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Subject: How rank France in world power?
french stratege    4/23/2005 9:33:41 PM
o be a world power means to master a number of power tools and capacities: Economic power: France have fourth largest economy in world, even UK GNP seems on a par.But in fact France has a slightly bigger GDP in Puchasing Power Parity, a stronguer industry as its share in GNP is bigger, and especially in military usable industry (automotive, steel, microelectronic ...). Its trade balnce is positive unless US and UK.We benefit of Euro in sense that in a crisis, Euro would not go down like pound.Our financial market is less sensitive to crisis than UK. Then our saving, gold and currencies reserves are higher. France has 43 companies in the WORLD FORTUNE 500 ranking, one more than Germany and much more than UK or Italy.For example UK industry is stronguer than France in prescription drug but you can not use that for war. War potential: US: 100; Japan: 55, Germany ,40, France 25, UK 20. Diplomatic influence: should I said that French diplomatic network is world class and second to US only (with better skills).That our foreign aid is higher than UK or US in GNP %? That we have VETO right in UNO? That our cultural influence is world second after US? Thank to our industry we can substitute to US or Russia to deliver to a friend the whole set of weapons INDEPENDANTLY (from airfighters to subs via tank or C4ISR) and can shift power balance in any area.WE ARE THE SECOND WESTERN INDEPENDANT SUPPLIER AFTER US FOR CAPACITIES. We are the only Euro nation to have the full INDEPENDANT world reco network which is second to USA. RECO satellites, Telecom satellites (bandwith second to US), ELINT satellites, DSP satellites (in 2008), METEO satellites, spy ships, 30 ELINT ground station in word with 2 dedicated to spy US satelites, SPACE SURVEILLANCE RADAR. An unkown assets is that we are the only nation with US which can produce any currencies in world (to make false money in perfect imitation - we are the best in Europe for money technology) Sensitivity to energy imports: Our oil company is fourth in world and we have ROBUST assets in non middle east areas like Gabon, Angola etc...We produce our oil industry heavy equipment and our industry is world second of US in this field. Our nuclear energy production is world second in world and give us independance on electricity.Our influence in Africa secure minerals imports. Sensitivity to embargo: France has world class semiconductors facilities and hold the more advanced Europe wafer fab (joint venture between Motorola, SGS Thomson and Philips). Our auto maker build 7,5 million car /year, we have Airbus main designed office in France and so on...Our industry is pretty well balanced and produce almost everything at world class. Then we are the only Euro nation with a launch pad and Euro leader in Space.So we do not depend on US or other nation. We produce the second set of weapons after US and we do not depend of any supplier. Military technology: we are mastering everything form nukes to C4ISR with a technological level recognised by US as world second (while UK is close after).Of course neither Japan, Germany or China enjoy such an advantage. Nukes: our nuclear force are world THIRD and we produce precise counterforce weapons INDEPENDANTLY.Good second strike ability.400 warheads vs 200 for UK.(and we have stored weapons we can reactivate).3 SSBN can strike anywhere in the world. Military skills: our war academy is renown with US and UK.Israelis send some generals to perfectionate. Should I remember that Saudia Arabia asked French to crush rebellion in Mecka and not to US or UK?Saudis special forces and military stalled two weeks before asking France help.We did it in two days with 70 commandos leading Saudi commando (and using combat nerve gaz killing 2000 rebels). Mitary capacities. Second world force projection from 2007 to 2012 as a single Cdg with 3E2C and 40 Rafales, protected by 19 frigates with top ASW, 6 SSN and 3 Horizon with ASTER 30 outperform anything UK have: Indeed UK has 2 ACTIVE small carriers (with limited self protection and 60 harriers), they will not have any BVR fighters with FA2 retirement, and not antiship capacity since Harrier GR7/9 have NO RADAR!! UK air force has an handfull of non operational EF supported by 63 old Tornado ADV.No medium range airdefense for their troops. They have more SSN (soon reduced to 8 only) and military transport but we rely on civilian military prepared transports from french companies and our overseas bases to accumulate locally . ONLY US, UK, Russia and Japan has a sub force strong enough to put in danger our fleet. In fact we can crush any OPFOR airforce of 100 SU27/Mig29 (plus old MIGS or SU) without AWAC, ONLY relying on Cdg (even I agree a second would be better and needed). Most of nation do not have ENOUGH YAKHONT equivalent missiles to crush our naval force until our second carrier is operational. UK is unable to do that and in 2010 only 4 T45 will have entered service
 
