Al-Qaida taking over Mali

[eddie]

They are digging in too. Using abandoned construction equipment to dig into mountains, build tunnels, creating storage facilities in the side of mountains for supplies, going Green by putting up solar panels etc to supply their own electricity.

Now what are the rest of the world going to do about it?

http://news.msn.com/world/al-qaida-carves-out-its-own-country-in-mali-to-prep-for-global-jihad

[Tribesman]

Doesn't your countries anti al-qaida operations in Mali date back to just after the 9/11 attacks.
If they are now taking over Mali shouldn't you be asking "what have we done wrong?" instead of asking what the rest of the world are going to do about it.
Since unless you know what has failed already its a bit pointless asking others what they intend to do.

[eddie]

Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?You mean like another Afganistan? Sorry, but thats a bit hard to sell here in Europe especially as elections are nearby.

[Cybermat47]

Oh, wonderful. More people twisting the word of Islam for their own sick and twisted ways.

[Platapus]

Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?

My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what, together, we can do for the freedom of man. - JFK

Somehow that part of his speech is often forgotten.

[August]

- JFK

Somehow that part of his speech is often forgotten.

Key word there: "together". All too often it's us and GB doing all the heavy lifting and the rest of the world confining themselves to token contributions (if that) and lots of Monday morning quarterbacking.

[Tribesman]

Key word there: "together". All too often it's us and GB doing all the heavy lifting and the rest of the world confining themselves to token contributions (if that) and lots of Monday morning quarterbacking.
All too often its GB USA and France doing the heavy lifting over some tin pot dictator they setup and supplied in the firstplace, which they then replace with some other corrupt knobhead that will soon turn into another murdering tyrant so the keywords are...."but what, together, we can do for the freedom of man."
and the answer is..... "stop supporting tyranical dictators and then trying to pretend you are better than idiots like Putin when you replace one of your murdering bastards with another murdering bastard and pretend its in the noble cause of freedom".

Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?
Any thoughts on the history of Mali since independance? the ever shifting geo political games with many players? the relevance of all the neighbouring conflicts and all the international players playing silly buggers in the region? Or maybe even just the french involvement which could tie back nicely to when you had the "guts" to step up after them like in Vietnam?

Or is it just a "why US?" whinge?

[Betonov]

I suggest an adopt-a-bomb system. European countries pay for a bomb and the US makes a drone strike with it

[Tribesman]

French intervention continues.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/mali-attacks-islamists-foreign-backing-145745060.html
one of their pilots was killed today after his helicopter went down.

"Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?"

[Morts]

Key word there: "together". All too often it's us and GB doing all the heavy lifting and the rest of the world confining themselves to token contributions (if that) and lots of Monday morning quarterbacking.
Whatever floats your boat :doh:

[soopaman2]

Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?



DING DING DING DING !

You have won the grand prize!

Now for the uber bajillion googolplex dollar grand prize!

What country pays a majority to the UN in manpower, equipment and money, yet gets smoked (world opinion wise) over any military action it takes?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

French intervention continues.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/mali-attacks-islamists-foreign-backing-145745060.html
one of their pilots was killed today after his helicopter went down.

"Why does it always have to be the United States, what's the matter, doesn't the other countries in the West have the guts to step up?"Hooray France! :Kaleun_Cheers:

[Tribesman]

DING DING DING DING !

You have won the grand prize!

You give prizes for the wrong answer?
Are you the one thats been running the treasury into the ground?

What country pays a majority to the UN in manpower, equipment and money, yet gets smoked (world opinion wise) over any military action it takes?
Not the country you are thinking of:yep:

Oh sorry you give prizes for the wrong answer so..... DING DING DING
USA USA USA USA:rotfl2:

[Hottentot]

Here, guys, I brought some nails and a few hammers. There's a great oak right there on the side of the road that anyone so inclined can nail themselves on while waiting for the proper cross to arrive. Help yourselves, no need to thank me.

[BossMark]

Hooray France! :Kaleun_Cheers:
Have they surrendered yet??

[TarJak]

Have they surrendered yet??

They are waiting for the cheese to ripen

[Herr-Berbunch]

Have they surrendered yet??

With their current associates at least they won't suffer from any blue-on-blue incidents. :-?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Have they surrendered yet??Just in case Tribesman is in your block list... Mali's army took back a key town from Islamist rebels Saturday aided by French air power, opening a dramatic new phase in the conflict that France's leader declared is a battle against terrorism.http://uk.news.yahoo.com/mali-attacks-islamists-foreign-backing-145745060.html

[Tribesman]

Here, guys, I brought some nails and a few hammers. There's a great oak right there on the side of the road that anyone so inclined can nail themselves on while waiting for the proper cross to arrive. Help yourselves, no need to thank me.
Lets see if Soopa can hit home the final nail on his UN manpower claim.

