Boycott Cowardly France - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#16 03-25-2003, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the list Lonston.

RCA, Proscan has gone to crap since letrash took them over.

Motel Six, Club Med and the other hotels are owned by Accord. I must also add they owe me money, BIG MONEY!

Zig Zag is the only half ass product they have ( a friend told me that

)

MTI · #17 03-25-2003, 08:22 PM

Let's start a petition to ban Pepe LePew from "Cartoon Network"

PC Dave · #18 03-25-2003, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MTI
Let's start a petition to ban Pepe LePew from "Cartoon Network"

I thought Pepe was Quebecois. Wait...no...I forgot...the smell. Yep, he's French.

Benzoman · #19 03-25-2003, 09:20 PM

But I've heard that the french people actually stink from body odor because they don't consider 'cleanliness is next to Godliness'. I've seen some french chicks in magazines with hair on their legs and under their arms!! Sexy?? I wouldn't think so!!

Diesel-Lover · #20 03-25-2003, 09:39 PM

Benzoman perhaps that is why as PCDave states the birthrate is so low!!

DrAMG check out the following article which provides a great reflection of how you say the french mindset nespas.

By the way about the true nature of france look at this article: from AP.ORG the associated Press site. by Kim Housego.
The site also has video of the war and other articles (good site).

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WAR_FRANCE_REBUILDING_IRAQ?SITE=OHCOD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

France Seeks Big Role in Post-War Iraq

By KIM HOUSEGO
Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) -- Worried it could be shut out of business deals in postwar Iraq, France is drawing up plans to win French companies access to lucrative oil and reconstruction contracts, officials said Tuesday.

The government is determined that French companies will be part of rebuilding Iraq, despite President Jacques Chirac's vigorous opposition to the war, a Finance Ministry official said.

Gilles Munier, an executive board member of the French-Iraq Association for Economic Cooperation, said business leaders and government representatives were studying how to gain a foothold in postwar Iraq.

He said a meeting between France's most powerful business federation, government leaders and the French-Iraq Association for Economic Cooperation was scheduled for April 3.

The Finance Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed discussions were underway with business leaders about Iraq.

Some French are concerned that a U.S.-led administration in Iraq will favor companies from the United States and other pro-war countries while penalizing companies from France and other war opponents.

The Bush administration awarded a $4.8 million contract Monday to a Seattle-based company to rebuild Iraq's only deep-water port. Washington is expected to announce similar deals soon.

Officials in Paris say French firms' experience in working in Iraq would be an advantage.

French companies - many with ties to Baghdad stretching back decades - have established themselves as the largest suppliers of goods to Iraq since a U.N. trade embargo was partially lifted in 1996.

In 2001, France exported $705 million worth of goods to Iraq within the framework of the United Nations' now-frozen oil-for-food program. Communications equipment maker Alcatel clinched a $75 million contract to upgrade Baghdad's phone network, and Renault sold $75 million worth of tractors and farming vehicles to Iraq.

French oil giant TotalFinaElf probably has the biggest stake. It spent six years in the 1990s doing preparatory work on two giant oil fields and has signed two tentative agreements with Saddam to develop them.

Munier said he believes American companies will have difficulties in Iraq because of widespread anger against the U.S.-led bombing campaign.

"I don't see how American executives can work when their lives will be at risk," he said. "There will be such hatred toward Americans."

Munier criticized French companies for negotiating with American companies for a piece of their businesses in Iraq, saying that such "collaboration" would damage the image of French business among Iraqis.

Differences over how to run Iraq after the war have put added strain on already tense relations between the United States and several European countries.

France opposes any U.S. reconstruction plan that would sideline United Nations development agencies, multilateral organizations and non-governmental aid groups.

Chirac has warned that France would vote against any U.N. Security Council resolution that would give "the American and British belligerents the right to administer Iraq."

@#$%^&*()_

That says it all.

