What are the most powerful and influential countries?

[VetLegion]

Israel folks, Israel. They are rich enough, smart enough and organized enough to do whatever they want (see how they got the Bomb) to whoever they want (see Uganda) whenever they want (see catching nazis till this day). Lean mean fighting machine. Plus, US does what they tell it to do

[orange]

In order I'd say...

United States
Great Britain and the commonwealth
Japan
Russia
Germany
France
China

[VetLegion]

France.. I dont think so.

They are too disunited.

It takes WILL to be superpower... ALL it takes is will, national consensus that yes, you are ready to sacrifice lot of money and effort to become one. I dont think French have it... Germans too, not any more.

Its difficult to be able to mobilise people these days.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Australia?

They only have half the population of Canada.

A quick glance at the cia-Worldfactbook proves they have 2/3s.

In any event, the Aussies (dispite some on this board) must have a pair of big brass ones to strong-arm Indonesia to grant East Timor Independance.

[KrazyHorse]

Seriously, Lonestar. They spend more per capita on their military, but it's still lower overall than us, and I don't see anybody nominating us into the world superpower position.

The Russians and Chinese are both much more powerful than Australia, as are Germany, Italy, Japan, etc.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Lonestar
In any event, the Aussies (dispite some on this board) must have a pair of big brass ones to strong-arm Indonesia to grant East Timor Independance.

They also have the backing of the UN and NATO...

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Seriously, Lonestar. They spend more per capita on their military, but it's still lower overall than us, and I don't see anybody nominating us into the world superpower position.

That's because Canada doesn't need to blow it's money on a large military. It doesn't have a large, agressive country next to it that outweighs it in population 10-to....

Oh wait, damn.

Point is, The Aussies never had 10% of it's armed might held hostage by a disgruntled shipping company. That is all.

[joseph1944]

A TV show I was watching tonight were talking about the Saudi Prince and G. Bush.
Saudi has GDP last year of $200. Billion. The US had a GDP of $10 Trillion even with the 9-11 event and the later slow down on the stock market. So on the ecom. side it may be hard for someone to catch us for a few more years.
On the military front anyone can build a hugh military, but will it be any good. Iraq was the forth largest in the world until Jan 15, 1991. Before Jan 15, China was no. 1, Russia was no. 2, the US was no. 3, and Iraq was no. 4.
Today I think China is still no. 1, but now I thing the US is no. 2, Russia is no. 3, who know who is no. 4, N. Korea?

[VetLegion]

Turkey has a standing army of over 500 000, so they may be it.

[Spiffor]

On the economy, USA and EU are equal in commercial bargainings (ca. same GDP, EU is unified in these talks). Militarily, the US will be outstanted in the middle term (20 years or so) by the rising China. But today, the US has no rivals when it comes to fiplomacy or military, even if it often needs support.

[David Floyd]

Vet, the NKs have 1.1 million and the SKs have over 650,000 - both ahead of Turkey.

[orange]

Finland!

(Christ, I'm surprised no one got THAT one yet!)

[KrazyHorse]

Orange, I'm going to have to remind you of the criterion you should apply :

If Canada could kick their ass, then they're not a powerful country.

[Al B. Sure!]

Germany and Japan are economically powerful (well Germany was before its economy has become tied into the EU), but they lack the military forces (and natural resources, despite their technological manufacturing) to be influential.


thanks

[notyoueither]

This thread is great... Thanks KH and Lonestar.

Canada vs Finland. Now there's an interesting Winter War.

'Honey, I'm home.'

That's nice dear. Did you have a good time?

'Funny thing happened. I thought we were going to fight a war, and then a hockey game broke out...'