(A)India~8000 Pakistan~8000

(B)Cameroon~100 Burundi~100

Place each of the following countries in the correct group
USA
Bangladesh.

[_dgn_]

Have they surrendered yet??

Who ? Cornwallis and his British troops ? :D

[August]

We shouldn't tease the French. They were the first nation to stand by us and without them we probably wouldn't have won our independence.

[Bilge_Rat]

I am not surprised France is intervening in Mali. You look at the past 50 years and you see that even though France left its North/West Africa colonies, it still intervenes regularly to kick ass/protect french interests. France considers West/North Africa to be in its sphere of inerest.



- 1964, Gabon: French forces intervene to restore president after coup.

- 1968-1972, Chad: French troops intervene to put down northern rebellion.

- 1978-80, Chad: French forces defend government against rebels.

- 1978, Zaire: French and Belgian paratroops drop into the mineral-rich Katanga region of Zaire (today known as the Democratic Republic of Congo), where rebels are holding Europeans.

- 1979, Central African Republic: French forces depose the eccentric Central African "emperor" Jean-Bedel Bokassa.

- 1983-84, Chad: New French intervention in Chad, where the government is threatened by rebels backed by Colonel Moamer Kadhafi's Libya.

- 1986, Chad: Further operation against Chadian rebels; mainly using aviation.

- 1986, Togo: French reinforcements sent after coup attempt, which fails.

- 1989, Comoros: French forces go in when president is assassinated and mercenaries headed by Bob Denard, also French, take power.

- 1990, Gabon: French troops support the regime of president Omar Bongo; evacuate foreign nationals from cities hit by rioting.

- 1990-1993, Rwanda: French soldiers help evacuate French and other Europeans after rebels invade the country.

- 1991, Zaire: French troops deploy capital Kinshasa during riots against the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko.

- 1992-94, Somalia: France intervenes alongside the US-led "Restore Hope" operation in Somalia.

- 1994: Rwanda: Two separate French interventions follow the death in a plane crash of Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, which sparks genocidal killings that leave some 800,000 people dead.

France's "Operation Turquoise", which also involves troops in neighbouring Zaire, is later considered a disaster, and the Rwandan authorities accuse it of not only failing to stop the massacres but also of facilitating them.

- 1995: Comoros: New French intervention to halt a coup, again led by the French mercenary Bob Denard.

- 1996-7: Central African Republic: Two French interventions to maintain order after munities among the local military.

- 1997: Republic of Congo: French troops intervene during civil war; help evacuate foreigners.

- 1996: Cameroon: France provides military assistance to Cameroon, which is involved in a dispute with Nigeria over an oil-rich border area.

- 1998: Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire): Intervention to evacuate foreigners from Kinshasa during unrest following the overthrow of the Mobutu regime by Laurent-Desire Kabila.

- 2002-present: Ivory Coast: French mount "Operation Licorne" after a military rebellion effectively cuts Ivory Coast in two. In 2004 they destroy Ivory Coast's small air force after government forces bomb a French base.

- 2003: Democratic Republic of Congo: France provides most of the forces for a UN operation to protect civilians in the northeastern Ituri region of the DRC.

- 2008: Chad: New French intervention to bolster regime and evacuate foreigners during attacks by rebels from neighbouring Sudan.

- 2011: Libya: France takes the lead in bombing campaign against Libya, after the United Nations authorises action to protect civilians during a civil war.

- 2011: Ivory Coast: French forces of the "Licorne" operation act alongside UN forces during the civil war sparked by Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to leave power after losing an election. -AFP




http://www.thenewage.co.za/15519-1020-53-FranceAfrica_a_long_history_of_military_interventi on

A lot of people think France is not aggressive, which is not true. Its just that it does not fight according to US, UN or anyone else's agenda. It fights when it suits their economic/political interest, which is why, they are all over the place in Africa, but total wallflowers in the rest of the world.

Most likely the ground troops are from the French Foreign Legion. Can anyone confirm this?

[Nippelspanner]

Key word there: "together". All too often it's us and GB doing all the heavy lifting and the rest of the world confining themselves to token contributions (if that) and lots of Monday morning quarterbacking.