Jim Anderson · #21 03-26-2003, 01:26 PM

However, I could use an oil filter

#22 03-26-2003, 02:54 PM

If they want to Boycott US products that's fair! Regardless, I will be boycotting French products.

I'm not ready to burn my German cars that I already have, but if I ever buy another new car, I hope this is all past us by then.

I have already begun weening myself from those great French Michelin tires, so I will continue to use alternatives. They were getting overpriced anyway.

I have been to France several times in the last couple of years and it is my least favorite European country. The people are spoiled because it's next to impossible to fire them. We had to lay off our employees in France and ended up paying them like a years salary by French law. There is no incentive for them to do anything. The only ones there who actually work while they're on the job are the ones that just naturally work because they want to.

A couple of years ago we had a meeting with our European partners at a hotel at the Euro Disney park in Paris. Several times during the course of the two day meeting I went to the mens room and every time found the same group of cleaning LADIES leaning on their mops in the middle of the Mens room. They must have never worked at all. BTW, I went in one of the stalls with doors rather than use a urinal with a group of women standing behind me.

One last thing about the French. When I was in the Army in Germany there was a French army post next door. It was supposed to be a training post for their elite infantry troops, the equivalent of our Special Forces.

They put on a good show by running in shorts in the dead of Winter. There was a holiday celebration there one weekend and there was a gymnasium full of these "elite troops." Six half drunk US Army soldiers went over there and took them all on. They leveled all the tables in the gymnasium after which ambulance after ambulance rolled away from the place carrying these "elite troops" to the hospital. One of the six GI's came back with a sprained ankle. Otherwise, they were totally untouched, no cuts, bruises or black eyes. And we WERE'NT Special Forces, we were just a bunch of missile geeks.

I guess that's what happens when you go a few centuries letting other people do your fighting FOR you.

Have a great day,

Benzoman · #23 03-26-2003, 03:38 PM

Someone on the radio this morning said that the only war the french ever won was the french revolution. This was due, largely in part, to the fact that the opponent was also french!!

rickg · #24 03-26-2003, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Benzoman
Someone on the radio this morning said that the only war the french ever won was the french revolution. This was due, largely in part, to the fact that the opponent was also french!!

A country that can beat itself. Food for thought.

Vronsky · #25 04-07-2003, 06:06 AM

Why don't we just stick to MBs in this board, and leave world affairs out. I can think of loads of arguments criticizing US-action, but that kind of discussion would only spoil the nature of this board. There are plenty of other boards to ventilate opinion on this matter.

Kuan · #26 04-07-2003, 07:40 AM

What happens when you boycott Michelin tires? Perhaps Michelin loses some business, some Michelin employees lose their jobs, they close a plant, maybe two. That'll teach a French company to open plants in South Carolina. Let's just tell 9000 American workers that their jobs are in jeopardy because we're being patriotic.

#27 04-07-2003, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kuan
What happens when you boycott Michelin tires? Perhaps Michelin loses some business, some Michelin employees lose their jobs, they close a plant, maybe two. That'll teach a French company to open plants in South Carolina. Let's just tell 9000 American workers that their jobs are in jeopardy because we're being patriotic.

Then the American workers get a job at an American company. It would be cost prohibitive for Lefrance to build tires in Lefrance.

