During the height of the cold war, the old Soviet Union often taught its citizens, and even proclaimed to the world that it had invented everything, and discovered all the cures.  It was such a joke, that any fan of Star Trek can often hear Ensign Chekhov talking about something invented in Russia first.

Well, now since the old USSR is dead and gone, and the Russians have more important things to worry about instead of false claims of grandeur, someone had to step into the void left by the greatest story tellers.  And who better to step in?  I think France wants the job!

"Anti-Americanism has been part of the French culture since the French revolution," she (Barbara Lefebvre) said. "France has always considered that it set the example for democracy, that it was the home of human rights.

Kind of strange that a nation would try to delude itself so, when the truth and reality is undeniable.  Indeed, some would argue that the French are not even good examples of democracy today with its "Guilty until proven innocent" model of jurisprudence.

But regardless of whether you want to put the horse before the cart, or the cart before the horse, the reality is that America fought and won (with some help from France - for its own selfish reasons) Independence and established a democracy long before France got rid of its kings and emperors.

If you are going to lie, lie about something that is not easy to disprove!  At least the old Soviet Union lied about things that they could at least offer a persuasive argument that they were right.  The French are too stupid to do even that.  Maybe that is why the cant be a world power.  Genius is limited, but stupidity is limitless.