Wow... :har:

[Tribesman]

It fights when it suits their economic/political interest, which is why, they are all over the place in Africa, but total wallflowers in the rest of the world.

How can you miss all their adventures in other parts of the world?

[BossMark]

How can you miss all their adventures in other parts of the world?
Yes raising their arms up in other parts of the world :haha:

[Tribesman]

Yes raising their arms up in other parts of the world :haha:
Considering that Britain surrendered all its territory in mainland France that is quite funny:O:

[Skybird]

I read a bit about the background of this.

Northern Mali holds the uranium mines which get exploited by the French to win the uranium they use for their nuclear weapons.

A French community lives in Mali, but a far greater Mal community lives in France. If Northern Mali falls to real Islam, it is to be feared that more troublemakers will move from there to France.

Hollande is under pressure in France and has become unpopular in record time. He needs to distract the attention a bit that so far has been focussed on him exclusively.

The Mali military is extremely weak in fighting power, unorganized, haunted by high levels of deserting and corrupt officers, and generally is in a hopeless and desolate condition, any air-based capacity is practically non-existent.

My conclusion: it is not only a mission of altruism and noblesse, but also a mission of very egoist motives. Therefore: I am against military assistance for the French in Mali, but boosted efforts for intel surveillance and intense cooperation with French intel service to learn early about any trafficking of militants and hate preachers from Mali to France and Europe, so that the French can take them out.

[Jimbuna]

Who ? Cornwallis and his British troops ? :D

I'm glad your smiling because I love a bit banter so I'll raise you with this oldie :03:

An elderly British gentleman of 83 arrived in Paris by plane.

At the French immigration desk, the man took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on bag.

"You have been to France before, Monsieur?" the Immigration officer asked, sarcastically.

The elderly gentleman admitted he had been to France previously.

"Then you should know well enough to have your passport ready."

The British gentleman says, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. The British always have to show their passports on arrival in France!"

The elderly gentleman gave the French Immigration Officer a long hard look.

Then he quietly explained;

"Well, the last time I was here, I came ashore on Juno Beach on D-Day in June 1944, and I couldn't find any flippin Frenchmen to show it to."

:O:

[BossMark]

I'm glad your smiling because I love a bit banter so I'll raise you with this oldie :03:

An elderly British gentleman of 83 arrived in Paris by plane.

At the French immigration desk, the man took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on bag.

"You have been to France before, Monsieur?" the Immigration officer asked, sarcastically.

The elderly gentleman admitted he had been to France previously.

"Then you should know well enough to have your passport ready."

The British gentleman says, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. The British always have to show their passports on arrival in France!"

The elderly gentleman gave the French Immigration Officer a long hard look.

Then he quietly explained;

"Well, the last time I was here, I came ashore on Juno Beach on D-Day in June 1944, and I couldn't find any flippin Frenchmen to show it to."

:O:
:rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2:
An absolute classic

[Bilge_Rat]

Yes raising their arms up in other parts of the world :haha:

Singapore 1942: 80,000 British troops surrender to 35,000 japanese

Tobruk 1942: 35,000 British troops surrender to 30,000 italian-german troops.

seems to me the British could give seminars on how to surrender.... especially to smaller armies. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Singapore 1942: 80,000 British troops surrender to 35,000 japanese

Tobruk 1942: 35,000 British troops surrender to 30,000 italian-german troops.

seems to me the British could give seminars on how to surrender.... especially to smaller armies. :O:

No doubt.

Why not enlighten us on your country of origin.

[Tchocky]

Singapore 1942: 80,000 British troops surrender to 35,000 japanese

Tobruk 1942: 35,000 British troops surrender to 30,000 italian-german troops.

seems to me the British could give seminars on how to surrender.... especially to smaller armies. :O:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Compass


UK/Australia/Free French Forces

Strength of 36,000 - 500 killed and 55 missing

Italian Forces

Strength of 150,000 - 3,000 killed, 115,000 captured

[Nippelspanner]

Am I the only one here who thinks that comparing those numbers is just stupid?

Jesus Christ guys, knock it off already! :nope:

[Sailor Steve]

Am I the only one here who thinks that comparing those numbers is just stupid?
Yep. :yep:

Just kiddding. I think these guys are just having fun tweaking each other. Every country has at least one case of a garrison surrendering to a smaller force. It happened in the southwest US during the American Civil War. On July 27, 1861, at St. Augustine Springs, New Mexico, Union Major Isaac Lynde surrendered his 500 men to Confederate Captain John R. Baylor, who was attacking Lynde's Fort Fillmore with a force of 250. After a small skirmish the previous day, Lynde decided to surrender to Baylor without firing a shot.

