Britain is world's 2nd-most powerful nation, says think tank

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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I've allways said to my friends that Americans lack the professionalism that Canadians carry, and best is defined as: in a most excellent way or manner
Canadians like Russ Williams, Robert Semrau, etc.? (there're always exceptions)

I think any developed country has a more or less professional military complement.
 

Icarus27k

Council Member
Apr 4, 2010
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It depends on what part of the USA we're talking about. USA is great.*





*Except that really filthy state. It knows who it is.
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
44,168
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USA
It depends on what part of the USA we're talking about. USA is great.*





*Except that really filthy state. It knows who it is.


Ooooo...which one?!?!

I love bashing other states.

After 9/11 a guy at work started arguing with a woman... a friendly argument and she said...

"Well Timothy McVeigh was from Michigan. Should we have bombed Michigan after he blew up that Federal Building?"

"Hell yeah we should have" my friend answered quickly "That's the first place we should have bombed... that and Connecticut."
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
44,168
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And so the story continues...

Fair lady, he said, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said the lady, for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween.

pardon. sorry about that. :roll:

Pardon? For what pray tell?

My cousin Westmoreland? No my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow;
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer the men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
 

Icarus27k

Council Member
Apr 4, 2010
1,508
7
38
Ooooo...which one?!?!

I love bashing other states.

After 9/11 a guy at work started arguing with a woman... a friendly argument and she said...

"Well Timothy McVeigh was from Michigan. Should we have bombed Michigan after he blew up that Federal Building?"

"Hell yeah we should have" my friend answered quickly "That's the first place we should have bombed... that and Connecticut."

Bombing it is our answer to every problem. It's like Roger Ebert said in his negative review of "Clash of the Titans": "When you have a Kraken, every small problem is an excuse to release it."
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
44,168
96
48
USA
Bombing it is our answer to every problem. It's like Roger Ebert said in his negative review of "Clash of the Titans": "When you have a Kraken, every small problem is an excuse to release it."

Eeeee yup. We do use that option quite a bit.
 

Bar Sinister

Executive Branch Member
Jan 17, 2010
8,252
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Edmonton
Finland: Can we Americans really affjord not to bomb them?

That is not a particularly unusual suggestion. A few years ago a Canadian comedian pretending to be a journalist taking a survey, asked Americans if they thought Saskatchewan should be bombed. A majority answered in the affirmative. Saskatchewan's crime? - the annual seal slaughter.
 

Simon Forest

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Apr 2, 2011
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Re: Britain is world's 2nd-most powerful nation, says think

Hey, if the U.S. really wanted to beat the crap out of any other two nations on the planet, they could do it. They have the technology, the nukes, the resources, the economic strength, and the manpower, if they really wanted to do it. The U.S. lost in Vietnam because they committed only a fraction of their resources to it; they could have blown the place back into the Stone Age if they'd really wanted to. But they didn't want to, and don't want to do that to anyone else either, for which we should all be grateful. Anyone who doubts that they could is deluded.

We should, in my view, be grateful that the U.S. is as sane and civilized as it is, and that its founding fathers were as wise as they were. They created institutions and safeguards that have protected their Great Republic from leaders who were stupid, ignorant, corrupt, arrogant, even insane; the nation has endured all of that and more, and still for most of its history has been held up as a shining example to the world of all that is best and most noble in human nature. Read the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution. The great ringing phrases in those documents are powerful statements of what any free person values most. Yes, sometimes the U.S. fails to live up to the values and virtues that created it, but as Christ said, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Yes we should criticize the U.S. when we disagree with its policies and behaviours, yes we should criticize its leaders when we think they're behaving badly, but never forget the ideals that lie at the heart of the United States. I believe they will triumph eventually, because there have always been enough intelligent and forceful people in the United States to force decency upon it. The U.S., for instance, didn't really lose the war in Vietnam as much as it was forced to quit by the revulsion of its own citizens against their government's behaviour. I expect something similar will eventually happen with Iraq.

The U.S. is a global superpower much the same as Britain was in the 19th century, but in the 19th century there was serious competition from other nations. Now there isn't. The U.S. stands alone at the pinnacle as no other nation ever has. Bitch and criticize, sure, with the U.S. you can do that without being shot. Be glad it's as benign as it is.

