A French tricolor supported by thin steel cables top and bottom.
The two outermost vertical bars of the flag are stitched to the central one and the cables with nichrome wire.
In the event of war being declared, a strong electrical current is passed through the nichrome, thereby burning through and detaching the outermost bars which will fall to the ground, leaving the central section still firmly attached to the flagpole.

A further refinement could be an extra nichrome wire in a fold in the central bar, that increases the size of the central section, to make intentions absolutely clear.
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 16 2012

The Bourbons beat me to it. http://en.wikipedia...wiki/Flag_of_France
[AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 16 2012]

Brave Bold Sir Robin http://img204.image...47/holygrail144.jpg
[Dub, May 19 2012]

[+]

"C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas le drapeau… "
-- 8th of 7, May 16 2012


Isn't the French flag already synonymous with surrender?
-- Alterother, May 16 2012


... and white on one side? {Ducks and runs}
-- Dub, May 17 2012


Actually, it should have a broad yellow streak down the back …
-- 8th of 7, May 17 2012


I think the French flag should be a chicken, on a green field, rampant.
-- UnaBubba, May 18 2012


Have I missed some major recent incident that has provoked this attack of paraloquastic stereotypicalism?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, May 18 2012


Only two World Wars. Now, how about you just pop back into your comfy armchair in the sun and I'll get you some bread crusts to toss to the ducks, [Sir Max]?
-- UnaBubba, May 18 2012


// I think the French flag should be a chicken//
What's that symbol they have on their Rugby shirts?
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 18 2012


"Lukewarm", and "Do not press". The "100% synthetic (moral) fibre" goes without saying.
-- 8th of 7, May 18 2012


Be nice. The French were smashed by the Germans at Verdun, and hadn't recovered by WWII.
-- UnaBubba, May 18 2012


//The French were smashed by the Germans at Verdun//
Don't forget they were still reeling from the battle of Sedan in 1870.
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 18 2012


And from Waterloo. And Agincourt. And dozens of other battles they've lost on or near their own soil.
-- Alterother, May 18 2012


Waterloo is in Belgium. (which makes the Waterloo-City line so remarkable)
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 18 2012


I know that, but had thought it was claimed by France at the time. It was actually part of the Netherlands then. Anno modified.
-- Alterother, May 18 2012


//how about you just pop back into your comfy armchair in the sun and I'll get you some bread crusts to toss to the ducks, [Sir Max]//

I never use my title, except when booking restaurant tables, but thanks.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, May 18 2012


//I think the French flag should be a chicken, on a green field, rampant. Wasn't that Brave Sir Robin's banner? [Linky]
-- Dub, May 19 2012


That's a historically innacurate comparison. The French have partially- undeserved reputation for surrendering under the slightest pressure, whereas Sir Robin never surrendered at all, he just bravely-ran-away-away.
-- Alterother, May 19 2012



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