Many saw France's refusal to support the war in Iraq as a kiss-off of the US.Do they still see it that way?
And many jokes flew about helping France in WWII because they have no ability to defend themselves.Serious question: if regiments of crack troops and tanks had poured across the Mexican border in 1940 with overwhelming air support, driving across the entire country in 11 days to seize Washington DC and secure the coastlines, how would the US have done?
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1