[Bilge_Rat]

No doubt.

Why not enlighten us on your country of origin.

Ah, I sense I hit a nerve...:D


my job here is done..
exit stage left...:gulp:

[Takeda Shingen]

Ah, I sense I hit a nerve...:D


my job here is done..
exit stage left...:gulp:

That's a pretty cowardly way to argue. Just sayin'.

[Nippelspanner]

That's a pretty cowardly way to argue. Just sayin'.

Same thought here... pretty low...

[Jimbuna]

That's a pretty cowardly way to argue. Just sayin'.

You could say that, especially when the context has already been explained as one of humour and banter.



*puts chainsaw back in the cupboard*

[Bilge_Rat]

That's a pretty cowardly way to argue. Just sayin'.

argue what exactly, whenever France is discussed, some peep will always make the same lame surrender joke which ceased to be funny a long time ago.

[Bilge_Rat]

You could say that, especially when the context has already been explained as one of humour and banter.



*puts chainsaw back in the cupboard*

and how exactly was my comment not humourous and light. If you want to get into a heavy duty discussion of English-French relations for the past 500 years, I doubt we will still be friends afterwards.

[Takeda Shingen]

argue what exactly, whenever France is discussed, some peep will always make the same lame surrender joke which ceased to be a long time ago.

You're right. Making a cheap shot in a fun thread and then heroically running out the door is a much better idea.

What was that joke about French surrender again? :hmmm:

[Bilge_Rat]

You could say that, especially when the context has already been explained as one of humour and banter.



*puts chainsaw back in the cupboard*

and how exactly was my comment not light and humourous. Why is it perfectly acceptable to make fun of the french, but not of the british?

If you want to get into a heavy duty discussion of french-english relations over the past 500 years, I doubt we will still be friends afterwards.

[Bilge_Rat]

You're right. Making a cheap shot in a fun thread and then heroically running out the door is a much better idea.

What was that joke about French surrender again? :hmmm:

And how exactly is that a cheap shot, you have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

[Jimbuna]

and how exactly was my comment not humourous and light. If you want to get into a heavy duty discussion of English-French relations for the past 500 years, I doubt we will still be friends afterwards.

I'll hazard a guess your of French origin then...and for your info I'm not in the habit of falling out with anyone over the contents of posts on this forum.

I asked you a simple question in a civil way and thus far your unwilling to furnish me with said information...no big deal actually.

C'est la vie

[Betonov]

I love it when two different nationalities duke it out with jokes :D
Especially when you know a bit of history.
Too bad some take it seriusly :nope:

Remember at Waterloo, when the French tried to surrender by yelling ''merde'' :O:

[BossMark]

Pardon my French but.......................

[Takeda Shingen]

And how exactly is that a cheap shot, you have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

You yourself said it was in your follow-up retort.


Ah, I sense I hit a nerve...:D


my job here is done..
exit stage left...:gulp:

Get a clue. Now stop crapping up the thread.

[Bilge_Rat]

I'll hazard a guess your of French origin then...and for your info I'm not in the habit of falling out with anyone over the contents of posts on this forum.

I asked you a simple question in a civil way and thus far your unwilling to furnish me with said information...no big deal actually.

C'est la vie

I am Canadian, french-canadian.

[Betonov]

I am Canadian, french-canadian.

Now you've done it, you invited the Yanks to the fray :haha:

[Hottentot]

What was that joke about French surrender again? :hmmm:

Imagined slights against [insert something] as justification for acting silly seem to be in fashion lately.

[Jimbuna]

I am Canadian, french-canadian.

Ah, right....that puts a better understanding to your stance.

Not Quebec by any chance?

[Tribesman]

Imagined slights against [insert something] as justification for acting silly seem to be in fashion lately.

How dare you say that about the Belgians, they make better chocolate than Finland ever did.

[Betonov]

Imagined slights against [insert something] as justification for acting silly seem to be in fashion lately.

Considering I'm from the Balkans, I'm surprised they don't use that for acting silly on my account. Enough material to keep them missbehaving until my retirement in 2088 :O:

[Takeda Shingen]

Imagined slights against [insert something] as justification for acting silly seem to be in fashion lately.

Pffft. Foreigner......

[Bilge_Rat]

Ah, right....that puts a better understanding to your stance.

Not Quebec by any chance?

mais oui...:ping:

although I have french, english, irish, portuguese, native american and jewish ancestors. My family has been here for a long time.

