Who gets to make up the next excuse for France?

[Nephythys]

Italian diplomats have claimed that, by disseminating bogus documents stating that Iraq was trying to buy low-grade "yellowcake" uranium from Niger, France was trying to "set up" Britain and America in the hope that when the mistake was revealed it would undermine the case for war, which it wanted to prevent.



Link (http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/19/wniger19.xml)

So- who wants to excuse this possible scandal by saying it sounds cooler in French?

[Not Afraid]

Sorry. I like better tasting, more desirable bait.

[Nephythys]

Whatever- pretty much what I would expect from...never mind

I noticed that the link is a year old-

More current links-
Link (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1511141/posts)

Link (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1511146/posts)

[innerSpaceman]

HaHAHAHAHAH - the Italian government entity investigating the matter just concluded that it was the head of Italian Military Intelligence who arranged for the Niger documents to be forged in the first place ... so pardon me if I'm not going to by an Italian attempt to pin the matter on France.

[Not Afraid]

You want to come over here and actually discuss something, great. But, you're not going to get a useless argument from many people here. Try an approach where you are expressing what you think and why and not something so agressive. We like our discussions throughtful, open and intelligent.


Oh, and I don't usually click on links unless I have a compelling reason to. I didn't see one here.

[€uroMeinke]

So- who wants to excuse this possible scandal by saying it sounds cooler in French?

Eh, I'd still rather vacation in France than any of the red states.

Viva La France!
:D

[Scrooge McSam]

It's all that stinky cheese they eat over there. Rots their brains is what I hear. Some good ole American processed cheese food product would straighten those loonies right on out! (I heard they don't pasteurize their wine over there either... Ewwww)

*Sorry, NA, I just had to. Plus I know Nephy will enjoy it*

[Not Afraid]

"tis OK Sam. Just don't piss off the bitch from hell with a headache provided by the Devil himself.

[Nephythys]

You clicked- you responded. Don't bother next time- and I was not aware I had to run things by you to judge their worthiness for conversation. Gee- my bad.

What the hell was aggressive? The french thing? Heh- that was just a snappy line given the past comments here excusing rotten behavior just because their French. Euro-snobs anyone?

[Scrooge McSam]

I'd say head over to Mr. Toad's and throttle that sumbich.

[€uroMeinke]

Euro-snobs anyone?

Oui?
:p

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, instead of throwing out accusations of EuroSnobbery, how 'bout addressing my contention that Italian diplomats have no credibility to accuse the French of disseminating the forged documents that the Italians themselves forged?

[SacTown Chronic]

So lying in order to make the case for war (BushCo) is okay but lying to undermine the case for war is wrong?


In other news, I wonder how big my dick is when measured using the metric system.

[Nephythys]

Ok, instead of throwing out accusations of EuroSnobbery, how 'bout addressing my contention that Italian diplomats have no credibility to accuse the French of disseminating the forged documents that the Italians themselves forged?


Do you have links-because that's the only interesting thing in this thread so far. I would like to see those-I could not find more current updates.

[innerSpaceman]

Sorry, but I get my news from radio, not the internet. No links.

(I spend all my internet time on message boards, and use my otherwise-wasted commute time to listen to news on radio).

[Alex]

Nephythys:

Here's an article about an Italian investigation into whether the Italian spy agency was the source of the forged documents (hearings start this week):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5369408,00.html

Here's another with different details (including that the creation of the forgeries was started by two employees of the Italian spy agency, SISMI, in 2000:

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10506


If accurate (I don't read Italian and can't stomach the thought of putting a multi-article investigative series through Babelfish so it is all paraphrased second hand) it doesn't look good for the France did it to undermine selling the war theory. If true that the plan for the forgeries was hatched in 2000 then it must have had different motivations since that was prior to 9/11.

[Olympicnut]

Wow, shes even looking to make the world of swank a bitter place to visit.

As was said earlier VIVE LA FRANCE!!

[Name]

I think it sounds cooler in French...

[Nephythys]

Wow, shes even looking to make the world of swank a bitter place to visit.

As was said earlier VIVE LA FRANCE!!

:rolleyes:

Thanks Alex.....I'll check out the links.

It's a shame that people would rather attack me than look at the issue, but hey, that's all some people have.

[€uroMeinke]

It's a shame that people would rather attack me than look at the issue, but hey, that's all some people have.

It's a shame some people would fiegn interest in obscure topics like this just to stir up shyte and be righteous, but hey I'm here to have fun and have little interest in indulging someone's fantasy of playing oppressed victem.

[sleepyjeff]

VIVE LA FRANCE!!

What is something that should not be uttered at a Cinco de Mayo festival?

