miniver_cheevy: i wanted to second all this thread's support for france's (and germany's) position about the war in iraq.

i too love that country and their independent minded, free-speaking, non-conformist people. i want to make sure that french citizens know that not all americans wish them ill will.

freedom fries? ha! that's the biggest joke i ever heard. the best french fries i ever ate were in france.

france has continually been a bastion of european support for autonomy in the middle east, including being one of the foremost supporters of the plight of the palestinians.

by practicing true diplocmacy (as well as being the best nation on earth in terms of humanitarian aid), france has been one of the most moderating forces in modern world history.

they have managed to temper european domination and the result has been a more balanced, careful world approach. countless votes in the u.n. security council would attest to this.

france is the spoke on which the wheel of western europe turns.

(at the same, i want to recognize that, after the united states, they are perhaps the second largest arms broker in the world.)

(there are many lot of misconceptions about france among americans. for example, don't forget that the french navy never capitulated during world war ii -- and they fought very hard -- with the help of the french african colonial troops -- to wrest their country from the grip of the nazis .)

vive la belle france! merci a dieu pour monsieur chirac! bon courage en suivant votre course! on vous aime!(long live beautiful france, thank god for mr. chirac! good luck in sticking to your course! we love you!)