Text 28369, 46 rader
Skriven 2009-03-02 11:22:00 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
  Kommentar till text 28343 av Joe Delahaye (91085.fidonews)
Ärende: Re: Question
====================
JD> In any case. why would France want back into the military side?
 
The economics of running a military operation perhaps? Outsourcing.
 
JD> The reason I remember them getting out was
JD> because they wanted the A Bomb.
 
They already had them.
 
Remember at that time De Gaulle was the elected dictator ... ehr ... President.
There were times when he came on national French TV and always started his
speeches with "Fran‡aises, Fran‡ais". These speeches often lasted for hours,
without a teleprompter, without a script ... do you know the other guy in those
days who spoke to a crowd for 4 hours?
 
France objected against the dominance of the US in the military command
structure and wanted to be on a par with the US and the Brits. But that was
only the excuse, I think. What they really wanted was to be solely responsible
for their own national security and in command of their deterrent force. So
they have the A-bomb, they have nuclear subs able to deliver them worldwide.
 
But I think the economics of it all is becoming too expensive. Also without
coordination things are difficult to run as evidenced by that underwater
collission of a French and British nuclear sub in the Atlantic a fortnight ago.
There is military cooperation but no coordination. To avoid accidents there are
established areas per country for their nuclear patrols. But of course, if
everyone stays inside his designated zone, why the need for patrolling then?
 
JD> I was in Germany
JD> when they withdrew and we had to move our bases from France to Germany.
JD> Marville and Metz.  Grotenquin (sp) was already closed by that time I
JD> think
 
It caused quite some problems, also for the US with bases in France.
 
So NATO moved to Evere near Brussels at 2-3 miles from the airport and the
military command structure SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) is
housed at Casteau near mons, south of Brussels. There's a large American base
there now and when you go near it, it is as if you're in the US. The
neighbourhoods, the schools, the stores, the products ... all flown-in straight
from the US. No Wall-Mart yet though.
 
 \%/@rd

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