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hc
Post Roaster
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 4545
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  Posted:
Jan 19, 2008 - 08:06 PM |
 
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| Post subject: France to build Mid East base. |
Vewy interesting. I'm thinking about how would this change the mess engineered by our MORAL LEADERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
French defence policy
En garde
Jan 17th 2008 | PARIS
From The Economist print edition
The significance of France's military base in the Gulf
FRANCE'S announcement this week that it is to open a military base in the United Arab Emirates could mark a strategic shift in its defence policy. It will be France's first permanent base in the Gulf, in a country where it has no colonial ties. By drawing its 400 troops from an existing base in Djibouti, it hints at a withdrawal from France's traditional African backyard. Moreover, coming in the middle of France's first full defence review for 14 years, it suggests a radical rethinking of the country's defence and security policy.
The future of French overseas military bases is one element under review. France now has around 5,000 soldiers in three permanent bases in Africa: Senegal, Gabon and Djibouti. It also has 2,600 soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire, and 1,100 on the ground in Chad soon to be joined by another 2,000 as part of a French-led European Union force. Ties of history keep French soldiers in Africa. But President Nicolas Sarkozy has told the defence review team to “construct the security and defence of tomorrow according to needs, not habits”.
Mr Sarkozy has pre-empted his own review's conclusions, not due till March, by announcing the Emirates base, just across the Gulf from Iran. It shows that the French are ready to move outside their traditional sphere and to match their military presence to strategic interests rather than colonial links. Although the base will be small, it also suggests that Mr Sarkozy, who has taken a tougher line on Iran than his predecessor, may be ready to take a bigger part in stabilising the region.
There could be more surprises to come. Jean-Claude Mallet, head of the defence review, says it aims to define a “new doctrine” of security and defence. Mr Sarkozy has told him nothing should be taboo. A white paper is due in the spring and legislation is planned by the summer.
One idea is that France should set up a National Defence and Security Council, loosely modelled on the American version, to co-ordinate domestic and foreign security. Another suggestion will be a commitment to maintain defence spending at about 2% of GDP, roughly the same as in Britain. Despite defence-spending increases, French military types complain about the lack of transport aircraft and the shoddy state of the helicopter fleet.
Perhaps the trickiest issue is France's role in NATO. It is a member, and participates in many NATO operations: one-third of the 10,000 French soldiers on missions abroad are under a NATO banner; a French general commands the NATO force in Kosovo. But since de Gaulle pulled France out of the alliance's integrated military command in 1966, it has had no say in NATO defence planning. Mr Sarkozy, who likes to make a splash and please the Americans in equal measure, has hinted strongly that France could soon rejoin fully.
Not, however, without one key condition: more progress on European defence. Mr Sarkozy, in short, wants the British to back European defence properly, and the Americans to stop distrusting this on the ground that it may be a rival to NATO.
The trouble is that Gordon Brown, Britain's prime minister, is in no hurry to pursue anything that has the slightest whiff of deeper European integration, especially with the EU's reform treaty still before the British parliament for ratification. Relations between Mr Sarkozy and Mr Brown are businesslike rather than warm. They may not be helped by the ostentatious love-in between Mr Sarkozy and Tony Blair, who spoke (in French) to rapturous applause at an event organised by the president's centre-right party last weekend. The French have found it hard to drum up support for the EU force in Chad: neither the British, who are stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, nor the Germans are sending any troops.
French officials are frustrated by the lack of British response to their hints about NATO. But it is hard to see room for compromise. Something less than a full-blown EU defence headquarters would not satisfy the French; anything too grand or NATO-duplicating would not get past the British. As one French official puts it, however, “Sarkozy will not accept no response. If he doesn't get agreement, he'll go somewhere else.” There is even talk of dealing directly with America, doubtless pleased with France's planned Emirates base. But it is hard to see that working in America's fraught election year.
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Click here to read the latest retarded PM Natalie sent me. Let's make her lose face and FINALLY leave this site. |
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p1atl10
Board Royalty
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6297
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Jan 19, 2008 - 08:53 PM |
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“Sarkozy will not accept no response. If he doesn't get agreement, he'll go somewhere else.” There is even talk of dealing directly with America, doubtless pleased with France's planned Emirates base. But it is hard to see that working in America's fraught election year.
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That's gotta hurt! |
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Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.....Dave Barry |
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babebibobu
LoopKicker
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 946
Status: Offline
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Jan 19, 2008 - 11:38 PM |
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Sarkozy is a puppet of the Lobby. And I noticed an error in the article: france is not capitalized anymore (one of the first decisions taken by Sarkozy). |
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I'm dancing with tears in my eyes... 'cause the girl in my arms is a boy |
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hc
Post Roaster
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 4545
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Jan 19, 2008 - 11:44 PM |
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babebibobu
LoopKicker
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 946
Status: Offline
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Jan 20, 2008 - 12:42 AM |
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Not that difficult to do! They sealed their relationship in Paris Disneyland... Now I heard they got married. Pathetic. |
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I'm dancing with tears in my eyes... 'cause the girl in my arms is a boy |
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babebibobu
LoopKicker
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 946
Status: Offline
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Jan 20, 2008 - 12:54 AM |
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For our French-speaking friends |
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I'm dancing with tears in my eyes... 'cause the girl in my arms is a boy |
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p1atl10
Board Royalty
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6297
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Jan 20, 2008 - 09:00 AM |
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At least he shags a hotty.
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Yup....she is!
Clinton, .....at the time the supposed most powerful man in the world?
Philanders and puts his politiucal life at risk with what?
Monica????
Jeesh! What a macaroon! |
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Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.....Dave Barry |
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bougie
Board Buddha
Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 13323
Location: Wuhan Hubei China
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Jan 20, 2008 - 09:48 AM |
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^ But they never had sexual relations .. 
[i guess she didn't swallow] |
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p1atl10
Board Royalty
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6297
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Jan 20, 2008 - 03:24 PM |
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^ Sold the "stained" dress for a pretty penny though.... |
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Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.....Dave Barry |
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