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1. 60

   Evan G Rogersposted 11 years ago

   Israel is our ally?
   
   Looks like everyone hates them!
   
   http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/ … 0120111108
   
   *No, I'm not a racist*

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   1. 59

      tobey100posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      And we're to accept the word of Sarkosy, leader of the nation who's motto is "First in Surrender", and "I never heard a word Jeremiah Wright said in twenty years" Obama?  I don't think so.  Must be Herman Cain's fault.  I'm sure Politico can come up with some angle.

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      1. 61

         couturepopcafeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         "The conversation was not initially reported by the small group of journalists who overheard it because it was considered private and off-the-record".
         
         This bothers me more than what was actually said.

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         1. 59

            tobey100posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            True that!

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            1. 70

               bgamallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You have to put it in perspective, as the middle east is a constant source of stress for these leaders. Since this was off the record, Obama's response was fairly measured. And it is not like these leaders don't talk. Of course they talk.
               
               My personal opinion is that Netanyahu has not done enough for peace. He could do better.

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   2. 59

      emrldphxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have seen no reason to think our current administration supports Israel, which is a real shame. It seems Obama likes to take the same approach as when he said our police acted stupidly in doing their jobs.

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2. 69

   Charles Jamesposted 11 years ago

   The French lost 1.3 million killed in World War 1, and 4.2 million wounded. The Americans, who joined late as usual, lost 126 thousand killed and 234 thousand wounded.
   
   Be a bit repectful of other other people's histories.

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   1. 59

      John Holdenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      +1

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   2. 61

      couturepopcafeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Charles - You make a good point but I'm not sure it's on target.  IMO, the issue is that these two leaders say one thing for public consumption, then their real thoughts come out in private.  It's important to know the minds of these two men.  This is why nothing is accomplished in the world.  I'm sure they behave the same way in their world meetings.  They all lie.

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   3. 82

      kerrygposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Seriously!
      
      They lost more in WW2 also, though not by as wide a margin. You can call them surrender monkeys all you like, but had they not surrendered when they did, I'm sure their death toll would have been much, much higher. We can all thank our deity of choice that the Soviets refused to surrender, but they lost almost 25 million people as a result - at least twice as many from St. Petersburg alone as the whole US.

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   4. 59

      tobey100posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry.  Having lived there the only thing I can credit the French with is French dressing and French fries.  Neither of which are French.

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      1. 82

         kerrygposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         You might want to add in the United States of America to your list of things to credit the French with. In case you've forgotten your high school history, they saved our asses several times in the Revolutionary War.

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         1. 59

            tobey100posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Yeah but only caused we payed 'em and let them use out showers.

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            1. 60

               S Leretsehposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               French are renowned for their ability to hide.
               
               It was the French who - in WWI -  invented trench warfare i.e. they hid in trenches.  Once the French troops heard the Americans were coming , they literally refused to fight anymore.  They were also furious with the British who they believed were the ones preventing a negotiated peace.  When the Americans came and rescued the French (Russia had just signed an armistice with Germany and German troops were heading to the Western front when the Americans landed) , Wilson  - stupidly - allowed the cowardly French to dictate their own terms to the Germans.  The French demanded Germany indemnify them for the full cost of the war. Germany, of course, had no choice and agreed.  The result was Germany printed up so such fiat money  - to give to the French - hyperinflation set in ... and the Germany economy spiraled out of control.  In came Hitler and National Socialists. 
               
               During this time, the French were busy building their ultimate  "let's hide behind this" : the Maginot Line. 
               
               At least with the Israelis ... no one can label them cowards.

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            2. 58

               Ron Montgomeryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               They passed on the showers.

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               1. 59

                  tobey100posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  

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   5. 84

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said!

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   6. 60

      Evan G Rogersposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What does that have to do with them saying that Israel's PM is a loon?

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      1. 70

         bgamallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Maybe he means that Israel seems to relish war and the US does too. Iran hasn't attacked anyone for a thousand years. Iraq attacked Iran. Yes they give money to subversives, but they have not made war on anyone.
         
         I think the Russians made it clear, it is a bad idea for Israel to attack Iran. Iran is actually more important to the world economy than is Israel in terms of immediate impact if things went wrong.

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   7. 65

      Ralph Deedsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What's your point?

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3. 69

   Charles Jamesposted 11 years ago

   Oh Tobey - read some history!
   
   The French loaned money, they sent their Navy and they sent troops too. When Cornwallis surrendered thewre were actually more French soldiers and ships involved than American.

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4. 69

   Charles Jamesposted 11 years ago

   couturepopcate
   
   In a negotiation or a public context you are normally polite and respectful and emollient because that is what greases the wheels of diplomacy. What you actually think is frequently different. I am sure we have all come home to our loved ones and said things about a co-worker or the boss we chose not to say at work.
   Its the same thing.
   With "off the record" unattributable briefings the press are told a third version in the knowledge that it will get published - but be unattributable.

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   1. 61

      couturepopcafeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I can agree with your there, Charles, but IMO elected officials, and especially heads of state are obliged to be diplomatic and truthful.  It's not so much what was said publicly or privately that concerns me, it's the character of the people saying it.

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5. 69

   Charles Jamesposted 11 years ago

   Character!
   
   In these days a person of integrity honour etcetera is attacked by the media mercilessly until they bring him/her down. I disagree with Ron Paul for instance but I recognise him as one of the few Republican candidates who has intelligence and intellectrual integrity. Reminds me a bit of Jimmy Carter - the kiss of death!

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6. 69

   Charles Jamesposted 11 years ago

   There seems to be a feeling that the French are cowardly. The point I was making was that they are not cowardly.

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