What are the most powerful and influental countries?

[Traianvs]

I second Heraclitus and Asher's posts. Israel shouldn't be high up on the list, because it's only meaningful because a bunch of Jews in other countries lobby for it very intensely, but as a country itself its nothing more than your average Western-European country.

[Traianvs]

Fortunately we so overspend on military we are still better than any other.

Good job soldier!

[Heresson]

I second Heraclitus and Asher's posts. Israel shouldn't be high up on the list, because it's only meaningful because a bunch of Jews in other countries lobby for it very intensely, but as a country itself its nothing more than your average Western-European country.

Having a powerful lobby actually could get it high in the ranks, but this country has virtually closed doors to the most of the Muslim World and Africa, which means it can't play a major role in the world. Also, it's too small.

[Heresson]

lol the current cluster**** the US is in, in the ME has little to do with Israel. Israel opposed the US invasion of Iraq, for example, and has almost nothing to do with Afghanistan.

It isn't in Israeli nor American interest to let Israel any visible influence or presence in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[Patroklos]

The EU has the largest GDP on the planet (and it will only expand with the inclusion of new states in the years to come). If we are throwing reality out the window we may just as well be consistent with our alternative reality.

Thats nice, but it does not a country make. I might as well call NAFTA, NATO, OPEC and OAS countries.

BTW Just because something isn't a country dosen't mean it isn't a factor or power player.

You wrote the OP, did you forget what you titled it?

The EU is much like the Holy Roman Empire

Yes, it is an ineffective and mortibund entity leaching off its member states just like the HRE.

The HRE wasn't a country either.

But lets not forget that no one (including the CIA factbook) dosen't deny that it is more than just a free trade zone.

I fail to see how that changes the fact that it is not a coutnry.

[Az]

It isn't in Israeli nor American interest to let Israel any visible influence or presence in Iraq or Afghanistan.

I have no idea what is the connection, but my point was that the Israeli defense establishment was against the Iraq invasion. The facade of supporting the US was just that, a facade, in order to prevent the americans from losing any face because of us.

[notyoueither]

Hans Island!

[SlowwHand]

USA
Great Britain
Germany
Japan
China

[Heraclitus]

USA
Great Britain
Germany
Japan
China

Why are you putting the British second?

[dannubis]

Because they are the counrty after the US that is most influential, due to either historical ties or the concentration of financial institutes in London.

Russia is up there and China as well.

Third tiers could be Japan and Germany due to the size of their GDP. However because of historic reasons and due to the fact that both of them are export oriented economies they are much more likely to undergo what other countries decide to do.

[Sirotnikov]

I note that israel is absent from your list... yet they have directly or indirectly determined your entire ME foreign policy and the cluster**** that is the war on terror.

Eh?
It's not like I would mind seeing Israel in the all-important most-greatest powerful countries list, but you're extremely misinformed.

Israel had nothing to do with the Iraq invasion. Infact, Israel warned the US of possible poor outcome, and told them there is a low chance for WMDs and a low threat from them anyway.

Beyond Iraq, the US foreign policy includes protecting it's assets and allies, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Which is why the US is countering such forces as Iranian Hezbullah, and Palestinian Hamas.

So your exaggeration of Israel's role is misinformed, at best.

[Sirotnikov]

edited out.
got carried away in thread jack.


my 2 cents:


US
China
Russia
UK
Japan, Germany, France
Saudi Arabia
EU (spain/italy/austria etc)
India
Canada, Brazil
Qatar (or some other island there)
Turkey,Egypt
Iran? Israel?

(don't know enough about africa nonsense)

[Heraclitus]

Because they are the counrty after the US that is most influential, due to either historical ties or the concentration of financial institutes in London.

Russia is up there and China as well.

Third tiers could be Japan and Germany due to the size of their GDP. However because of historic reasons and due to the fact that both of them are export oriented economies they are much more likely to undergo what other countries decide to do.

You have got to be kidding me, the UK has been mostly irelevant since the end of WW2. Its only slightly more important than France, and this is only because of its alliance with the US.

[dannubis]

Eh?
It's not like I would mind seeing Israel in the all-important most-greatest powerful countries list, but you're extremely misinformed.

Israel had nothing to do with the Iraq invasion. Infact, Israel warned the US of possible poor outcome, and told them there is a low chance for WMDs and a low threat from them anyway.

Beyond Iraq, the US foreign policy includes protecting it's assets and allies, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Which is why the US is countering such forces as Iranian Hezbullah, and Palestinian Hamas.

So your exaggeration of Israel's role is misinformed, at best.

Israel is a VERY important factor in the schism between the west and the arab world. Or at least it is used as one. In this role I would say its very existence has determined powerplay in the middle east.

[dannubis]

You have got to be kidding me, the UK has been mostly irelevant since the end of WW2. Its only slightly more important than France, and this is only because of its alliance with the US.

Nope, unfortunately a lot of people still listen to the rosbifs...