[Méo]

Too bad some take it seriusly :nope:

There you go! :up:

I've once heard a psychologist saying that it was no surprise that couple relations were so difficult because: differences between men and women were a lot more harsh than differences between two same sex person from different nations :hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

mais oui...:ping:

although I have french, english, irish, portuguese, native american and jewish ancestors. My family has been here for a long time.

There was an interesting battle there once...1759, a battle of some significance :hmm2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_(1759)



Just yanking yer chain :03:

[Hottentot]

How dare you say that about the Belgians, they make better chocolate than Finland ever did.

You were never made of chocolate so you can't know anything about chocolate and are therefore forbidden from participating in this discussion.


Considering I'm from the Balkans, I'm surprised they don't use that for acting silly on my account. Enough material to keep them missbehaving until my retirement in 2088 :O:

Well, that's your country. Forgetting for a while that I can't find a country called "Balkans" on the map, my country is still much better at it.


Pffft. Foreigner......

That's it, I'm putting you on my ignore list for that. Wait, I can't! How come? :stare:

[Bilge_Rat]

There was an interesting battle there once...1759, a battle of some significance :hmm2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_(1759)



Just yanking yer chain :03:

Touché! :ping:

[Takeda Shingen]

That's it, I'm putting you on my ignore list for that. Wait, I can't! How come? :stare:

Americans are protected against 97.355% of ignore lists by our constitution. Your lesser consitutuions make you all the more susceptible to ignore lists.

[Hottentot]

America...doesn't ring any bell...is it that insignificant little fly poop on the map which often throws temper tantrums threatening to hold its breath until it turns blue and which the rest of the world usually ignores much like parents would ignore a brat doing that?

Note to our resident martyrs: this was a very non-imagined slight, so please feel free to ignore the humorous context and use it as a justification for your rants for at least the next 10 years. I won't even charge you anything since I'm an indoctrinated European socialist who wouldn't understand such concepts.

[Jimbuna]

Touché! :ping:

Your an okay guy.....there should never be too much around this place to get too hot under the collar about.

Simple friendly banter that's all :03:

[Betonov]

America...doesn't ring any bell...is it that insignificant little fly poop on the map which often throws temper tantrums threatening to hold its breath until it turns red, white and blue and which the rest of the world usually ignores much like parents would ignore a brat doing that?


Fixed :03:

[Nippelspanner]

I am Canadian, french-canadian.

That's even worse than just french, isn't it? :hmm2:

[Bilge_Rat]

That's even worse than just french, isn't it? :hmm2:


...pretty low...

[Nippelspanner]

...pretty low...

Yeah, I know... shame on me. :nope:

[August]

It'd be nice if the rest of the word would ignore us instead of humping our leg all the time...

[Nippelspanner]

It'd be nice if the rest of the word would ignore us instead of humping our leg all the time...

Haha, yeah.... because the "rest of the world" definately has no reason to do so eh?:yeah:

[Tribesman]

It'd be nice if the rest of the word would ignore us instead of humping our leg all the time...
Yes, Bhutan is constantly humping your leg:doh:
oh land of the free cry me a river:rotfl2:

[Bilge_Rat]

Yeah, I know... shame on me. :nope:

no worries, we all seem to go off the deep end every once in a while. They call it the ""GT" zone effect. :ping:

[Tribesman]

You were never made of chocolate so you can't know anything about chocolate and are therefore forbidden from participating in this discussion.



But you little Finland(is that a real country at all or some sort of dukey?) clearly know nothing about the nature of chocolate.
One must learn to distinguish between chocolated and chocolater.
Chocolated is always scummy and just tastes wrong unlike chocolater which is fine and dandy, well maybe a liitle scummy and maybe a little foul tasting but still miles better than chocolated in every way possible.
Unless of course you are a fan of chocolated in which case chocolater is scummy and probably preverted and adulterated for good measure.

[Hottentot]

It'd be nice if the rest of the word would ignore us instead of humping our leg all the time...

Quod erat demonstrandum.


But you little Finland(is that a real country at all or some sort of dukey?) clearly know nothing about the nature of chocolate.
One must learn to distinguish between chocolated and chocolater.
Chocolated is always scummy and just tastes wrong unlike chocolater which is fine and dandy, well maybe a liitle scummy and maybe a little foul tasting but still miles better than chocolated in every way possible.
Unless of course you are a fan of chocolated in which case chocolater is scummy and probably preverted and adulterated for good measure.

