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| ’No French food’ for US Marines |
| 2003-03-28 |
| Republican members of the US Congress have asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to boycott a French firm catering for the US Marines. The firm in question, Sodexho, has a $881m contract to feed the Marines. "My colleagues and I abhor the idea of continuing to pour American dollars into a French based firm when those dollars could be feeding our wartime economy," wrote Representative Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican. Mr Kingston wanted the contract to be terminated because that would send "a tangible signal to the French Government that there are economic consequences associated with their international policies". Mr Kingston said Sodexho, the American subsidiary of France's Sodexho Alliance, had recently signed an eight-year contract with the Marines. And I don't care if it is an American subsidiary, it's still a French company. And no, I'm not getting over it. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #12 Paolo, Don't know if you realize it,but we have been in a trade war with France for decades.Do you know that France limits and imposes Tariffs on American farm products,French farmers are about the most inefficent in the world if the limits/tariffs were lifted they(French farmers )couldn't compete.It would also put thier government backed subsidies in dire straights. Also French airlines are required to buy Airbus,not contract with the lowest bidder. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-03-29 07:56:30 |
| #11 Oh, and by the way, I am hardly a french apologist. Remember when everyone was getting rid of their Japanese cars at the end of the 1980's because of the Japanese rivalry and the fear that they may over-take us? Well, that problem has solved itself and I believe that our problem with the french will as well with time. We do not need to be seen as vindictive, though we have every reason to couter attack the back stabbers in Paris. This does not mean that we should not retaliate, but that we should do it with patience and quiet determination. |
| Posted by: Paolo 2003-03-29 01:17:59 |
| #10 Kalle, point well taken. However, the last thing we need now is a move towards a trade war with the economy still slowly recovering. That being said, it couldn't hurt us to keep our options open and look at domestic providers. From listening to the company officials, they seem to be rather supportive of the troops and the American position. While the French are generally anti-american, there are still those who remain our friends. Let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. |
| Posted by: Paolo 2003-03-29 01:12:35 |
| #9 Paolo, if that French company loses the business, another company will rise to the occasion. The money does not just go "poof." Any boycott of French companies is directly translated into support for other companies, which should be w/in the Coalition. This is a global economy, and we can very easily get rid of the French without pain. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2003-03-28 16:27:43 |
| #8 Gaddammit! How can they expect a man to go into combat without a heapin' helpin' of escargot? |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-03-28 15:01:18 |
| #7 Sodexho is huge. I went down to the cafeteria in my building (I never eat there, food sucks) because I was just curious, and guess who runs it? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-28 13:57:59 |
| #6 Everybody e-mail your support: http://www.house.gov/kingston/contact.htm mailto:jack.kingston@mail.house.gov |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-28 11:58:56 |
| #5 Did I mention he's my congressman? I did? Did I mention I voted for him? Head for my website for my tribute... Paul, it's not $88 Mil. It's Eight hundred and eighty one million green ones. If Dar's right, that amounts to 17.9% of revenues. That'll put one BIG hole in their pocketbook. Here's hoping it puts an even bigger hole in their surrender monkey butts. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-03-28 11:53:16 |
| #4 Why the hell are we doing buisness with these people,I'm sure there are U.S.companys that would jump on that contract. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-03-28 11:48:23 |
| #3 $88million---not small potatos---Representative Kingston---he's da Man! Nice work Congressman! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-28 11:06:28 |
| #2 Sodexho Marriott is one HUGE international company--a search on Google for "Sodexho" will reveal US, Canada, UK, Poland, and many other countries with Sodexho branches. One site claims $4.9 BILLION in revenues in North America. Many companies, including Microsoft, use Marriott catering and staff in their cafeterias. |
| Posted by: Dar Steckelberg 2003-03-28 11:05:10 |
| #1 HOT DIGGETY DAMN! This is a hell of a lot more significant than "freedom fries" in MY book. *swells with pride* Jack Kingston is MY Congressman! I'm glad for EVERY penny I spent to get him re-elected. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-03-28 10:36:20 |