Jeb Babbin, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense from the Bush (41) Administration. I've also seen it attributed to Ross Perot.

“Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without an accordion player. You get to leave a lot of useless and noisy luggage behind.”

Of course, both men are right. There are many variations on the "Going to war without the French" line. The French don't get much respect in military circles, and they deserve even less. Here are a few:

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE EATING A BANANA SPLIT WITHOUT MUSTARD...!



GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE LIKE NOT HAVING TO STARCH YOUR UNDERWEAR!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT HAVING RIFLES DROPPED ON YOUR FEET...!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT BUILDING YOUR REVETMENTS OUT OF BRIE CHEESE!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT GOING SKINDIVING IN A '79 OLDSMOBILE CONVERTIBLE...!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT HAVING TO WATCH YOUR BACK!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY....!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT HAVING TO FIGHT IN VIETNAM....!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE NOT HAVING TO DRIVE A CITROEN!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE GERMANS, LIBYANS, EGYPT, CUBA, RUSSIA, CHINA, MASSACHUSETTS, GORE....ETC.!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE GOING TO WAR WITHOUT YOUR LAST CIGARETTE, A HOLDER, MUSTACHE WAX, AND A BLINDFOLD ALONG WITH YOUR DIARRHEA SUPPLEMENT!!!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE GOING GRIZZLY BEAR HUNTING WITHOUT A SOLID BACON BACKPACK!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE GOING SKY DIVING WITHOUT YOUR SAINT BERNARD!

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE GOING ON YOUR HONEYMOON WITHOUT YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW!