Socialist President Hollande?

[Ex-Pongo]

The EU was formed in order to develop a inter-country market so we can share resources and not let events like WW2 happen again. Apparently.

[Jackbrew]

The EU was formed in order to develop a inter-country market so we can share resources and not let events like WW2 happen again. Apparently.

And basically it turns out that Germany, with a bit of Help from France... has to carry all the rest ;-)

[Tonyus]

I hate politics, but regarding Germany, I wouldn't worry much about them. At least in the last couple of countries that adhered to the EU, they found some cheap and somewhat skilled work force. Basically, as I see it, we work for them, on our country's minimal wage, but buy their stuff, at their prices. As I said, I hate politics and I don't know much about it, so I might be wrong.

[Sarajevo1992]

And basically it turns out that Germany, with a bit of Help from France... has to carry all the rest ;-)

and unfortunately for me, The Netherlands also pay there share (and more)

[Grupo_Ocho]

We thought Mitterrand was going to disband the Legion... He gave us the FAMAS and AMX10! Invited me to his palace for 14 Juillet... A fine commie he was.

I've known more than a few American former US servicemen and legionnaires. Spent more than enough time in the field together to have covered plenty of aspects of that life : they never – in all our conversations – mentioned once French politics; even that Commie Mitterrand . Not once and not an issue, as much as the news makes it or anyone else makes it.

Hasta

[maim]

I'm not much of an analyst, even tho' I now spend most of my working life doing just that.

It was in Germany's vested interest to engage as many countries into the Euro zone as possible, so they could then sell as much shit as possible to as many countries as possible, with no excess importation costs.

The advantage for all the third world countries (Greece, Spain, Portugal and Southern Italy) was that they could now borrow money at low rates, based on Germany's credit history.

As in “Margin Call” I'm explaining this as of to a small child, or a labrador. Don't worry, took me a while to get it!

Greece will now probably leave the Euro zone within 8 weeks and it will take the country 25 yrs to repay the debt. Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy will possibly follow.

BTW JP Morgan had a 2 billion dollar loss a few days ago, due to ‘careless’ trading! WTF... I lose my wallet....careless....lose 2 BILLION dollars.... (no words)

This is not going to go away in a hurry peeps.

M

BTW, when Mitterand got in we were all calling officers in Bonifacio “Camarade” in the old Communist tradition. Quite a few went en taule!

Amitiés légionnaires,
Martin (166 080)

[voltigeur]

Since this thread has degenerated to economy and politics, I'll move it to "others topics"

[Ex-Pongo]

And basically it turns out that Germany, with a bit of Help from France... has to carry all the rest ;-)

Agreed, i have to remind myself who won the war sometimes. As for the Fatherland, for all its faults (like trying to be perfect, all the ******* time) it does have a good idea of business. I don't recall the exact conversation with that mountain-equipment shop owner, but Germany has this contract that makes new businesses commit to four years before leaving the Country. So it has provided itself with four years of guaranteed tax, four years of guaranteed jobs and four years of guaranteed economical development. Clever Boxheads

[newb]

As members of the Legion wouldn't they be expected to salute and die for the EU?

[Jackbrew]

As members of the Legion wouldn't they be expected to salute and die for the EU?

Huh?

Lets see... up until now, legionnaires die for France... Now they are expected to die for the EU....

If you were a Polish legionnaire, or British, or Italian one... dying for the EU is actually a better deal than dying for France... Makes a bit more sense because your country is part of the EU.

And if you don't want to "die for the EU"... as a Sgt once said to a guy in my section... the Legion did not come ask you to join... you decided to come and join... if anyone has anything against the EU... they can stay at home... certainly won't make the Legion cry....

[Savicious]

Won't add much things to what Jackbrew and others have said about the different meaning given on each side of the Atlantic to the same word (socialist/socialism).
Now, to remain factual, Hollande vowed to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year (Sarkozy's agenda was end of 2013 and Obama's is 2014). There will be a NATO summit in Chicago somewhere end of May and this will undoubtedly be discussed. Obama may try to ‘arm twist’ Hollande into changing his plans, but in my view caving in on such a highly publicised announcement would be for him a political suicide. Even if for some logistical reasons, some French troops are left behind in Afghanistan after YE2012, my guess is there will probably not have any operational role.
To tackle the budget deficit issue, one may also expect some ‘cost cuttings’ in the military, but Hollande was not very clear on this during the campaign and we'll have to wait till July – when the new National Assembly is due to vote a budget amendment – to know more. But there shouldn't be any ‘Legion specific’ type of measures (like for example in 1981, when Mitterrand was elected and his allies from the Communist Party wanted to disband the Legion).

Thank you Rapace, your answer was exactly what I was looking for. I was aware of Hollande having an expedited withdrawal plan and wondered if that would combine with economic reforms to create funding cuts in French military. I suppose we all just have to wait and see.

[newb]

communist and socialist are pretty different though. Plus as long as there are arabs in the world that need killing, I doubt the legion will lose a mission. Afganistan might be the new Algeria, next it might be Iran, but someone has to do the killing.

[Tonyus]

And which one are you, newb ? The white supremacist? Or another one of God's miracle's, an a**hole at both end's? Not that there is much difference...