile of the CFSP was the creation of the office of High Representative for CFSP (1999) whose role it was to co-ordinate EU foreign policy and, in conjunction with the rotating Presidency, speak on behalf of the EU in agreed foreign policy matters.
By adopting the EU Security Strategy (2003) and the subsequent report on implementation (2008), the EU established a strategic approach and set clear objectives for advancing its security interests based on core European values. The strategy takes into account key concerns such as: proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, regional conflicts and problems related to state failure, including organised crime.
With the entry in into force of the Lisbon Treaty (2009) the post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy was created. This post combines three functions: the EU’s representative for the CFSP, the President of the Foreign Affairs Council and a Vice-President of the Commission. At the moment, this post is held by Catherine Ashton.
Member states of the EU define the principles and general guidelines for the CFSP. On this basis, the Council adopts decisions or common approaches.
A major component of CFSP is the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) .
Socialism is what got France, and most of Europe, in the terrible position they are in today. EU zone governments have gotten too big and bloated for the populace to support. The cure to this is not more Socialism. I can only hope that the United States does not bail them out. We would have to use borrowed money to do so, which just escalates the problem. Europe, I love you, but seriously, you have a socialist problem, and it will eventually destroy your continent. Please don't bring your trouble here to the United States. We are just now beginning a slow and fragile recovery, and the last thing in the world we need is to help prolong your collapse.
Wrong, FranceWatch. What got both France and the rest of Europe in the terrible shape that it's in today is the fact that they formed the Eurozone which was never a good idea in the first place. Like the rest of Europe, France needs to quit the Eurozone and revert back to using the French franc and adopt an independent foreign policy.
Oh like Sweden and Germany.Germany national health care, strong safety net, super strong unions.The US thing is 'If I believe it its true'.If a nation is rich because it built itself on stolen labor it should shut up about 'free enterprise'.Perfectly all right to steal the bread from the mouth of he who toils.Nation suffers the effects of slavery.
We could use some of this "trouble" considering those countries have far lower rates of poverty and illiteracy than the US.
They have better healthcare, less poverty and a strong economy... oh and less obesity.
So exactly what is it about French life that we are supposed to NOT want to have?
Oh Yes, Like Sweden and Germany, their people are so mistreated and their economy is doing so bad. Why don't you read a little before you comment on things.
It isn't our form of government or theirs that makes them strong. It is the lack of Government corruption, America is as corrupt as any Banana Republic.
As an American of French descent, I feel quite offended that the French were dumb enough to elect this joker Sarkozy in the first place. He did very little, if anything at all for France. I only wish that they'd elect another Charles De Gaulle. At least he pulled France out of NATO and never took orders from Washington D.C. after 1963. Moreover, France was more prosperous under him than it is today!
Yeah, he pulled out of NATO... then came begging in 2009 to rejoin. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
Wrong, that was Nicholas Sarkozy who dragged France back into NATO back in 2009, not Charles De Gaulle! Did you ask yourself why France was far more prosperous back in the 1970's than it is today? Quite simple, their was no Eurozone then!
We now have a global economy and when someone sneezes, we could all catch a cold.
Then there was 2008.
Arab spring and crash.
High oil prices.
It time to reap, what USA sowed to spread hindu Judaism, criminal self center ism, secular ism around the globe by hook and crock, if USA government does not change her direction, have no doubt, world will treat USA like a body with hinduism, sickness of leprosy..
Mohammed's wife Aisha was actually a pig.
Pakistan has lost every war it ever fought. Bangladesh is proof.
Thematic dialogues ensure that many actors contribute to the transatlantic political process by encouraging legislators, businesspeople, consumers, scientists, academics, and citizens’ groups to build links with counterparts across the Pond.
The Transatlantic Economic Council advances EU-US economic integration by bringing together governments, the business community, and consumers to work on areas where regulatory convergence and understanding can reap rewards on both sides of the Atlantic.
Chaired by the EU Trade Commissioner and the US Deputy National Security Adviser for
International Economic Affairs, the TEC provides a high-level forum to address complex areas like investment, financial markets, accounting standards, and secure trade, along with more technical issues.
