List of French companies to boycott - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com

Mike Tx · 05-09-2003, 07:01 PM

(Please forward this list.) www.federalist.com

We now know that the French not only provided intelligence to
Iraq, compromising Operation Iraqi Freedom, they also provided
Saddam's key Ba'athist henchmen passports enabling them to flee
Iraq and escape war crimes prosecution for executing coalition
POWs and forcing Iraqi women and children to act as human shields.
Some companies on this list are American-based with American
employees. To avoid French products without compromising American
families, we encourage you to target only consumer goods labeled
"Product of France".

Air Liquide, Alcatel, Allegra (allergy medication), Aqualung
(including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest),
AXA Advisors Bank of the West (owned by BNP Paribas), Beneteau
(boats), BF Goodrich (owned by Michelin), BIC (razors, pens
and lighters), Biotherm (cosmetics), Black Bush, Bollinger
(champagne), Car & Driver Magazine, Cartier, Chanel, Cheese
labeled "Product of France", Chivas Regal (scotch), Christian
Dior, Christian Lacroix, Club Med (vacations), Culligan (owned by
Vivendi), Daniel Cremieux, Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods), DKNY,
Dom Perignon, Durand Crystal, Elle Magazine, Essilor Optical
Products, Evian bottled water, Fina gas stations and Fina Oil
(billions invested in Iraqi oil fields), First Hawaiian Bank,
George Magazine, Givenchy, Glenlivet (scotch), Hachette Filipacchi
New Media, Hennessy, Hermes, Jacobs Creek (owned by Pernod Ricard
since 1989), Jameson (whiskey), Krups (coffee and cappuccino
makers), Lancome, Le Creuset (cookware), L'Oreal (health and
beauty products), Louis Vuitton, Magellan Navigational Equipment,
Marie Claire, Martel Cognac, Maybelline, M

n567 · 05-09-2003, 08:25 PM

So friggin' stupid... I thought freedom fries was bad enough...

retired · 05-09-2003, 09:02 PM

If you think for one moment that I will give up Moet Champagne, well...............I don't think so! [Wink]

Niteshift · 05-09-2003, 09:26 PM

It's no secret that I'm no fan of the French.......

But you have to be careful with this sort of thing.

For example, Motel 6 is owned by a French cmpany. However, the hotels themselves are franchises. Some American invested his money and bought a franchise and is running it. If you boycott the hotel, you are hurting him as bad, if not worse, than the parent company that owns the chain. Same exact deal with Red Roof Inns.

I have noted that one company that is always left off of this list is General Electric. While they are not French owned by any means, they have a partnership with SNECMA, France called CFMI. CFMI is the world's largest supplier of jet engines. Those engines are used by nearly every major US airline, as well as by the US military.

I guess I like the sentiment of a boycott, but how realistic is it really?

Mike Tx · 05-09-2003, 09:38 PM

I don't know how realistic it is, and if we boycott some of these places maybe Americans will suffer. But, to the the second and third posters on this topic I say this: Go ahead and think it's stupid to boycott companies ran by people who pay money to a government that by its actions have helped kill US troops. I'd expect nothing less from you two.

[ 05-09-2003, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: Mike Tx ]

Niteshift · 05-09-2003, 09:45 PM

I can see it with companies that go directly back to France, but I have a tough time with some of the others.

I think the truly biggest impact would be with tourism. That is a LOT of money and it most directly impacts France. Some will argue it impacts the airlines, but I figure people will simply fly somewhere else, so they'll take a flight anyway.

retired · 05-09-2003, 11:28 PM

Mike,

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Tx:
I don't know how realistic it is, and if we boycott some of these places maybe Americans will suffer. But, to the the second and third posters on this topic I say this: Go ahead and think it's stupid to boycott companies ran by people who pay money to a government that by its actions have helped kill US troops. I'd expect nothing less from you two.

Did you expect more?

Hemtt · 05-10-2003, 12:32 AM

Nightshift said...

quote:
I think the truly biggest impact would be with tourism. That is a LOT of money and it most directly impacts France.

You mean people go there for fun?
I can't stand the place.

Will Coy

france is not important enough to warrant me protesting them.

J-WS6 · 05-10-2003, 12:44 AM

quote:
Black Bush

n567 · 05-10-2003, 01:28 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Tx:
I don't know how realistic it is, and if we boycott some of these places maybe Americans will suffer. But, to the the second and third posters on this topic I say this: Go ahead and think it's stupid to boycott companies ran by people who pay money to a government that by its actions have helped kill US troops. I'd expect nothing less from you two.

Yes, the two of us are rather fond of intelligent thought...

retired · 05-10-2003, 12:13 PM

I also couldn't give up my Grey Goose vodka!

