Napoleon's last laugh

“British Army under French orders,” booms the tabloid Daily Express, giving the new agreement between France and Britain to pool military resources a decidedly chilly reception. Was it not French Exocet missiles that sank so many British warships during the Falkland war, it asks. Commander John Muxworthy, of the UK National Defence Association, is even more sceptical: “This is no way to run a country’s defence. In World War Two we were supposed to be standing side by side with the French and then look what happened.” While broadly supportive of the new Entente Cordiale, The Times warns that “Anglo-French military co-operation has an inglorious history."The only unsuccessful military campaign conducted by Britain since 1945 was Suez, a disastrous joint venture with France and Israel.