Best buddies with France now?
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Best buddies with France now?
I cannot but help think that a special (working) relationship with a country with whom we do not even share a common language is flawed at many levels. .....and working on their terms would be worse than working with the British Army, and thats pretty bad. Might be some merit in wine with lunch followed by a siesta though, perhaps I need to think out-of-the-box on this one. WTF has become of 'Rule Brittania?'.
FFS, get over it. We've been working with the French for years, at many different levels, and it works well. Anybody who has actually worked with the French military that I have met has really enjoyed it.
The DSL is going to have to gear up French teaching, but French is a lot easier to learn than German, and we managed fine in BAOR for years. Any youngster who wants a long career in the military should get themselves on a French exchange posting ASAP as cooperation is going to get a lot closer over the next twenty years.
The DSL is going to have to gear up French teaching, but French is a lot easier to learn than German, and we managed fine in BAOR for years. Any youngster who wants a long career in the military should get themselves on a French exchange posting ASAP as cooperation is going to get a lot closer over the next twenty years.
As a teacher of French I have to agree with the remarks about learning the language. The British and French are the two worst countries in Europe when it comes to learning foreign languages. I would say that basic military French should form a part of the training programme at officer level at least, and personnel should be actively encouraged to continue to improve their proficiency throughout their service.
When my own son was at Brunssum (in Holland) he studied for, and passed, GCSE Dutch, but was given no encouragement at all by his superiors who thought it peculiar that an NCO should want to learn a foreign language. Of course if he'd wanted to go on a sailing course it would have been a different matter - sailing being far more important to a REME NCO than language skills
When my own son was at Brunssum (in Holland) he studied for, and passed, GCSE Dutch, but was given no encouragement at all by his superiors who thought it peculiar that an NCO should want to learn a foreign language. Of course if he'd wanted to go on a sailing course it would have been a different matter - sailing being far more important to a REME NCO than language skills
Gentleman Aviator
I know life has changed since the Cold War, but didn't Sir Humphrey Appleby once describe the role of NATO in Europe thus:
"To keep the Americans in, the Russians out ........ and the French down!"
"To keep the Americans in, the Russians out ........ and the French down!"
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Was it Yes Minister, or Yes Prime Minister, where Sir Humphry went on to explain that the only reason the UK had an independent nuclear deterrent, was to deter the French. He went on to say that it was extremley effective, as this was the longest period in recorded history that England and France had not been at war.......
Joke going around the crew room this morning, that there will soon be yet another competition to fill a vacant plinth in Traffalga Square. The one at the top of the column, as the PC lobby in Westminster will take Lord Nelson down, so not to offend our "new friends."
Joke going around the crew room this morning, that there will soon be yet another competition to fill a vacant plinth in Traffalga Square. The one at the top of the column, as the PC lobby in Westminster will take Lord Nelson down, so not to offend our "new friends."
aircrew could report for duty un-shaven. Thats morale sorted then
Wise words on getting proficient in French as the BBC have just stated that a general commanding any joint force would have to speak both English and French. Having kicked around NATO for a while I suspect a lot more French generals speak english than vice versa. No surprises if requirement creep for this skill moves down teh rank scale! Also I believe that most French folk under 30 now take learning english very seriously, the view above that the 2 countries are the worst for learning a foreign language now, sadly, only applies to the country north of La Manche (IMHO). 
PS Do we now need a smily wearing a beret??
PS Do we now need a smily wearing a beret??
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Has everyone forgotten the french supplying the Argies with Exocets,up front then through the back door,I bloody haven't
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I believe that this particular myth was debunked on this forum a short while ago. The real problems were reputed to be the Spanish and Italians - both of whom have strong historical links to Argentina.
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gunbus
It seems that you have forgotten that the French carried out simulated attacks on the Task Force with their Super Etendards as it sailed South to liberate the Falklands. The same level of co-operation as the Belgians provided when they detatched their Mirage 5's to Lossie to work up the Sea Harriers. Of course I appreciate that one should never let facts get in the way of good old fashioned xenophobic bigotry.
It seems that you have forgotten that the French carried out simulated attacks on the Task Force with their Super Etendards as it sailed South to liberate the Falklands. The same level of co-operation as the Belgians provided when they detatched their Mirage 5's to Lossie to work up the Sea Harriers. Of course I appreciate that one should never let facts get in the way of good old fashioned xenophobic bigotry.