Just after the Yanks and Brits liberated Paris from the Germans in 1944, French "General" de Gaulle insisted he lead the victory march into Paris. The Yanks and Brits protested because they, not the French, had sacrificed so many more lives in freeing the French city and country from the Nazis. They, not the French, had brutally battled their way to the outskirts of the city while the French were still serving the Germans. The cunning de Gaulle convincingly won the argument, however, by declaring,

"It's important today for Paris to see the French army at its bravest--and the French are never braver than when she has the Americans and British behind her back!"

Hundred Years War
Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

Italian Wars
Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.

Wars of Religion
France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

Thirty Years War
France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

War of Revolution
Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

The Dutch War
Tied

War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War
Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.

War of the Spanish Succession
Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

American Revolution
In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

French Revolution
Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

The Napoleonic Wars
Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.

The Franco-Prussian War
Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

World War I
Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.

World War II
Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

War in Indochina
Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu

Algerian Rebellion
Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

War on Terrorism
France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

(This list reprinted from a list first published in The Weekly Standard, February 24, 2003.)

WWI U.S. casualties:			WWII U.S. casualties:
Mobilized: Killed: Wounded: Total casualities: France Liberated	4,355,000 126,000 234,300 364,800		Mobilized: Killed: Wounded: Total casualities: France Liberated, again	16,000,000 291,557 670,846 600,000

And if the French mentioned their gratitude for America's role in saving France in both world wars, bailing out the French economy with the Marshall Plan, and giving France a seat on the United Nations Security Council with veto power, so much the better.

Americans, while still skittish about going to war in Iraq, find it a bit disconcerting that France and Germany — two nations that benefited greatly from U.S. military and financial aid during and after World War II and defense of their homelands during the Cold War — now appear to be so ungrateful.