Anglo French

[modeller]

It is suggested that an Anglo French army shoild be formed .

http://www.telegraph....good-for-Britain.html

In the event of a war outside Europe who would you prefer to fight with the French or the Germans ?

[NazNomad]

To quote Willy the Groundskeeper ... "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys".

I'd prefer to fight alongside the Germans, despite our previous ... errm ... differences.

[anotheoldgit]

Why the sudden paliness, I thought it was France and Germany who were bed fellows?

[Gromit]

Now that threats are more like to be remote and external, the old set up defending borders and shores is pointless. A european army (to complement our own) would make sense, but would be unpalatable to many Europhobes, particularly in the Conservative party.

This idea of two souveign nations cooperating would ease that political problem slightly while delivering the same objective, saving money by not duplicating the same services.

[jno]

the French might have tried to dissuade us from our Afghan and Iraqi ventures, which in retrospect would have been a good idea.

[Gromit]

In answer to the last part of the question, The French are the most similar in circumstaces to the UK, lost empire, nuclear weapons and seat on the Security council that they don't want to lose. We share the same objectives.

[jno]

pah, our lost empire is MUCH bigger than their lost empire

[fredpuli47]

The Germans. Huge industrial base able to be put on a war footing at a moment's notice,they'll be in Paris in weeks....no contest.

[jake-the-peg]

Where does it say an anglo-french army should be formed?

Not in this article that I can see

[Loosehead]

well to borrow from a wartime US general, "I'd rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me" enough said!

[jake-the-peg]

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_S._Patton

Misattributed by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger on Fox News

Still playing fast and loose with the facts eh Loosehead?

[rowanwitch]

At least no one suggested fighting with the italians although the food and uniforms would be better...still thats a reason for chosing the french over the germans

[jno]

jake, it was in the Guardian, but aog is too pollite to say so

http://www.guardian.c...british-french-troops

(okay, not exactly a joint army)

[Gromit]

Loosehead,

A more modern day equivalent might be 'I'd rather have the US Artillery in front of me than their friendly fire happy Artillery behind me'.

[modeller]

jake I don't know what you are reading . The whole article is about it.

This week's summit will lead to unprecedented military co-operation between our countries, says Defence Secretary Liam Fox.
There are many reasons why this co-operation makes sense. We are Europe's only nuclear powers. We have the largest defence budgets and are the only two countries with real, large-scale expeditionary capability.

[jake-the-peg]

The whole article says a closer alliance.

The Guardian article says

//The prime minister will also make clear that Britain and France will stop short of full integration because there will be times when the interests of Paris and London diverge.//

They are talking about an Anglo French Brigade

Seems to me you either do not understand the difference between a brigade and an Army

Or you are just being deliberately or carelessly clumsy with the facts

[modeller]

gromit # In answer to the last part of the question, The French are the most similar in circumstaces to the UK, lost empire, nuclear weapons and seat on the Security council that they don't want to lose. We share the same objectives.#
All true Gromit but the problem I have is 1940 when we had even more in common and we know what happened then and for most of the last 50 odd years the french refused to even join NATO.
Put simply, apart from ourselves, if it was a life or death situation who could we rely on.

[anotheoldgit]

modeller

Plus the fact that they did not even want us in the EU, oh how I wish they had got their way.

[Loosehead]

Well it may me mis attributed but we always have fun digging it up. Still I reckon a frog n Rosbif alliance may have some advantages in the catering section anyway!

[Gromit]

modeller

The French withdrawal from NATO was for the same reason you do not want an alliance with them.

The French wanted independence and did not want to get into other peoples battles like NATO getting sucked into Afghanistan.

They were probably right, but they returned to NATO because it is extremely expensive to maintain an Independent military of the size of France and the UK. If both countries have the same objective, then they can cooperate on some missions. If either country have some local difficulties in an ex-colony, then the partner nation need not get involved if they do not want to.

[kinell]

it would give an enemy confusing options

whether to stand and fight the british half or chase after the french