The French? You mean the French who unilaterally acted to help stabilize Cote d'Ivoire and Mali in the past five years while the international community sat on their hands and did sod-all except bitch and moan and wring their hands like they always do? The French, who have enjoyed thousands of years of military success, including a century-long conquest of England, who always get judged on six years of that history? "According to the historian Niall Ferguson, of the 125 major European wars fought since 1495, the French have participated in 50 – more than Austria (47) and England (43). Out of 168 battles fought since 387BC, they have won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10." (Telegraph, Oct. 22nd, 2010).