Thank you for your comments petkow. I note that you have expressed your reservations, but I am pleased to see that you have done so in a measured way. I therefore do not wish to attack you for lacking a sense of humour, but I will take this opportunity to make some explanation.
Firstly, I did not actually make any selection of the stories: the three arrived together in an email from a friend.
Secondly, the favour towards Canadians is no national bias of mine, as I am not one.
Thirdly, I am aware of the sensitivity of mentioning Afghanistan, but that was only in one story out of the three, and I in no way made the post to make any political comment about that country.
I am not sure that you are correct about the sentiment expressed in the 3rd story. I took it myself to mean that the German troops were on the run, and there were no French authorities as the country had been under occupation.
Lastly, I am somewhat tired of the pressure to be 'politically correct' all the time, and quite enjoy a few national jokes ( especially at the expense of the French ! )
( Memories of Charles de Gaulle's "Non! non! non!" run deep, especially after we sheltered him in our country during the war. )