And we thought our army was bad?

[Kitty]

From the Telegraph today:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2084832/French-army-falling-apart%2C-documents-show.html

[Clarkkent]

At the time of the first Gulf War, the French nation was treated to the spectacle of the French Navy setting sail from Toulon. However, this was just for national spirit lifting. Its ships were so decrepit and ill-equipped that they were unfit for active service. Once they were out of sight they waited until nightfall and quietly returned to port.

[Gluestick]

Probably yet another reprise as happened with the EEC and British and french farming, then...................

The French, Germans, Italians, Spanish, Dutch et al, will expect Britain to pay for their new military: whilst ours crumbles even further into fiasco.

Still, perhaps from the Italians we'll have a new MBT (Main Battle Tank) with one forward and six reverse gears:

From the French, a repair squad who might turn up one day: or the day after that, avec bonne chance !

From the Spanish, a fighter that might start tomorrow or the day after that:

From the Germans, a Half-Track: with a three million page maintenance manual:

From the Dutch, MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) laced with Pot:

I believe it's called, European Dis-Unity!

[:D]

 

[powerdesal]

Cutting Gluey, very cutting.  LOL  [:D]

[Kitty]

I can't understand why the French defence capability is so shabby, given that taxes seem so high here.

 

[Gluestick]

Perhaps because, Cathy, that he French have always seemed, since Napoleon's fall from power, to sort of rely on the other guy or some mythical wonder in times of military friction.

Like the Maginot line: despite the reality that the field type guns were defunct in the main: the food stocks dated back to 1914, as did the rifles and ammo and the defenders were constantly rotated in and out of duty with zero training and possessed zero morale.

Such attitudes do huge dis-service to such as the Legion and the French Paras which are both excellent soldiers and up with the World's best.

Perhaps at present, reliance on "The other guy" means they are pinning their hopes on the midget poseur, otherwise known by the French at present as M. le President Bling Bling!

 

[Patf]

Looking at the subject from another viewpoint - manpower. I wonder if the french population has recovered from the decimation of WWs 1 & 2.

Looking at the obituaries in the Depeche yesterday ( I find them interesting [blink]) there were 3 deaths of men who had fought in the 2nd WW. But at death they were in their late 70s, early 80s, so must have been young teens in the war. All were members of the Maquis. So there must have been a shortage of manpower then, for such young boys to have to fight.

So recently the french haven't been a warlike nation, lost too many wars and too many men.

[lostinfrance]

[quote user="Patf"]

Looking at the subject from another viewpoint - manpower. I wonder if the french population has recovered from the decimation of WWs 1 & 2.

So recently the french haven't been a warlike nation, lost too many wars and too many men.

[/quote]

The above is so true,

[Renaud]

It sounds as if the pacifist wing of Britains MOD have been lending the French a hand.

Integrated Euro defense force anybody?

[Kitty]

Following Gluey's hypothesis, perhaps the French are waiting for Europe to help them out?

 

[Phil & Pat]

"

Two thirds of France's Mirage F1 reconnaissance jets are unusable at present."

It's reassuring that the other third seems to be able to find our village about twice a week.

[lostinfrance]

If they are the flying third.

They could be looking for some where to put down in case of a problem[6]

[Phil & Pat]

Think I'll go and paint a big white cross on the hillside opposite!