Sure, it was a joke, or a “joke.” Sort of. Kidding on the square. But it was stupid, and it took place in the context of ■■■■■■■■ on the French for not standing at attention to the beat of our war drums for an ill-conceived and ill-executed invasion that they were correct to oppose. It was a pointless, tone-deaf poke in the eye to an ally, especially at a time when the French military (Ney called them “so-called ally, France” ) was supporting us in Afghanistan. As a rep at the French embassy said at the time, "We are at a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues, and we are not focusing on the name you give to potatoes.” Hey–can’t you take a joke?