The Transatlantic Consumers' Dialogue, made up of EU and US consumer organizations, develops consumer policy recommendations and promotes consumer interests in EU and US policymaking. Conferences take place once a year, alternately in the US and the EU, and produce recommendations related to food, nanotechnology, trade, health, and intellectual property issues.
The Transatlantic Business Dialogue helps establish a barrier-free transatlantic market to serve as a catalyst for global trade liberalization and prosperity. TABD members include leading American and European companies, both large and small, with strong transatlantic credentials.
The Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue fosters dialogue between the European Parliament and the US Congress, including biannual meetings and teleconferences organized on specific topics of mutual concern.
Other important dialogues include the EU-US Development Dialogue, the EU-US Education Policy Forum, the EU-US Energy Council, and the EU-US Task Force on Biotechnology.
In addition to such formal mechanisms above, Americans and Europeans are in daily contact at the working level on issues of mutual interest. Bilateral agreements cover issues ranging from agriculture to technology, and most areas in between.
Terrorism is not a new phenomenon in Europe. In Britain, Ireland and Spain alone, thousands of lives have been lost to terrorism over the past thirty years. This experience has taught us that the only way to defeat terrorism is to confront it.
Due to the increasing openness of the European Union, in which people, ideas, technology and resources move freely, collective European action, in a spirit of solidarity, is indispensable to combat terrorism. Within the EU the co-operation in the fight against terrorism has intensified since 9/11, and in particular since the horrendous Madrid attacks in 2004.
The European Union is committed to jointly combating terrorism and to providing for the best possible protection for its citizens.Through good co-operation, several terrorist attacks in Europe have been prevented, and arrests and convictions obtained. In December 2005, the EU decided to focus its efforts in the fight against terrorism on four main objectives: prevent, protect, pursue and respond.
Terrorism is a threat to all States and to all peoples.
Finally there is a crack in NATO someone in France is getting common sense hopefully Great Britain and US will follow and elect someone with common sense not
That button on the bottom of your keyboard... the one that looks like a little dot; use it, you'll like it.
I have a someone different take on what needs to be done. America needs to stop teaming up with the UK and look to Germany and France, as its most important European allies. I stress ally, NOT satellite. Listening to advice from France and Germany ona whole range of foreign policy issues, and treating them as equals, may make some of the thornier problems the world faces, such as the Palestinian/Israeli crisis, more open to resolution. Not viewing the Palestinians as automatically bad, and the Israelis as automatically good, would be a promising start.
The U.S. Treasury Department wants the public to believe the government’s bailouts of the financial sector might make money for taxpayers. It’s easy to see why.
If the government could show an overall profit, the implication would be that bailouts must be a good thing. Put aside the moral hazard they create. Never mind that the country’s largest too-big-to-fail banks are larger today than when the financial crisis began in 2007. The leaders who pulled off this amazing feat would deserve our praise, and everything will have worked out for the best - or so goes this line of thought.
The Treasury Department a week ago released its latest cost estimates for the government’s numerous crisis-response programs. “Overall, the government is now expected to at least break even on its financial stability programs and may realize a positive return,” the report said.
Government lies and more lies to keep the Bribery flowing to the politicians.
No Keith err Abdul, I am not talking about the culture of bribery in Iran or Syria or Libya or any Arab country.
Everyone really needs to get back to minding their own garden. Because in case no one's noticed, they're all going to seed everywhere as a result of being minded by too many others with questionable motives.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said the euro area’s sovereign debt crisis is “no longer the focus” of discussions at the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington after the region delivered on its pledge to boost its financial backstop.
Schaeuble is at odds with finance chiefs from Canada and Australia who’ve pressed Europe to intensify efforts to quell the turmoil as it spreads to Spain. The Group of 20 in a draft communique obtained by Bloomberg News in Washington yesterday cited “the situation in Europe” first in a list of drags on the world economy.
A presentation by Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos yesterday on how the Spanish government intends to bring public finances back under control was “impressive,” Schaeuble told reporters today in Washington. Europe will have “a very positive development” if other nations copy Spain’s approach of revamping its labor laws and pension system, he said.
“We can tell the world with full conviction that the Europeans have met their commitments. We’re on a good track,” Schaeuble said. “The crisis of confidence in the financial markets with a view to the euro region hasn’t been fully overcome yet, but the substantial decisions have been taken.”
