Besides, they are only following their Constitution. They are not Americans. I am sure they think the Americans are exteremely obdurate and follow their own self interest. But isn't thaty the duty of your government (and Hers)--to your respective citizens?
That may be true. That doesn't mean we have to appreciate it. Have you noticed our collisions with the British, Germans,.... are much less common? Maybe we're not unilateralist bullies you seek to portray. Maybe the French are tempermental and obstinate.
I am well aware of what you are saying: so the "frogs" are the ones who set government policy, and the rest of the people are...just French people?
France is a democracy, correct? That means the government over time portrays the attitude of its citizens. Not always, but as a long term average.
They have been allies for a couple of centuries, and I suspect that the stance that France takes probably serves to balance the interests of the world community and ultimately the self interest of the United States.
Off the top of my head, the 1790's were marked by an undeclared war at sea between the US and France. The French (presumably with British help), considered intervention in the US Civil War. Fortunately, the Union convinced both nations that it would win and Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which led the British (who were already attempting to eradicate the slave trade) to withdraw their support. During the Civil War, the US considered that armed action might be necessary against France to get Archduke Maximilian out of Mexico- -a violation of the Monroe Doctrine. Fortunately, the Mexicans solved this problem for us.
Not as simple as it might appear at first sight.
There is clearly a history of reliability in the crunch
Yeah, reliability on ur part, not on theirs.
Perhaps when a global community is eventually a fact
And now it is apparent where you are coming from.
France frequently challenges the United States, thus contributing to the French reputation as a spoiler in foreign affairs.
This is exactly what I said, so what's the dispute? |
