Article

2004-07-05 Europe

France could defend EU in case of attack

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Posted by Barbara Skolaut bskolaut@hotmail.com 2004-07-05 1:08:20 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Knowing the French, their nukes would probably all explode on the launch pad. And France's military capability ranks on par with with Rhode Island's.

Posted by Silentbrick 2004-07-05 1:15:29 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:15:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 This is nutso! This is Vichy France II with nukes! Whom shall they be defending? The Germans?

Insane!

My Paris trip is on hold once again lol

(GREAT POSTING!)

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-07-05 1:17:12 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:17:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Watch the Little Roadie jokes :)

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-07-05 1:18:03 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:18:03 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 ..Now, for what it's worth - the French have good, solid equipment, and their troops - at least the ones I've worked with - were competent and professional, if damned cocky.
OTOH, when they allow their systems to be politicized, you get things like the Charles DeGaulle, and if their government doesn't give a damn, you know the troops won't either.
The French government - if they could - would happily divest itself of all but a corporal's guard for a military tomorrow. The only reason they have nuclear weapons in the first place is because, quite simply, DeGaulle wanted to be able to play both sides against the middle and as a hedge against the Boche coming back across the Rhine. Now that neither option is likely, the French keep them for the same reason that Iran, the Norks, and others want them: because they think it means they are a Great Power(TM).

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2004-07-05 1:23:23 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:23:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 France: Force de Crappe

Posted by rich woods 2004-07-05 1:24:50 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:24:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Mark E, it's not a slam on Rhode Island. It's a slam on France. Tiny Rhode Island can equal all of France. That's some serious butt kicking power for a small state.

Posted by Silentbrick 2004-07-05 1:27:05 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:27:05 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie - instant Nobel Peace Prize Candidate!

Posted by .com 2004-07-05 1:29:01 PM|| 2004-07-05 1:29:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

*Takes deep breath, sips tea, calms down*

Okay, now who is reassured by the fact that France is claiming that it will defend itself with nuclear weapons if it is attacked? Does this really seem like a bright idea?

Posted by The Doctor 2004-07-05 2:48:36 PM|| 2004-07-05 2:48:36 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 The question is, "Who do we have to pay and how much is it going to cost us to get a major blatantly state-sponsored attack on French soil to happen soon?"

Posted by AzCat 2004-07-05 3:00:50 PM|| 2004-07-05 3:00:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 I'm hate to spit in the soup... but what happens if the US is allowed to built 12 ABM silos in Hungary?

Posted by Shipman 2004-07-05 5:02:10 PM|| 2004-07-05 5:02:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Question: I know the Phrench have some kind of nuclear weapons, but what about a delivery system? I don't think they have missiles able to reach the US (but could be wrong) - not sure about Israel.

If their "delivery system" is slung under a jet, they might as well stay home. They're not going to get anywhere near either us or Israel.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-05 5:17:20 PM|| 2004-07-05 5:17:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Barbara, I think they have missiles capable of reaching the East Coast, as well as ballistic missile submarines.

Posted by Phil Fraering 2004-07-05 5:29:41 PM|| 2004-07-05 5:29:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 #12 Phil - Ah. Now I know why they (and their 5th Column allies here in the States) are so against the missile defense shield.

Better get that thing up and running. And offer it to Israel, too.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-05 5:41:07 PM|| 2004-07-05 5:41:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 I was wondering the same thing,Barbara.I doubt they have land based ICBMs,does Fwrance have a Boomer.

Posted by Raptor 2004-07-05 6:06:47 PM|| 2004-07-05 6:06:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 Who on earth is going to attack or invade Europe?

The only threat for the next century is Islamic terrorism fostered in their own suburbs.

Why even discuss this issue? What a waste of breath!

Posted by Prince Abdullah 2004-07-05 7:14:40 PM|| 2004-07-05 7:14:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 Delivery systems? Doesn't Alliot-Marie have a fleet of plastic helicopters?

Posted by Wuzzalib 2004-07-05 7:16:19 PM|| 2004-07-05 7:16:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 As usual, France will ask Germany for delivery help....can you say Vichy? I knew ya could

(/Mr .Rogers)

Posted by Frank G 2004-07-05 7:18:50 PM|| 2004-07-05 7:18:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 France has 48 missiles on 4 nuc subs with 6000km range. Aircraft and ASMP missiles are not a concern for the US. Table of French Nuclear Forces, 2002

It will be interesting what European nations and Russia's reaction will be when Iran goes nuclear. Iran's current missiles (6000km range) can target most of Europe and European Russia. It may be fitting, since they seem hell bent on making sure the Iranian mullahs have nuclear weapons as soon as possible. European nuclear destruction in 10 minutes. Allah Akbar and back to the future (7th century that is).

Posted by ed 2004-07-05 7:37:30 PM|| 2004-07-05 7:37:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#19 The French have such a stellar record defending others:

1938 Czechoslovakia
1939 Poland
1940 Themselves
1954 Dien Bien Phu
1962 Algeria
2003 Their old folks

I feel safe now (probablement)

If it weren't for that secret arrangement the French had with the Soviets. In case of a war the French would not fight the Soviets as long as they would not cross the Rhine. If they did the French would turn Germany (but not Russia) into a nuclear wasteland to stop the Soviets.

They would have wept for us (like the walrus).

Good thing that Adenauer knew better.

Posted by True German Ally 2004-07-05 7:44:22 PM|| 2004-07-05 7:44:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#20 TGA, I'd heard of that deal too. Pfeh.

This statement BTW is aimed at several audiences at once -- among them, those who think the US is an important force for Europe's defense.

Of course, if the rest of Europe trusts them, well .....

Posted by rkb 2004-07-05 7:48:23 PM|| 2004-07-05 7:48:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#21 Silentbrick, I know, I was trying to throw some humour on this thing :)

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-07-05 9:59:52 PM|| 2004-07-05 9:59:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#22 They will fart in the enemies "generale directione". Or tant zem again!

Posted by 98zulu 2004-07-05 11:07:11 PM|| 2004-07-05 11:07:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#23 In the 80s, French military doctrine was that they'd spend their nuclear bombs on Germany and Switzerland in order to stop Soviet troops from reaching their border. They had missiles hidden in extinct volcanoes (Auvergne?) -- and these could NOT fly further than Germany and Switzerland. The jokes in Switzerland were that the real enemy was France, not the Soviet Union.

Sort of a ligne Maginot that involved the annihilation of civilians in neighbouring countries.

Posted by Kalle (kafir forever) 2004-07-05 11:40:21 PM|| [http://radio.weblogs.com/0103811/categories/currentEvents/] 2004-07-05 11:40:21 PM|| Front Page Top

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