@ Patrick, always great to see that you clearly understand and agree with the point being made. Or maybe. Or not at all. Or what the George W. Beegeezus are you talking about ?
This is getting very tiring.
I did not post this comment.
STOP! Go soak your head-for a really long time.
Patrick (the real one), that hajibi lionel mandrake hehehe guy is bad news. CNN has to start blocking these kind of nut jobs. Add a wingding or something to your name for the tine being.
Why bad news as s wipe?
Moniker jacking doosh bag.
Sarkozy and his financial pal, Christine have to go!
Did you know that new IMF Head Christine Legarde is under investigation too now for Financial Fraud for taking millions in bribe money from French gangster Bernard Taipe to finance Sarkozy's last election—Then we had the “Rapist” Strauss-Khan before her-
They're all criminals at the IMF !!!!
IMF head Christine Lagarde said Thursday that the crisis lender would get a significant boost to its intervention capacity this week as worries mounted that Spain might be the next eurozone country to seek a rescue.
Warning that "dark clouds" still hover over the global economy, she expressed confidence that International Monetary Fund members meeting in Washington would put up the funds needed for a "global firewall."
But with the United States not taking part, all eyes were on China and the other BRICS emerging powers to see if they would contribute some of their newfound wealth, knowing that some of it could go to more bailouts in Europe.
"As part of the outcome of this meeting, we expect our firepower to be significantly increased," she said, hours after Poland and Switzerland declared their contributions to the $400 billion pool targeted to protect countries from any financial contagion from Europe.
This French election scam was written about and exposed in a great new book–
"THE DEVIL'S BANKER" by Gary Van Haas on Amazon-com
Check it out if you want to know the truth what's really going on!
Paul, habibi, you do understand the difference between something real and factual and a "story" dont you?
In this thriller by "the John Grisham of Wall Street" ("New York Times"), forensic accountant Adam Chapel investigates a frightening scenario where terrorism is big business and money is the ultimate weapon of war.
Europe will be better off without Euro-US nexus and french election is turning point.
Why?
HEGEL called History a Pendulum swinging. In Politics it is referred to as 'Left' and 'Right'. Like the United States the French People have a DUAL Character which is Part SOCIALIST and part FASCIST. In The U.S. the Fascists are backed by the Oligarchy of Wall Street and the Socialists by their usual allies the Intelligentsia. It is not terribly different in France.
I don't know to much about France other than the two French products I purchased some years back. Wasn't impressed with either. The French rifle had never been fired but dropped once and the watch was broken with the hands stuck at 1:55.
Such a tale might attest to the notion that the French are lovers, not haters. Which there is nothing wrong with, but probably not the ideal philosophy when engaged in warfare.
Vive le Mouvement Socialiste Français!
The consequences of France shifting left ?????? Easy – the U.S. will invade !!!!!!!
Wow! What would that look like?
Vive la France!
France s u c k s
Come on, billybob. If you don't like the French, you can just as easily say so without using that nasty Tea Party lingo here. On the other hand, I happen to admire the French except for their stupidity in voting for anyone like this bozo Sakozy or anyone else willing to carry out orders from Washington D.C. The French need to base their foreign policies on moral principles instead of what Washington dictates!