Couldn't resist commenting on this, don't mean to drag up old arguments or anything, but this is simply incorrect. Benign? Have you ever actually looked at the USA? I do, however, agree that Declaration of Independence is a wonderful document to read; regrettably it simply does not match the facts: the US set itself against empires, and yet it set out to dominate the entirety of the North American continent and has established an economic empire that allows it to influence large portions of the globe; it is also true that America sets much store by individual liberty, but ironically it also the western nation with the longest history of instituionalised slavery and an even longer one of instituional racism; you'r founding fathers were wise were they? They rebelled against George III, declared him a monarchical tyrant and set themselves utterly against the entire concept of monarchy, and then created what can best be described as an elected monarchy; "values and virtues it created", your entire culture and all of your values are a poor amalgamation of old fashioned European ideas and you simply represent the continuation of a system created mainly by the British in the 19th century; you only philosophy is one of laissez-faire economics, you're in it for the money, and with a non-existent wellfare system; "shining example to the world of all that is best and most noble in human nature" I laughed at this one I'm afraid, you are the most hated nation on the planet, the middle east, Asia, Russia, even Europe resents (although admittedly mainly because you knocked it off the top spot); criticise without being shot, true (might be electrocuted though), but you might be interned without trial in Guantanamo. "The U.S. stands alone at the pinnacle as no other nation ever has", not true, many nations have occupied the same position within a region or globally in the same way, admittedly you have a greater military capacity than they did in some ways, but that's to be expected with the march of technology; you also said without serious competition, are you insane? The Russian Federation may not be what it was but it's hardly insignificant; China and India will overtake you soon as the leading economic powers; Brazil too is doing pretty well; and with Europe coming closer and closer to forming a superstate you may find your time at the top rather short lived; the future lies in Asia, not the west, anyway. I apologise if I seem a little harsh but I really don't like this kind of dewy eyed idolisation of a country, any country, as you may have ascertained I'm British but I can give you a comparable if not longer list for Britain (which is definitely not the second most powerful country in the world by the way) and indeed for many other nations. The USA is not the worst nation in the world by a long shot, but I wouldn't go around extolling its virtues either, that's my opinion anyway.
 

Gunlee

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Jan 17, 2015
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Britain is a superpower country in every sense ,the US never can be compared with the history and the brightness of the British people and nation,it has ruled 1/4 of the world and look the size of their land! The U.S. as being 4 times bigger in population's size of course it would come in first otherwise if it was small than the UK it would never be in the top 10 list.British people are highly bright and great to make things and inventions and it has lead the world and enriched every country their did colonised ,it is like a magic wond where people are likely to be good at something when they have British roots in it.Look at the U.S. that is just a super power country because the British invented it and developed it and gave it great ways to be a good country just like Britain is.Every famous people and bright minds in the US come from a British roots,the British made the US a great country because the British always likes the U.S. land.The British brought to the US the english language and divided its land as it is now and from there it did grow and is the power that it is,however the U.S. has no history of its own and will never be the greatest nation as Britain is.I am Australian from British roots and my father is a scientist and he always told me that having a little bit of British blood is like being made by gold.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
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my father is a scientist and he always told me that having a little bit of British blood is like being made by gold.




Well, that just proves and reinforces the fact that education does not equate intelligence.
 

Gunlee

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Jan 17, 2015
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There wouldn't exist the U.S. if wasn't for the British,and if Britain were the size of the U.S. in population and land it would be the number 1 super power and nobody would never beat it.British are smart and calm,has a very good perception of things around and is great in creating amazing things unlike Americans that are nervous ,unsecure and weak.Comparing the size of Britain with the US I would say that Britain is number 1 in this list,no other nation can be compared with Britain.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
There wouldn't exist the U.S. if wasn't for the British,and if Britain were the size of the U.S. in population and land it would be the number 1 super power and nobody would never beat it.British are smart and calm,has a very good perception of things around and is great in creating amazing things unlike Americans that are nervous ,unsecure and weak.Comparing the size of Britain with the US I would say that Britain is number 1 in this list,no other nation can be compared with Britain.






ummmmmmm...... yup...... I stand by my previous post.