Strait from Al Franken:

On yesterday's "The O'Reilly Factor."

O'REILLY: Time now for "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day." A new poll taken in France says relations between Americans and the French are not good, "pas bon." The poll says 70 percent of French citizens feel the USA is not a loyal ally, and 56 percent of Americans believe France is not a reliable friend. We are among that 56 percent and are boycotting French goods and services, which is part of the reason the French don't like us. But we'll remember, we'll lift the boycott if French officials can point to one thing they're doing to help the USA in the war on terror. So far they can't, which might be ridiculous. C'est la vie.

French commitment to OEF has been strong and resolute since the beginning of the operation.
The French liaison team to HQ USCENTCOM was established on 10 October 2001 to coordinate all matters/issues related to the French contribution to OEF.
As soon as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1378 was issued on 18 October 2001, France forces were sent in Afghanistan. Since October 21, French reconnaissance aircraft and air tankers have contributed to the air campaign. They were reinforced between the winter of 2001 and the summer of 2002 by French naval aviation forces and French air force transport planes and fighters. Indeed, France was the first country, along with the United States, to have flown bombing missions over Afghanistan in direct support of American ground troops. French forces arrived on the ground as early as 2 December 2001, securing Mazar-e-Sharif. In total, some 5,500 French service members were sent to the region.

But even if the military's own information proves O'Reilly's a liar, maybe we don't want his French boycott called off: French imports and exports have actually increased since O'Reilly called for a boycott in March 2003. According to the US Census Bureau:

Imports from France

2000 - 29.8 Billion
2001 - 30.4 Billion
2002 - 28.2 billion
2003 - 29.2 billion
2004 - 31.6 billion

Exports to France
2000 - 20.36 billion
2001 - 19.86 billion
2002 - 19.0 billion
2003 - 17.05 billion
2004 - 21.2 billion

Previously: O'Reilly: Cut It Out.

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