Did France put combat troops on the ground in the First Golf War?

Does anyone remember? I seem to remember vaguely that while many nations sent troops to Saudi Arabia in 1990, the actual fighting of Gulf War I was done by the US, Britain, France and Saudi Arabia. Do I have my facts right here? I was hoping to put this myth of the French as pacifists to rest.

HA! :D

:thumbsup:

an armored division I think.

will be highly amused by the idea of the French as pacifists.

David Allen
www.thoughtcrimes.org
Distrusting the Government Since 1984

Here's a link with a list of members of the coalition for Gulf I.

http://www.libraryreference.org/gulfwar.html

:evilgrin:

Four words: Jean Van de Velde



http://espn.go.com/golfonline/british99/features/00001948.html

One would not have to be a pacifist to recognize that war was solely for the benefit of the Kuwaiti ruling class.

The military coalition consisted of:


Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, The United Kingdom, and the United States.
The war also was financed by countries that were unable to send in troops. More than billion were pledged and received. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were the largest donors. Switzerland also contributed to the allies, this after being neutral during both World War I and World War II.

taken from this site:

http://www.cryan.com/war/

The French Division was on the extreme western portion of the 300 mile wide front. They protected the western flank while the US forces did the big right hook.

Shamesless plug: I was right behind them in the invasion.

I believe a brigade of the 82nd was technically under the command of a French General during the invasion - since they were in the French's sector.

One interesting thing the French did was they named their various objectives after Revolutionary War historical events. I believe one objective was called Rochembeau (sp?), etc.

They had at least a light armor division

http://www.usinternet.com/users/mitch/t2k/html/france.html

They lost 2 and had about 25 wounded.

The French pilots were flying in low to "crater" air strips to keep the Iraqi airforce on the ground - made them very vulnerable. A number were shot down and pilots were killed or captured. The slander that the French are "surrender monkeys" is a bunch of crap and based on the WWII debacle - which was the result of poor military leadership and strategy plus brilliant leadership and strategy on the German side. Even so, the French Resistance throughout the war during the occupation gave the lie to the slander. In WWI the French showed their courage and many paid with their lives at Verdun and the Somme, as well as in the trenches and in the air throughout the war.

though we fought a 2 front war. We lost about 330,000, I believe. Of course, The Soviet Union lost 25 MILLION........

Also, France lost virtually every male between the ages of 17 and and 35 during WWI. Millions lost.

And what did the rough, tough Germans ever win? Last time I checked they were oh for everything in wars during the 20th century and France ran a quarter of their country for about 50 years. So who's the loser surrender monkey.


I like what my Dad said about his parents homeland reagrding their war record. Said they have a great war record. They haven't been in a war for about 1000 years. That is Sweden.

I heard.

Can you believe it people will fight about anything and I never even heard of this golf war, or, the second one!! :grr:

They shall not pass. And by God they DID NOT pass.

Vive la France. Verdun, 1916.

I knew Bush would find some excuse to invade France! :silly:

as I just got back from a week in Paris with a side trip to Normandie last Friday.

Wonder if I can get my loft apartment back on Rue de Richelieu?

LOL. Hahaha. Funny, eh?