Martin,
Thanks for clarifying your post. Sorry if I felt a little too sensitive over what you posted, I guess I misinterpreted it. It's just that in recent history, especially because of the Iraqi situation, I've heard so many unjustified negative comments on my country, I just thought this was another one.
Regarding the supposed freedom that needed to be restored in Europe during those two world wars, I can only but understand your father's feelings. My late grand-greatfather fought during WWI and believed in it as well. I still have childhood memories of his war tales and it certainly was the feeling among most of his fellow companions. My greatfather fought hardly in the Resistance against the Nazis and their French supporters, and the idea of freedom certainly was behind his engagement.
Your statement, the way I understood it, could be interpreted as a denial of existence of freedom in Europe and particularly in France, something I've heard countlessly from some (especially from some Americans, and again I insist, just some of them) who think that their country is the only possible depository of freedom, whether of speech or of any other aspect bound to it.
Now if, as an history graduate yourself and as such having a little more perspective on these subjects, you implied that defending freedom was just a small part of foreign involvement in those two wars, then I agree 100%.
This concludes this misunderstanding as far as I'm concerned, on the public side at least. Let's get back to discussing ships, which is the sole and only purpose of this board.
Best regards,
Nicolas Roughol