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gixxxerking    Not that I would, But I could, and nobody would expect it.   4/30/2005 12:51:52 AM
By hugging the North African coast, Egyptian Tu-16 Armed with Kelt Missiles or Free Fall Bombs could Reach Southern France and Strike the CdG or other military assets. Depending on the level of suprise it could have devastating effects. Sort of like a Arab "Doolittle Raid". But if one French vessel was sunk or set afire in port the psycological value would be priceless! Imagine catching the French Navy prior to departure or the cargo and troop ships!
 
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EW3    RE:As a tanker you'll apreciate this.   4/30/2005 1:18:34 AM
http://www.sandia.gov/RADAR/images/rtv_tanks_4in.jpg, these are M47s seen from an SAR with a 4in spot. If you save the image and view it with windows image and fax viewer (or photo shop) you may never want to get in a tank again. This is what is in the public domain, assume the less than public is 2-3x better.
 
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gixxxerking    RE:As a tanker you'll apreciate this.   4/30/2005 1:44:23 AM
 
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gixxxerking    RE:As a tanker you'll apreciate this.   4/30/2005 1:49:01 AM
 
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gixxxerking    Nevermind   4/30/2005 1:50:12 AM
The images are freaking awesome!
 
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EW3    RE: gixxx   4/30/2005 2:08:25 AM
In two years or so these pics will be taken from space. Just last night a Titan-4 put a new Air Force "package" in space. The standing joke is that visually they can read the print on a pack of cigarettes from a 400 mile orbit. I guess they can look at the serial number on your tank and pick on you personally ;)
 
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gixxxerking    RE: gixxx   4/30/2005 2:44:20 AM
There is a lot of "stuff" up there now that can do a lot of "things". And I dont just mean take pictures either. Until they can drop satellite guided apricots on my tank however, I'm not worried about it...lol.
 
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Agammenon    french stratege   4/30/2005 6:34:40 AM
French stratege, you said "France has 43 companies in the WORLD FORTUNE 500 ranking, one more than Germany and much more than UK or Italy.For example UK industry is stronguer than France in prescription drug but you can not use that for war". Are you sure? I just found this info. The UK has 167 companies in Europe's top 600 - more than any other country. Germany has 91 and France 84. The combined value-added for UK companies is £347billion, 15pc up in the past year. The rest of the European companies increased value-added by an average of 5pc. The 167 British companies are more efficient than their peers, returning 163pc of their costs. The rest of the European 600 makes 144pc. In terms of labour productivity, UK and European firms are broadly equal. How do you explain the difference?
 
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tiff    earth to planet FS   4/30/2005 7:18:13 AM
"Then our saving, gold and currencies reserves are higher." ??? UK foreign reserves 41850 Million USD France foreign reserves 30187 Million USD And of course there is the small question of approximately £117 Billion worth of oil and gas floating around under the North sea. How much does France have by the way?
 
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tiff    RE:earth to planet FS   4/30/2005 7:30:47 AM
"Sensitivity to embargo:" Oil and gas dear boy, black gold you don't have any, you import it. Lots of it. I would especially hold this in mind if you are going to go trotting around in Egypt and Libya. As you quite rightly point out France is an exporter of manufactured goods. "Our auto maker build 7,5 million car /year." Embargo = A lot of French farmers sat around in brand new Renault Clio's munching on garlic and guzzling their own wine because they can't export it. + 50% unemployment.
 
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