[Nephythys]

It's a shame some people would fiegn interest in obscure topics like this just to stir up shyte and be righteous, but hey I'm here to have fun and have little interest in indulging someone's fantasy of playing oppressed victem.


I am always amazed at the amount of self righteous arrogance here-judgemental and snide comments- with no purpose but to belittle and insult someone.

If you have no interest- don't post- but coming in just to take pot shots at me is lame. I find the topic interesting- and last I checked I don't have to justify that for any one of you.

And I'm no victim- never said I was. I will say that that dealing with certain people is painful- but hey, it's your little playground. I guess you can be as nasty as you like in your "swanky" little ways.

[€uroMeinke]

IAnd I'm no victim- never said I was. I will say that that dealing with certain people is painful- but hey, it's your little playground. I guess you can be as nasty as you like in your "swanky" little ways.

That is certainly true - whcih of course begs the question of why you return here? I presume it feeds some need for you - I've speculated as to what I think that that might be, just my opinion. But in the end only you can answer that question.

None-the-less that's all irrelevent; as unpleasent or as painful as this exchange might seem at the surface, we are both indulging our perverse pleasures here. I'm just aknowledging mine.
;)

[Nephythys]

My one and only reason for coming here is because I like that there are intelligent people who often yield other views on things that help me put things in perspective. (and thanks to you I listen to NPR as well) It's never boring- and I like hanging out with Jeff and Leo.....:D

I tossed it out there the way I did for one reason- to get the response- given that not too long ago France was excused for Gitmo Plus atrocities to liberties- and the reaction was that because it was France- it was cool anyway- so I zinged it out.

This idiotic notion that I am a victim is really lame- if I was I would slink away, and you know I won't. I am also not bitter- like Judge O-nut seems to think-

I wonder where Prudence is- might be time to take her up on those debate lessons.

[CoasterMatt]

Anybody wanna borrow a tinfoil hat? :p

[Isaac]

Qui donne une baise ?

:rolleyes:

[wendybeth]

I followed a trail of cat litter and look where I wound up!

So, does the OP have a response to Alex's post and the links he provided? If true discourse was the intent here, I would think his post deserves a response.

[Reaver]

Personally, I don't think anything sounds or smells better in French... I'm glad I've been there, if only to know I never want to go back...

[wendybeth]

Personally, I don't think anything sounds or smells better in French... I'm glad I've been there, if only to know I never want to go back...

Well, if you'd like you are welcome to start an "I dislike France because...." thread, but in an attempt to re-rail this particular one, I ask once more- does the OP have an interest in responding to the post by Alex? I realise it takes away the fun of mocking France and anyone who happens to enjoy the French and their culture, but Italy is always fun to go after, too! Oh, wait- they are our allies in this thing, aren't they??????

[BunnyTravolta]

Originally posted by wendybeth - Italy is always fun to go after, too! Oh, wait- they are our allies in this thing, aren't they??????

Hee Hee! As much as I'd love to take you up on that ( seeing as how I lived there for three years), I'll use my better judgement and remain silent.
But I think the French (Parisians' specifically) will always make a better target.


" Wee 'ave no food! Wee 'ave no wah'tair! Wee doant even 'ave a language!! All wee 'ave eez theese stupid ac-sahnt!!!" "She's-ah raight! Wee all sound like Maurice Chevalier!! Oh ho ho!!!"
- Mel Brooks "History of the World, Part I"
:)

[wendybeth]

Okay, I know I called for a re-rail, but BunnyTravolta's post calls for an immediate and appropriate response:

http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/grail/small/HolyGrail054.jpg

"Ah'm French! Why do you think I have this out-rrrageous
accent, you silly king?!"

[Prudence]

Somehow, I knew that was coming...

[BunnyTravolta]

Don't. Get. Me. Started.
wendybeth, you are my new best friend, 'cause you are a believer in the Power of Python.
Ok, I have to......."Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!!!! Now, go away or I shall taunt you a second time!!"
Fear the French Taunting!!!!!

[wendybeth]

http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/grail/small/HolyGrail059.jpg
"Go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!"

:D
(Maybe we should start a Python alliance....)

[BunnyTravolta]

"Pythonic Loungers" ..."Monty Pythons' Lounging Swankers"...

We'd need red velvet smoking jackets, gaiters and a silly walk. And a incredibly difficult secret handshake.

God, it is just so sad, the amount of M.P. that I have memorized. And yet, I still laugh at the jokes! :cheers:

[wendybeth]

We almost got kicked out of Farrugut State Park during a late night drunken round of "Let's see who can quote MP the best"- we had about 12 participants and a sympathetic Park Ranger who even joined in for a few minutes.

