 |
|
03-11-2003, 07:38 AM
|
#1 |
|
Diamond Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,788
  |
The following is taken off of today's AP wire. It seems that some European Union members seem to be worrying about the dubious security benefits they accrue by being allied with a great power like France. I guess that in a crisis, an alliance with France might be worthwhile if the threatened country had a critical need for defensive ferry boats...
Portugal: U.S. 'best way' to have security APInternational Desk Published 3/10/2003 8:17 PM LISBON, Portugal, March 10 (UPI) -- Portugal is siding with the United States on Iraq because Washington was "Portugal's best way to ensure national security," a Portuguese Cabinet minister said Monday. Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz told state radio that if Portugal were attacked, "it would be unlikely France and Germany would come to our rescue." His comments to RDP Antena 1 radio were monitored by the British Broadcasting Corp. He said: "Let us suppose Portugal, proper or its archipelagos, faced a threat, who would come to our rescue? The European Commission, France, Germany? "I think it would be NATO who would come to our rescue, in other words, it would be the U.S., no one else would defend us. For instance, during the 1996 mission in Bosnia, operations took place with the support of 20 satellites, of which only one was European," and the remainder belonged to the U.S. "If we were attacked, is that what they would offer to defend us? How curious is this: in Bosnia, when we were called to send soldiers urgently to that region, the U.S. had C-17 and C-130 planes, and France leased ferry boats, which during the summer are employed in tourist services to Corsica. "Is this how we are supposed to project our forces in Europe? Are they planning to defend us with ferry boats? I cannot envisage the European Commission protecting us from an attack in which highly developed weapons were employed," the foreign minister said.  French Battle-Ferry 'DeGaulle' patrolling off the coast of Marseille
__________________
What has the sheep to bargain with the wolf? |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
03-11-2003, 10:45 AM
|
#2 |
|
Diamond Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 3,705
|
How does any self-respecting soldier man his post in such a vessel?!!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 11:12 AM
|
#3 |
|
Boom goes the Dynamite!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,008
|
<< How does any self-respecting soldier man his post in such a vessel?!! >> toot toot! |
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 03:54 PM
|
#4 |
|
Diamond Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,788
|
Traditionally, in times of impending crisis, American presidents have always asked, "Where is the nearest Carrier?"...
In similar circumstances, the French president can ask his admirals, "Where is the nearest ferry flotilla?"...  French Ferry's-of-the-line at the 29th Annual Naval Review, Marseille, 2001 (Sorry for the repeated posting of ferry pictures everyone, I just can't stop guffawing thinking about the French defending their allies with the friendly little craft [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img])
__________________
What has the sheep to bargain with the wolf? |
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 07:10 PM
|
#5 |
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 18
|
Fortunately, France knows a better way to spend there tax dollars than pumping zillions in the military.
For some reason there is no need for France to have such an oversized military apparatus. Maybe because France does not piss off other countries all over the world?? |
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 07:15 PM
|
#6 |
|
Guru
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 13,208
|
<< Fortunately, France knows a better way to spend there tax dollars than pumping zillions in the military. For some reason there is no need for France to have such an oversized military apparatus. Maybe because France does not piss off other countries all over the world?? >> Probably more likely the fact that the US would not ALLOW France to be invaded. Despite France's recent actions, they are under the umberella of US military protection. But we could always try an experiment. Lets see how long France could remain independent if the US withdrew its military protection. I'd say the over/under would be 7 years. |
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 07:39 PM
|
#7 |
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 12
|
Howdy everyone. I finally decided to join after lurking here.
<< Fortunately, France knows a better way to spend there tax dollars than pumping zillions in the military. For some reason there is no need for France to have such an oversized military apparatus. Maybe because France does not piss off other countries all over the world?? Fortunately, France knows a better way to spend there tax dollars than pumping zillions in the military. >> This isn't true. According to the CIA's latest published figures France spends $46.5 billion annually on their military budget. This is enough to rank France as the third highest military spender in the world by total dollar amount behind only the United States and Japan. For France this amounts to 2.57% the annual GDP. Although Japan spends more money, their spending only comprises 1% of their annual GDP. For the "oversized" US military, this is just 3.2% of the GDP, or only 20% more than France by percentage. While the figure for the US has increased in the last year, we still do not spend a significantly larger percentage on the military than France, despite a far larger base commitment to our worldwide forces. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/fr.html |
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 07:45 PM
|
#8 |
|
Diamond Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,788
|
Great stats, great link, great post Voronwe...
Welcome and thanks, I didn't know that CIA factsbook existed...
__________________
What has the sheep to bargain with the wolf? |
|
|
|
|
03-11-2003, 09:19 PM
|
#9 |
|
Guru
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 17,057
|
<< Fortunately, France knows a better way to spend there tax dollars than pumping zillions in the military. For some reason there is no need for France to have such an oversized military apparatus. Maybe because France does not piss off other countries all over the world?? >> Care for a retraction?
__________________
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. |
|
|
|
|
03-12-2003, 02:00 AM
|
#10 |
|
Guru
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: California
Posts: 16,670
|
I'll sleep better tonight knowing my family that still lives near Lisbon is protected by Ferry boats.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
03-12-2003, 09:38 AM
|
#11 |
|
Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,195
|
<< According to the CIA's latest published figures France spends $46.5 billion annually on their military budget. >> It's expensive to add high-speed reverse and a cheese table to ferry boats. |
|
|
|
|
03-12-2003, 01:50 PM
|
#12 |
|
Guru
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 17,057
|
<< << According to the CIA's latest published figures France spends $46.5 billion annually on their military budget. >> It's expensive to add high-speed reverse and a cheese table to ferry boats. >> Don't forget all the high quality running shoes they buy. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
__________________
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. |
|
|
|
|
03-12-2003, 02:00 PM
|
#13 |
|
Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,195
|
and buying cologne instead of soap.
|
|
|
|
 |
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»
Linear Mode
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:43 PM.