Freedom Fries

[Takket]

Remember when France opposed the Iraq invasion, and we made ourselves look like whining little babies by coming up with this juvenile Freedom Fries bullshit? 12 years later, I can't help but feel that if we had listened to them then, we wouldn't be talking about this tragedy now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_fries

[Skittles]

1. what is this WE shit - that was the usual repuke bullshit

France was correct to oppose the Iraq invasion, but you'll never hear that from repukes....heck, a lot of DUers think voting for it was just swell too

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. ^THIS

It's bullshit to use "we."

[LittleBlue]

2. Total disgrace

Especially when they supported us so strongly during the War for Independence. We stood together during 2 world wars.

Bush and his disgusting neocon sycophants had no respect for anything.

[Johonny]

3. The same freedom fry eating political idiots will now be lecturing us about their love of France

because conservatives can't remember yesterday yet alone 12 years ago.

[thucythucy]

4. I agree that the whole "Freedom fries" BS was infantile, and yes we would have been better off

listening to France (and millions of Americans and others around the world) and not undertaken the assault and occupation of Iraq. BTW, the French also warned us about going into Vietnam, another time our foreign policy "experts" pretty much screwed the pooch.

But we should acknowledge that France has its own record of less than prudent moves related to North Africa and the Middle East. The French/English invasion of Egypt in the 1950s, French interference with and occupation of Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon in years past. Last time I checked French troops were in Mali and Niger, and French influence continues to be felt in Senegal, the Ivory Coast, among others.

None of this JUSTIFIES the atrocities we see today, but it might explain why France in particular has been targeted several times now, as opposed to say Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, etc.

My fear is the French government, like the American government in 2001 and 2002, will lash out in ways that will only make the situation worse. What's needed is rationalism, and a cogent plan for first, taking out terrorist cells but also, addressing the root causes, when they can be discerned, to de-escalate these conflicts.

This is my first take on this, which will no doubt have to be amended as more news is made available.

In the meantime, my heart goes out to all the victims of this horrific and criminal attack not only on France, but on civilized life everywhere.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

6. Somehow...

Some how these same "Freedom Fries" internet commandos will find a way to blame France for being weak willed or white flag wavers for the attack. It just proves my point that stupid will always be stupid.

[rwsanders]

9. Exactly...

or just countdown to when we hear from the cryptkeeper (Cheney) and his creepy daughter and their nonsense about how Obama's "weakness" caused this. The neocons will definitely play this for more incursions and militarization here and abroad.

[Codeine]

7. "We" didn't do shit.

A handful of moronic loudmouths did that. I don't know anyone on either side of the political divide who ever bought into the anti-french spew.

[Cleita]

8. You mean the criminals who started this, who decided on the freedom fries stupidity?

If those criminals had been brought to justice, I doubt if what happened today would have happened.

[Skittles]

10. THANK YOU

to this day NO ONE HAS BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE

Obama told us to LOOK FORWARD - WELL I DID, AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH HOW I ENVISIONED IT TURNING OUT

[HereSince1628]

11. I think it started way before 'freedom fries'

Repressive fundamentalism is a part of human nature. Do it my sect's way, or die, is a regular theme of human history.

Groups compete and see other groups as hostile to the in-group. Some groups more than others. Nothing says 'in-group' like repressive militant religious fundamentalism.

The first episode of the BBC documentary "The Power of Nightmares" does a good job of introducing the modern history of religious fundamentalism in the context of clashes between Western decadence and Islamic fundamentalism.

It's available on line if you haven't seen it. It's tremendously thought provoking on this topic.

[madokie]

12. First thing I said to my wife on news of these attacks

freedom fries

If we/bushco/cheney hadn't gone into Iraq as they did the world would today be a much safer world for all things living
I can't forgive anyone who help in allowing that to happen. I'll whistle on past that graveyard if I have to but only if I have too. In other words I will vote for Hillary if I have to but only if she's the last one standing.