Although it should be noted France's problem has always been political. When the politicians step out of the way the French armed forces (both covert and overt) are truly capable. For instance, when GreenPeace was acting the fool and making a big deal of French nuclear tests, the French simply sent frogmen to scuttle the GreenPeace ship. Also the French have been doing quite a bit in parts of West Africa, as well as in Afghanistan. In the war against terror, no European country (unless one considers the Russians as such) even comes close to the powers and extent that the French system has against Jihadists. They make Guantanamo into a veritable Holiday Inn. The powers judges have against Islamic radicals are almost draconian, and nothing that would ever be allowed (say) in Britain. And talking about Britain - in terms of being cheese eating surrender monkeys, they have taken the leadership in that. When pirates took over a French boat the French special forces simply stormed in and killed them. When Iranians in a zodiac took over British sailors nothing happened, even though a naval ship was nearby. Stories coming out stated one of the sailors was crying for his iPod. Now the Brits have slashed their military budget, scuttled the Harrier, limited the numbers of Typhoons coming out, the Poseidon nuclear deterrence is constantly hanging by the skin of its teeth, and they will have to share an aircraft carrier with France (and are talking of doing something similar with submarines).
It is just that French political leadership has been a bit wishy-washy, but the armed forces are not.
Great analysis especially the part about legal powers to interrogate detainees in a...forceful way.
Interesting that the liberal trash media has nothing to say about that over here.
But, as you say, the problem has always been political.
I seem to recall a revolt by certain members of the armed forces over Algeria.
All of the military prowess comes to nothing if they give it away or don’t use it.
What are they going to do with that helo that looks like an upgraded Cobra knockoff anyway?
I also agree that the British are on the fast track to be virtually toothless & thank you for your post.
WWI was more of a coup de grâce than the root cause. Britain and Germany also lost their many of their bravest sons in the same meat grinder.
Yet within a single generation Germany was able to raise a trained, motivated and skilled army that darn near took over the world.
Britain was able to stop them. (OK, they had help, but still they had the resolve to stand fast even when they didn't)
France? not so much.
2 - Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by a female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare: "French armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."They blew their own brains out in the Revolution.