Your Team C is always having a go at my Team C, but your Team C does exactly the same and that makes you more a hypocrite than my Team C. This whole forum has a serious Team C bias and is full of Team C haters trying to downplay the attrocities of Team C to make Team C look bad and your post is just yet another example of it. By the way, Team C hates kittens.

[Takeda Shingen]

Quod erat demonstrandum.

In this best of all possible worlds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPClzIsYxvA

[Hottentot]

Why do you hate orchestra music, Takeda? Your constant music bashing is really getting tiresome. What do you know about music anyway?

[Takeda Shingen]

Why do you hate orchestra music, Takeda? Your constant music bashing is really getting tiresome. What do you know about music anyway?

Orchestral music is simply another pathetic European creation. Art is worthless.

[Hottentot]

Orchestral music is simply another pathetic European creation. Art is worthless.

But I thought every single invention in the world came from America. :06:

[Takeda Shingen]

But I thought every single invention in the world came from America. :06:

I would explain that to you, but it is clear that your squishy European mind cannot grasp the lofty concept of American exceptionalism. It's not like you people invented formalized art, the western musical tradition, philosophy, the systematic study of mathematics, celestial navigation, the Gregorian Calendar, heliocentric astronomy, the concept of evolution, academic education, gymnastics, the Olympics, indoor plumming, concrete, the mechanical clock, pasteurization, genetics, and the English language itself. So, begone!

[BossMark]

France puts 2500 sets of boots on the ground in Mali...

They just weren't able to convince any French soldiers to occupy those boots.

[Jimbuna]

and the English language itself. So, begone!

:rotfl2:

Another contender for post of the year :D

Reminded me of this:

A lot of countries dislike Americans because they refuse to learn a second language but that's just bloody stupid.....they haven't learnt their first one yet.

:O:

[Hottentot]

It's not like you people invented formalized art, the western musical tradition, philosophy, the systematic study of mathematics, celestial navigation, the Gregorian Calendar, heliocentric astronomy, the concept of evolution, academic education, gymnastics, the Olympics, indoor plumming, concrete, the mechanical clock, pasteurization, genetics, and the English language itself. So, begone!


But, but but...

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_277/12129044624RN2LB.jpg

...over two hundred years...

[Sailor Steve]

But I thought every single invention in the world came from America. :06:
Not so. Only the good ones. :O:

A lot of countries dislike Americans because they refuse to learn a second language but that's just bloody stupid.....they haven't learnt their first one yet.
Your hono(u)r, I plead no contest. :D

[August]

Quod erat demonstrandum.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=175

[Hottentot]

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/007/445/pancake_bunny.jpg?1249339142

[Oberon]

Aaah, the French, I still tease HunterICX about how several Dutch warships surrendered to French cavalry once.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/images/military/battles/capture.jpg

Then the kaaskopf reminds me of the Medway incident of 1667 :nope:

http://www.deruyter.org/jpg/fotos/CHATHAM_burning_2.jpg

[_dgn_]

I'm glad your smiling because I love a bit banter so I'll raise you with this oldie :03:

An elderly British gentleman of 83 arrived in Paris by plane.

At the French immigration desk, the man took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on bag.

"You have been to France before, Monsieur?" the Immigration officer asked, sarcastically.

The elderly gentleman admitted he had been to France previously.

"Then you should know well enough to have your passport ready."

The British gentleman says, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. The British always have to show their passports on arrival in France!"

The elderly gentleman gave the French Immigration Officer a long hard look.

Then he quietly explained;

"Well, the last time I was here, I came ashore on Juno Beach on D-Day in June 1944, and I couldn't find any flippin Frenchmen to show it to."

:O:

Nobody at the arrival ? This isn't surprising, this gentleman was on the wrong beach, reserved to Canadian troops.

If he had been on Sword Beach, near LCI 527 or LCI 523, he would have found sufficient French people (speaking English besides, unfortunately with a strong Scottish accent, learned at Achnacarry) to show his passport.

But it's true that it was more dangerous on Sword ... :D

[BossMark]

France have battered the bookmakers and actually won in Mali

First away win since 1066

[TLAM Strike]

First away win since 1066

No since 1781. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Chesapeake)

[Takeda Shingen]

No since 1781. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Chesapeake)

Try 1885. :know:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-French_War

[Dowly]

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/takeda.jpg

Fitting. :yep:

[Jimbuna]

No since 1781. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Chesapeake)

Try 1885. :know:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-French_War

LOL Oui :)

[Tribesman]

Try 1885.
So someone had an incident in Tonkin and won