[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by BBKing

I thought that had been mythbusted? Just because a Russian says he'll sell you something doesn't mean he's telling the truth. Plenty of conmen came out of the Cold War.



The French *were* in NATO and obviously engage in exercises with NATO countries, since most of their neighbours are in it, even Luxembourg. They did, however, pull out of the full on military aspect many years ago in a cloud of Gallic hauteur. The main consequence of this is that they don't let NATO troops deploy to their soil or supply troops for NATO missions, plus their completely independent nuclear deterrent.

However, one of the five military bigwigs/warlords who made this rather alarming statement is French (the others are a Yank, Boche, Cloggie and Rosbif), which implies it's a political rather than military statement. Mr. Sarkozy, on the other hand, is currently flying round the world giving people nuclear reactors.



OTAN of course is NATO in French, but the Belgians count as French speaking, as do the Canadians. NATO's SHAPE HQ is in Belgium, of course, moving there after the French withdrawal so you can actually guard it with NATO troops, which the French of course wouldn't allow on their soil.

The other surprising omission from NATO is Austria, which is after all buying Eurofighters. Perhaps they're a little reluctant after the last time one of their boys tried to show a bit of military leadership.

I think I covered France's situation with:

Being cheese eating surrender monkeys, they only deal with the political side of NATO rather than the dangerous bits.