Zoni · #28 04-07-2003, 11:28 AM

A Brief History of Germany:
> 1871 - Bismarck founds modern Germany.
>
> 1890 - Bismarck sacked, warmonger Wilhelm II takes direct control.
>
> 1914 - Germany starts World War I.
>
> 1914-1918 - Germany kills millions of people.
>
> 1917 - Germany force peace loving Americans to enter war.
>
> 1918 - Germany loses World War I.
>
> 1920s - Germans try democracy.
>
> 1933 - Germans reject democracy, allow Hitler to take power.
>
> 1939 - Germany starts World War II.
>
> 1939-1945 - Germany kills millions of people.
>
> 1941 - Germany force peace loving Americans to enter war.
>
> 1945 - Germany loses World War II.
>
> 1946 - Germans whine about lack of food, America gives billions in food
> aid to feed them.
>
> 1947 - Germans whine about crappy economy, America gives billions in
> Marshall Plan aid to rebuild German economy.
>
> 1948-1949 - America puts ass on line and risk WW3 to save a
> few Berliners from Soviet hordes.
>
> 1949 - Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) established.
>
> 1950s - America spends billions to defend West Germany from Soviet
hordes.
>
> 1950s - German 'economic miracle' occurs while America keeps watch on
> Soviet hordes.
>
> 1955 - NATO formed to protect West Germany from Soviet hordes.
>
> 1960s - America spends billions to defend West Germany from Soviet
hordes.
>
> 1960s - German students protest war in Vietnam and American civil
rights.
>
> 1963 - American President John Kennedy makes "Ich bin ein Berliner"
> speech.
>
> 1970s - America spends billions to defend West Germany from Soviet
hordes.
>
> 1970s - Germans form the Marxist terrorist group Red Army Faction (RAF).
>
> 1970s - Leftist German guerrillas burn, loot, and plunder much
> of West Germany.
>
> 1980s - America spends tens of billions to defend West Germany from
Soviet
> hordes.
>
> 1980s - German leftist ***** about Pershing II missiles.
>
> 1987 - American President Ronald Reagan makes "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down
> this wall" speech.
>
> 1989 - Gorbachev tears down Berlin Wall.
>
> 1990 - German Reunification.
>
> 1990s - America spends tens of billions to defend Germany from Islamic
> hordes.
>
> 1990s - Germany stands by as ethnic cleansing occurs in Balkans.
>
> 1993 - Germany joins European Union.
>
> 1995 - Americans send troops to Bosnia as Germans watch from the
> sidelines.
>
> 1997 - Germans finally send troops to Bosnia.
>
> 1998 - Hard-line, left-of-left socialist come to power under Gerhard
> Schroeder.
>
> 1999 - American's lead air war to save Kosovo as Germans watch from the
> sidelines.
>
> 2001 - Schroeder offers solidarity to America after 9/11 attacks.
>
> 2002 - Schroeder bashes America to distract voters during election
> campaign.
>
> 2003 - Germany sees rise in anti-Americanism after several decades of
poor
> treatment from America.
>
> AND YOU THOUGHT THE FRENCH WERE A BUNCH OF UNGRATEFUL BASTARDS?

BENZ-LGB · #29 04-07-2003, 11:57 AM

Kuan: I have already boycotted Michelin. When my wife's Yukon needed new tires I passed up on Michelins and, instead, bought GoodYears.

Maybe the boycott will force Michelin to close up its US factory. But then again, maybe GoodYear or another US manufacturer will expand capacity to meet renewed demand for US tires. Maybe then they will hire new people, thus lessening the impact on US workers.

Vronsky: This forum is designed for open discussions on ANY subject, hence the name OPEN DISCUSSION Forum. If you only wish to discuss MB-related topics I am sure you will find a home in some of the other forums in this site.

Kuan · #30 04-07-2003, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rsbiomedical
Then the American workers get a job at an American company. It would be cost prohibitive for Lefrance to build tires in Lefrance.

Where Jeff? Are you willing to hire them? If not then their jobs will probably move to Mexico where it's really cheap. Unemployment has been going up as of late, and severance packages have been getting smaller. What of those whose retirement is vested in the company 401k plans? Should the value of their 401k's be wiped out as well because we think they're siding with the enemy? In the meantime states are finding it harder and harder to attract new industry. As a result, our primary labor force is leaving the heartland in search of greener pastures. Senior workers who have been instrumental in building America's infrastructure are having a tough time finding jobs because of their age. Imagine a few small towns wiped off the map because factories which were once the lifeblood of their economies have been forced to shut down because some guy, somewhere, decided that America was no longer the place to do business.