Très intéressants–et ceux ci sont les seuls mots ecrits en français que je n’utiliserais içi–I’m too embarassed and too far from my years of study in France, ancien militaire that I am. ;) (Well, that was two more.) But that doesn’t prevent me from reading and comprehending.

So I too thank you for your words. I remind my fellow countrymen regularly that the people of France are wonderful–based on my time there as a student and many visits since–even if our governments seldom seem to agree or cooperate (at least until lately), and your article helps.

Yes, we do like to hear that we are appreciated; who does not? We feel like we’ve stuck our collective necks out for the good of the world. Yes, the world police–which, of course, do not exist–should have been the ones out taking care of the jerks who make everyones’ lives less secure and who hide out in remote areas fomenting their lies and hate. Instead, the US and the American public has largely taken on that role with help from some of our friends, but seldom the French. Despite the great desire of many around the world to think less of our reasons, we are not profiting from our participation in conflicts and our own and others deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Colombia, Panama, the Balkans and elsewhere. When the rest of the world does not jump in and help out, and instead criticizes us, we find we do appreciate it when we instead garner a little praise for what we do.

Thank you for your part in making us feel a bit better about our risked necks. ;)