Always The French

It is perhaps now quite well known that the Common Market/EEC/EU is a French attempt at creating a French empire (once again), but perhaps it is not so widely recognised how the scheming and machinations of French politicians has caused many major problems.

French attempts to dominate Scotland in the 1600's (indeed to talk it into becoming a French colony) lie behind much of the animosity of the Scots towards England. Similarly, French involvement in Ireland was responsible for the troubles there. That is not to say the English didn't cause plenty of problems too, just that resolution wasn't on the cards as the French were continually whispering in ears.

The American War of Independence was largely backed by the French and subsequent attempts to turn the US against Britain were common. In Europe of course, Napoleon made his desires clear and France started the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. France was very big on threatening Germany before the First World War, but made a spectacular mess, again, of defending itself and required others to rescue them.

Having rolled over in the early stages of the Second World War, with de Gaulle hiding in Britain, it was suggested that the two countries should be united. Which two countries would that be then Mr. de Gaulle? Britain and...... oh yes, you personally. Not a good bargain, non? The French also have a great propensity for calling themselves an Empire. They love the grand sounding word. Britain had an empire in reality, but didn't actually call the state itself, the British Empire.

The French decided they wanted nothing to do with NATO as it was mainly an Anglo-Saxon concern, but when it all kicked off in Serbia they demanded to be involved and demanded to be told of NATO plans. Once informed, they passed on the information to their Serbian friends.

Now we have the latest failure of French politicking, the disaster of the Euro and the destruction of the Greek, Italian, Irish, Portuguese and Spanish economies. With France and Germany threatened by their own hubris.