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Remember Freedom Fries?

It was only four years ago that Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Walter Jones (R-NC) announced the official name change in Congressional cafeterias from French fries and French toast to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast. "This action today is a small, but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France," said Ney at the time.

My, how les temps have changed!

Now ex-Rep Ney is serving 30 months jail time, Jones has become a fierce war critic, and lo and behold, the French may be coming to the rescue in Iraq. From the Washington Post:

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner used a surprise trip to Baghdad to call on European countries to help the United States repair Iraq. Kouchner's comments represent a major departure from former French president Jacques Chirac's stance on Iraq. Relations between France and the United States were severely damaged after Chirac led global opposition to the 2003 invasion.
Since his election in May, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sought to strengthen ties with the United States. Kouchner told a French radio station that Iraq's leaders are "expecting something" from the French government and that he planned to assist U.S. efforts.
"The Americans can't get this country out of difficulty all alone," Kouchner said.

Kouchner's humanitarian background as co-founder of the medical relief group Medecins Sans Frontieres may begin to explain the willingness to overlook the anti-French GOP posturing of the not-so-distant past and to let bygones be bygones. Pass the pâté.






Comments

If the french were smart they would stay out of the
whole mess. Of course that goes for the president also.

Posted by: morris meyers on 08/22/07 at 10:31 AM  Respond

Not to mention that French Fries are really from Belgium. ;)

France was smart to not get involved. Sure, it was actually half-decent in the beginning when we thought the lies were truth.

Still, I knew in the back of my mind we were doing something stupid (other than taking our minds off the REAL terrorists in Afghanistan, of course). And my instincts paid off again.

Oh, and btw, calling your fries freedom fries is just plain stupid and moronic. Call them fries or french fries.

Posted by: jake3988 on 08/22/07 at 11:37 AM  Respond

Maybe French Fries are from Belgium, but they were invented in the Netherlands.

Posted by: koen on 08/22/07 at 11:44 AM  Respond

We should give the Statue of Liberty back to France, at least until we get some of our Constitutional Civil Liberties back

Belgium was a part of the Netherlands at the time, so you are both correct!

HOW INCREDIBLY EXCITING!

Posted by: dude on 08/22/07 at 1:01 PM  Respond

Feh. Sarkozy is nothing but a yankee shill. Had he been in power 5 years ago, he would have led France into the war.

Posted by: Jean Naimard on 08/22/07 at 1:14 PM  Respond

RE: JAKE3988

"Still, I knew in the back of my mind we were doing something stupid (other than taking our minds off the REAL terrorists in Afghanistan, of course). And my instincts paid off again."

Right, that's why you and so many other average Americans vocally opposed the war in Iraq and single handedly stopped our futile efforts at constructing a faux democracy. Your instincts paid off? Jesus Christ! People are dying and all you can think about is how you were correct in THINKING it was wrong to invade Iraq. And how exactly did it "pay off"? Did you get a cookie?

I led a high school protest when I was 16 to voice my dissent against our highly imperialist efforts in Iraq, and you think you did something good by THINKING the war was wrong. Ass.

Posted by: Decon on 08/22/07 at 1:30 PM  Respond

And has anyone in Washington said publically that maybe the French were right five years ago?

Nah..

They are now too busy trying to think of a new name for Belgian Waffles.

the real reason for those stupid freedom fries, was because of an editorial written by t.meyssan a few weeks after 911. basically saying that someone high up in the us govt. had to be working with the hijackers. read all about it in the chapter 9 at the 911 truth org site. thats the reason for all the stupid freedom foods, cause someone had the balls to stand up and try to warn us that a traitor was now dictating policy to the president.

Posted by: laura on 08/22/07 at 3:02 PM  Respond

the real reason for those stupid freedom fries, was because of an editorial written by t.meyssan a few weeks after 911. basically saying that someone high up in the us govt. had to be working with the hijackers. read all about it in the chapter 9 at the 911 truth org site. thats the reason for all the stupid freedom foods, cause someone had the balls to stand up and try to warn us that a traitor was now dictating policy to the president.

Posted by: laura on 08/22/07 at 3:06 PM  Respond

Actually, Congress was forced to retreat..., from "the French".
(pretty humiliating, after all the rhetoric and hyperbole they aimed at "Pierre"..)

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/8096.html
"That was over three years ago. Fortunately, Jones has come around and feels embarrassed about his effort — and the fries on Capitol Hill are French again."
"Not a single Republican staffer or lawmaker wanted to comment on the development, but Brendan Daly, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi said, “Now that they’ve changed the name of the french fries back, maybe they will admit their other foreign policy mistakes were wrong, too."

And maybe sometime soon Nancy Pelosi would like to discuss that promise to get us the hell out of Iraq.

Posted by: gvc on 08/22/07 at 3:16 PM  Respond

(as you can see, a slow day at work)
Why would the Dems want to pull out? What benefit would they get? The fascists would have 1.5 years of saying the “pussy party” lost EYE-Rack on Faux News. The military would be pissed that their manhood was insulted. The white-middle-trash would NOT be more likely to vote for the Dems if there was no longer any risk to themselves or their kids. And, most of the white-middle-trash I know would probably identify with the military and their shrunken manhood than the “mommy party” saving the troop’s asses. YOU guys are going to vote for the Dems regardless.

So, the Dems have ALLOT more to gain with the war still on – than having “peace” - going into the election.

Sure is great having two parties.

Posted by: John on 08/22/07 at 3:33 PM  Respond

"...someone high up in the us govt. had to be working with the hijackers. read all about it in the chapter 9 at the 911 truth org site.
...someone had the balls to stand up and try to warn us that a traitor was now dictating policy to the president."

Two "Bush blew up the Twin Towers and the Pentagon" conspiracy posts in as many days... kewl!

Posted by: gvc on 08/22/07 at 3:40 PM  Respond

Mmmmm.... French Fries .... so delicious.

Posted by: johnny Robot on 08/22/07 at 3:44 PM  Respond

Ok. So can I park in my *garage* again? 'Freedom Car House' is such an ungainly utterance.

Posted by: Paul on 08/22/07 at 5:14 PM  Respond

But I am still enjoying my "Freedom" ticklers

Posted by: RandomNameInsertedHere on 08/22/07 at 5:20 PM  Respond

I am an American. I love America. That said,,,, I am very ashamed of my government and am leaving America because we no longer have a government of the people, by the people or for the people. We now have the United Corporations of America. I have been a war protester since way before the war even started. It really doesn't matter if we had 10 million protesters marching in Washington. Even if we could fit 50 million protesters it still would not matter. Before the war started the world saw the largest protest in the history of the world. Google search and you will see millions around the world opposing the war. Did not make a bit of difference.
Now that we are there, and I am sad to say this, I believe it is our responsibility to fix it. I believe that George Bush needs to wipe his smirk off of his face and come with his tail between his legs and admit to the United Nations that he made a terrible mistake. He needs to beg for forgiveness, apologize to all the nations he and his cronies slighted and humbly request UN assistance in helping the nation to become stable. The US will then pay the bill. If that means taxing the corporations that profited so heavily from the war than so be it. The US owes it to the world to stabilize this area since we have done so much to destroy it. If that means eating humble pie for every meal than let world be our baker. We really need to make a sincere effort to give back to what we have destroyed. I know that the US cannot go this alone and it would be irresponsible to leave them in such a sad state of affairs.

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