وردتنا معلومات من احد منتسبي الاستخبارات مفادها ما يلي :
قامت مجموعه من مهربي المخدرات تابعين الى منظمة " بدر" يرأسة هادي العامري بادخال ( ثمانيه ونصف ) طن من المخدرات ( حشيشه ) من ايران وعبر مدينة البصره ثم الى الناصريه لغرض تهريبها الى المملكه العربيه السعوديه وجزء من الكميه تذهب الى محافظات الوسط ( كربلاء – النجف – الديوانيه – بابل ) لبيعها في هذه المدن
تمكنت مفارز الاستخبارات في مدينة الناصريه من القاء القبض على المخدرات والمهربين وفورا تحرك المهربين للاتصال باللواء ( صباح الفتلاوي ) قائد شرطة ذي قار وتم الاتفاق معه على تسوية القضيه وعلى الشكل التالي ( بعد فحص كمية المخدرات وجدت انها حشيشه مغشوشه ) مقابل ( ٦٠ ) الف دولار تسلمها اللواء صباح من المهربين بغية اطلاق سراحهم من السجن وتسليم المخدرات ( المغشوشه ) ؟؟؟
ارسلت الاستخبارات معلومات الى وزارة الداخليه حول كمية المخدرات وتفاصيل الاتفاق الذي تم ما بين اللواء صباح الفتلاوي والمهربين تم الاتصال من قبل وزير الداخلية وكالة " عدنان الاسدي " برئيس الوزراء نوري المالكي " القائد العام للقوات المسلحه واعلمه بتفاصيل القضيه وكان جواب المالكي لوكيله عدنان الاتي : ( صباح الفتلاوي" ابنه " اكتفي بنقله الى بغداد اما المهربين وهم من ( منظمة بدر) امر المالكي باطلاق سراحهم مخاطبا وكيل وزير الداخليه ( تعرف ذوله من جماعة " هادي العامري " ( حزام ظهرنه ) ..
مع العرض ان المنظمه نشرت معلومات سابقه عن الخلاف الذي نشب بين اللواء صباح الفتلاوي شقيق ( لهلوبة المالكي ) بسبب قيام احد مرافقي " صباح " بشفط ( 80 ) الف دولار ارسلها بيده صباح الى اهله في محافظة بابل وهي مبالغ رشى المخدرات ولم يسترجعها له وهدده بكشف الاموال الطائله التي جناها شقيق حنان من تهريب المخدرات .
Tl;dr, anyone?
Uncle sam will be in trouble as he is going to loose a puppet. I am talking abotut that clown.
Those darned socialists, what they need is a government of by and for the corporations.
One reason for the shift to the left in France is the fact that nearly all of the Moslems in France who are eligible to vote are voting for the socialists. There is a similar phenomenon all over Europe, and in America, too. The Moslems know that the leftists will pander by permitting increased Moslem immigration and increased special privileges domestically. There is a lot more here than just Keynsian economics.
Looks like Sarkozy is on his way out. The next stage will be the second round –> final defeat –> corruption investigation –> criminal prosecution –> conviction –> long-term prison sentence –> and, possibly, divorce at the end of the road.
The Warren Buffet? Is that a new all you can eat restaurant? Come on fact checkers and editors, it makes you look 2-bit when you spell famous people's names incorrectly.
"Le Buffet Norme" and "le comeback enfant"? Clearly French is not really your forte, so you could've at least have someone to proofread those.
Anyways, "la France forte"? Oh yes, Sarko. It's strong enough to fire you. Effective May 6th, so pack your bags.
France shift left? It has shifted so far left that it has gone around the world and back. This is a very bad time to visit France as they have the most strictest laws against public expression of religion. We were warned on a company trip last year not to do a diner prayer at any restaurant. They told us about police arresting an American couple who had prayed at a fancy French bistro. France outlaws any public expression of religion. You also should not drive in France. They have been known to hold Americans in jail until they pay up to a $00,000 bond for a fender bender. France is not your grandfather's France, its a modern hotbed of Islamic hate and ire.
stop it Rick. I go to France all the time and what you are talking about is pure BS. "France outlaws any public display of religion?" What, they shut down Notre Dame? Get off the crack. They have more freedom there than we do here, all across the board. Plus average people don't have to worry about the costs of health care or education. Find some other straw man.
The Socialist Party of France isn't even that left. First off, the original Presidential candidate was Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the IMF, a neo-conservative organization which profits off the backs of the poor in the 3rd world. Secondly, look at their policies: "In May 2011, the French centre-left think tank Terra Nova edited a "Left strategy for 2012" report, which suggests that workers should not continue to be a main subject of the Socialist Party's campaign platform, considering that the working class has lost its political significance and has moved toward the National Front nowadays". Sounds pretty centrist in terms of political parties in the Western world.
"It advises the party to revitalize its platform and its voter base by emphasizing its progressive views on youth and women and by targeting ethnic minorities, precarious workers and academia."
Targetting ethnic minorities. Sounds like this is the GOP not the Socialist Party.
Even the EU Parliament has a party called the Progressive Allance of Socialists and Democrats. Socialism and the EU should be incompatible.