Our neighbors were a bit pissed at us.:D

[Olympicnut]

This idiotic notion that I am a victim is really lame- if I was I would slink away, and you know I won't. I am also not bitter- like Judge O-nut seems to think-

WOW! Where the hell did this come from? I dont recall ever calling you personally bitter did I. Did I miss something here.

In any event you know what amazes me? The way some people in this country point the finger at France and say they werent with us in the war with Iraq therefore screw em, when they were RIGHT all along! They didnt go because there was no actual proof of WMD's yet we were all ready willing and able to go have over 2k of our soldiers killed as of today for these phantom weapons that our covert operations/FBI/whatever said were there. Hmmmmm.

[sleepyjeff]

Wow, shes even looking to make the world of swank a bitter place to visit.



Honestly officer I didn't Jay Walk!

I was clearly skipping :rolleyes:

[Not Afraid]

wendybeth, you are my new best friend, 'cause you are a believer in the Power of Python.


And I am your WORST EMENY!

Plus, I love the FRENCH and their fabulous country and culture.

And, I give sexual favors to the guy who owns this board. :evil:

[Nephythys]

Actually I have no personal problem with France- and I am planning a trip there when Rose gets a bit older and can appreciate the trip. It's on the to-do list to visit all the Disney parks with my daughter.

I did not post this to bash France- but the title sure got people's attention- maybe someone needs to go back and reread the thread about the people who left Gitmo, returned to France- and vanished- and the excuses that followed that because it was France- it was cool anyway.

As for answering Alex's post- I do have other things to do in my life- I said I would read the links and I will- beyond that I am not on a time schedule that suits anyone but me- thanks very much.

And yes O-nut- you came over here and said very specifically that "she (meaning me) is even making the land of swank a bitter place to visit"- if that was not pointed, feel free to retract and apologize. (thank you SJ- for pointing out the obvious)

Though considering France was getting money off the Oil for Food program I somehow doubt their intentions on Iraq......

But people can unknot their panties about it- my son is taking French, so did I...I have every intention of visiting there- and like I said, I have no issue with France- just some of their politics.

[Not Afraid]

Well, next time you want to have a serious actual discussion about a topic, maybt think about starting it in a non-inflamitory fashion. We like to discuss all sort of things here and baiting anyone is not a healthy way to start a discussion - nor is it welcomed here.

[wendybeth]

Some of my best acquaintances are of French descent.


(Hey, wait a minute- so am I!)

The French are human, like the rest of us, despite rumors to the contrary. Of course they are going to have individuals and groups of people that commit crimes, behave in a less than ethical manner, and just generally piss us off. We do the same to them. We meddle in foreign affairs all the time, so why should we be that upset or surprised when they do? When it serves our purposes they are considered allies, and when it doesn't, then they are the enemy. Say what you want about them, there is no disputing this truth: They are fabulous cooks.:D

[€uroMeinke]

As for answering Alex's post- I do have other things to do in my life- I said I would read the links and I will- beyond that I am not on a time schedule that suits anyone but me- thanks very much.


And honestly, it's clear that in this thread you're more interested in trading barbs and snarky comments (as am I) than in actual discussion.

Like I said before we're both here for a reason, but it's obvious intelligent discussion isn't one of them.

[Olympicnut]

I stand corrected, I did say what I said.

[wendybeth]

So did I .

Well, to be truthful, I am also a teeny bit German- don't tell anyone!

[BunnyTravolta]

So, you're a teeny German? What're ya, 'bout 5'3", 5'4" ?
-Oblique "Top Secret" reference

DUCK AND COVER!!!!!!
>Runs into to virtual bunker to wait out the immenent reprisal barb barrage<

"Top Secret" is one of my most favorite spoof movies. Last good Val Kilmer movie, also.

"It took us two hours to get the smile off his face..."
If you don't get it, watch the movie. And I give it a four-star drink warning.

[CoasterMatt]

Tombstone, Real Genius, and Top Secret are my 3 favorite Val Kilmer films; in that order.

I'll let y'all come up with some way of rerailing this thread...

[Prudence]

um....

Nick Rivers:
"I'm not the first guy who fell in love with a girl he met in a restaurant, who then turned out to be the daughter of a kidnapped scientist, only to lose her to a childhood lover who she's last seen on a deserted island, and who turned out fifteen years later to be the leader of the French Underground."

Those wacky French.

[wendybeth]

http://alansmithee.5u.com/intro/good/ts_kilmer05.jpg

Hillary Flammond: My uncle was born in America.
Nick Rivers: Oh, really?
Hillary Flammond: But he was one of the lucky ones. He managed to escape in a balloon during the Jimmy Carter presidency.