CinaC · 05-10-2003, 12:18 PM

quote:
Go ahead and think it's stupid to boycott companies ran by people who pay money to a government that by its actions have helped kill US troops

I read once where Osama Bin Laden once only authorized attacks on US military installations, but then decided to start targeting US civillians on the logic that since they're paying taxes and supporting the actions of the US government which he dislikes, that made them valid targets of war.

Anyway, it just seems like the same bit of logic here, except as applied to boycotts, and not war.

[ 05-10-2003, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: CrazyinaJeep ]

Bill R · 05-10-2003, 01:01 PM

Mike, I understand where you're coming from. Unfortunately, it is often the case where boycotts would have more of an impact on innocent Americans than it would on the French though.

CinaC · 05-10-2003, 01:05 PM

You gotta make sure you hit that blue collar French worker who is struggling to support his family right where it counts: in his wallet! Doesn't matter that he didn't vote for Chiraq, he's French, and dammit, that makes him inferior. Hurt the little snail lover.

Niteshift · 05-10-2003, 02:00 PM

Doesn't matter that he didn't vote for Chiraq, he's French, and dammit, that makes him inferior. Hurt the little snail lover.

Now you're starting to catch on.

Mike Tx · 05-10-2003, 02:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CrazyinaJeep:
You gotta make sure you hit that blue collar French worker who is struggling to support his family right where it counts: in his wallet! Doesn't matter that he didn't vote for Chiraq, he's French, and dammit, that makes him inferior. Hurt the little snail lover.

That's right. If enough of the little snail lovers complain, then maybe the government will respond.

n567 · 05-10-2003, 04:44 PM

Because god damnit, if people don't think like us, they ought to suffer! We're only about freedom for ourselves! And don't let anyone say differant!

Oooooh, Sierra is French, that automatically omits Crazy and I from the boycott, can't give up our half life... *shakes head* nope nope.

Mike Tx · 05-10-2003, 05:34 PM

quote:
Because god damnit, if people don't think like us, they ought to suffer! We're only about freedom for ourselves! And don't let anyone say differant!

No, we should boycott some of them because they, the French government, gave aid to an enemy of our country and may have gotten Americans killed. Not that I expect you to care anything about US soldiers. I hear Canada's nice this time of year.

n567 · 05-10-2003, 06:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Tx:

quote:
Because god damnit, if people don't think like us, they ought to suffer! We're only about freedom for ourselves! And don't let anyone say differant!
No, we should boycott some of them because they, the French government, gave aid to an enemy of our country and may have gotten Americans killed. Not that I expect you to care anything about US soldiers. I hear Canada's nice this time of year.

What kind of aid? I've still not gotten a firm answer on this.

Mike Tx · 05-10-2003, 06:09 PM

Contact DefSec Rumsfeld, he can tell you. Or maybe Saddam Hussein, if he's not taking the dirt nap. Or maybe Blaque Jacques Shellaque?

Niteshift · 05-10-2003, 07:41 PM

n567, I don't know where you've been. The provision of intelligence and weapons by France to the Iraqi's has been on all the news channels I've been watching.

n567 · 05-10-2003, 07:54 PM

Ohhhh, I generally stick with drudgereport, and news.google...

The only things I've heard about are France possibly harboring some Iraqi leaders, and some other allegations about Iraq and France talking about America's stance towards Iraq.

Sig220Man · 05-10-2003, 08:00 PM

As much as I too dislike France, this boycott is going to have limited effect on French foreign policy.

Some products on the list aren't even sold in North America anymore, if ever. When was the last time you went down to your local Auto Row and looked at the latest Renaults and Peugeots? Peugeot left the US market in the very early 90's, and after Chrysler bought Jeep in the mid 80's, there was little reason to visit an AMC dealership (Renault owned AMC which owned the Jeep name). I also know of no FINA gas stations, at least in the west coast.

Nite is correct that for many of the remaining products on this list, you will do more harm to your fellow Americans than to the French. In addition to Motel 6, companies like Nissan and Michelin employ LOTS of Americans. Indeed Nissan's biggest sellers are made in a factory in Tennessee. It's no different than those Arabs and Europeans who boycott Coca Cola and McDonald's...while they are American owned, the products are supplied locally, using local labor.

Niteshift · 05-10-2003, 08:02 PM

Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and the 3 broadcast networks have all reported it.

Alas, the Russians were doing the same, even providing Saddam with intel notes Tony Blair provided during Security Council briefings.

retired · 05-10-2003, 08:02 PM

Mike,

I forgot to tmention that I won't give up my Mumms Champagne either! I don't drink Wild Turkey, so that is a good one to boycott!