re: #549 Cato the Elder

It’s going back a ways, but the French were pretty awesome soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars.

Of course, after Bonaparte made his rep, it helped that whole countries would surrender just at the rumor of his approach. His military genius consisted to a big extent of projecting an image of unbeatable military genius.

And he had plenty of troops from conquered nations: Italians, Germans, Poles, even an odd Mameluke or two.

When the Russians finally stood up to him at Borodino, then sat back and let him conquer Moscow unopposed, the Grande Armee fell apart like a bunch of boy scouts with an open keg in a cathouse.

I am sure you meant no disrespect to my Boy Scouts, many of whom are serving in the military. I would mention that the difference between the Boy Scouts and the French Army is the Boy Scouts have trained adult leadership, and are better shots.