Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

S. Korea to Push for French-style Military Reform
South Korea's Defense Ministry said Thursday that it will reform its 680,000-strong military in a French style that calls for downsizing its troop size and consolidating military bases.
Yonhap News
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20050428/610000000020050428170009E3.html

The French are famous for a having strong, bold, and heroic military, right?

[Leslie Cheswyck]

[Real Reality]

Was that the addition of the Foreign Legion being rallied for the tough fight against the roach army?

[Emu Bitter]

French knock, knock joke

Knock Knock
Who's There?
I Give Up.

The greatest French military victory of the 20th century was the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.

[Eazy_E]

French tanks have one gear in forward and five in reverse.

[animalbirdfish]

I guess a French-style military will also mean French-style capitulation.

[mithridates]

Sorry to be rude, but you guys don't know anything.

Or maybe you do; let's check. When was the last time French troops were sent abroad to quell a situation?

[thorin]

The French unit that was in Kosovo when I was there put the US 1st Infantry Division to shame.

[the eye]

[gypsyfish]

The French unit I was stationed with in the Sinai had the best Beaujolais Nouveau parties.

[Blind Willie]

Do I hear the bleating of sheep?

Oui.

[JacktheCat]

[Daechidong Waygookin]

The French have a long history of great victories. People say they gave up against Hitler, but at that time Hitler was unstoppable. He beat pretty much everyone until he overextended his army and the Russians collapsed on him. Neither the French nor anyone before 1943 could have beaten the Germans on their own. Not France, not England, not the US. The Americans talk big about how they beat Hitler, but they only did it as part of a coalition where the heavy lifting was done by the Russians. The Americans bragging about beating the Nazis is like a spotter for Gene Rychlak bragging that he deadlifted 1000lbs from his knees when all it was actually Rychlak benching the 1000lbs who was doing 99% of the work.

[Guri Guy]

The French have a reputation for being "Cheese eating surrender monkeys" to quote Groundskeeper Willie. This is partially based on the fact that the French have not had much military success since the time of Napoleon. They lost to the Germans in the war of 1870, and were very close to collapse in World War One. They once again were defeated in World War Two. They lost decisively in Vietnam in 1954. Mind you Vietnam also defeated the Americans and the Chinese after that so they were no pushovers. They also had major problems in Algeria in 1960.
I don't doubt that French soldiers are brave and I am sure they are well trained and well supplied. However their recent history has not been exactly covered in military glory. Somewhat like the Italians I guess. Getting beat up by Ethiopia and Albania will do that to you.

[the eye]