The French

[ok, ok,....I get it]

We save their A$$ in two world wars, and now they want to take liberties......they should be happy we let them live so close to us and so far from the stink hole that is France.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlan...ierre-430.html

If they keep this up they might get the answering machine, next time they call us about the Germans at their front door.

[4X4]

I don't think I understand what they're asking for. Are they wanting to have their own 200 mile zone that overlaps with Canada's?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

We save their A$$ in two world wars, and now they want to take liberties.......

Can we please stop playing the "two world wars" card. It's incredibly childish and demeans any actual argument.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by valo403

Can we please stop playing the "two world wars" card. It's incredibly childish and demeans any actual argument.

no

[Tron_fdc]

It sorta looks like the small island of St-Pierre-Miquelon is sorta operating outside of France. I've never heard of this island before, but from what I just read (albeit the comments under the story) they're within the country of France, but operate on a sovereign level.....?

Some of the comments are kinda funny though. "why can't we just SHARE"??? hahahaha yeah, that works when you're dealing with another countries resources. Maybe Alaska won't mind sharing with NWT too!!!! I mean hey, they're right beside each other?

[mikey_the_redneck]

Their sense of entitlement is just sickening.

Get to work you bums!

[Bobblehead]

They want territorial rights to a passage to the ocean. And all fishing and oil under that passage.

I saw a picture of their claim a few weeks ago and it is crazy.

[Canada 02]

this is nothing new or unique to the French. We have competing claims to the arctic with the USA, Russia, Norway and Denmark

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I don't think I understand what they're asking for. Are they wanting to have their own 200 mile zone that overlaps with Canada's?

Me neither.

I'm guessing that they want their own chunk of seabed and associated resources after Canada's 200 miles ends which would be international.
So basically it would be a claim of international seabed.

How would that affect Canada unless their wells sucked out O&G under Canadian seabed?

[kermitology]

Any people who make Charles de Gaulle their national hero deserve to be bombed to kingdom come. Die you French SOBs!

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Me neither.

I'm guessing that they want their own chunk of seabed and associated resources after Canada's 200 miles ends which would be international.
So basically it would be a claim of international seabed.

How would that affect Canada unless their wells sucked out O&G under Canadian seabed?

No.. I think it is inside Canada's 200 mile zone. That's why it is a "big deal".
Not out in international waters.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by arsenal

No.. I think it is inside Canada's 200 mile zone. That's why it is a "big deal".
Not out in international waters.

Where does it say that in the article? A few snippets.

France's move to claim rights to seabed far south of Newfoundland.

Pierre Salomon, an organizer of a movement that urged President Nicolas Sarkozy to claim an interest in the ocean floor under thousands of square kilometres of international waters in the Atlantic, said obtaining access to those resources is the only way the islands can survive.

The bid, which if successful would give France claim to underwater resources far beyond Canada's 200-mile economic limit

[troutman]

cheese eating surrender monkeys

Personally, I love the French. Greatest wine, cuisine and beauty.

[CaptainCrunch]

We should give it to them, but mine the perimeter.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by valo403

Can we please stop playing the "two world wars" card. It's incredibly childish and demeans any actual argument.

I actually think it's kind of valid. The Anglo world did end up bailing them out, especially in the 2nd World War, only to be repeatedly backstabbed by the Free French under de Gaulle through the remainder of the war and the post-war period.

It's a strange country driven by a fierce brand of nationalism/jingoism that exceeds anything we could possibly understand.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by peter12

I actually think it's kind of valid. The Anglo world did end up bailing them out, especially in the 2nd World War, only to be repeatedly backstabbed by the Free French under de Gaulle through the remainder of the war and the post-war period.

It's a strange country driven by a fierce brand of nationalism/jingoism that exceeds anything we could possibly understand.

Yeah, but De Gaulle did have a reason for the backstabbing, I mean the Allies did try to arrange a plane crash for him. Due to his terrible politicking and bad behavior after the fall of France.

[Bobblehead]

I found a BBC article from 3 years ago with has a map of the area at odds.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ts/4781886.stm

Something else interesting from that article.

What France has done is pump massive subsidies, 60 million euros a year, into the economy to keep it going.

The islands have suffered economically in recent times
Subsidies pay for a huge programme of public works projects and roughly 1000 civil servants who administer them. This, for a population of 6,500. Without the subsidies, the economy would collapse.

[troutman]

Surely the French can have le baguette.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I found a BBC article from 3 years ago with has a map of the area at odds.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ts/4781886.stm

Something else interesting from that article.

I thought it was a different area, the "baguette" claim was denied back in the mid 90's

[peter12]

Originally Posted by troutman

Surely the French can have le baguette.

When they wrestle it from our cold dead hands!