[Papergut]

Economically:
1) China
---
2) USA (far behind)
---
3) India
4) Brazil
---
5) Japan
6) England
7) France, Germany
Canada
9) Norway, Sweden
10) Kuwait

Military:
1) USA
---
2) Russia
3) China
4) North Korea
---
5) Palestine
6) England
7) Israel
India
9) Iraq
10) France, Germany

Sphere of influence:
1) USA with their economical slaves
2) France with other Europeans
3) Iraq, DPRK, Iran and other countries USA will invade

[seifer almasy]

Economically:
1) China
---
2) USA (far behind)
---

Erm, have you even compared the two nations' annual GDP? The U$ is leaps and bounds ahead of China.

[Krasniy Yastreb]

uk- small population, small armed forces, advanced technology, rivaling best navy in the world today.

I live a mile from the main British naval dockyard and believe me, while the Royal Navy may have been strong at one time, it sure as hell isn't any more.

Naval strength has decreased by 25% since the end of the cold war alone!!! Have you seen our piddling little aircraft carriers? they're about the size of rowing boats! and there's only 3!

It's spooky looking up the harbour at the dockyard though, there's hardly any ships left. they're all in the Persian Gulf.

But I'd say that the rest of the UK military are up-to scratch. And some, like the Marines, SAS and SBS are just absolutely f*cking excellent.

But enough of my lecture on the state of the forces......

[Man On The Moon]

Economically:
1) China
---
2) USA (far behind)
---
3) India
4) Brazil
---
5) Japan
6) England
7) France, Germany
Canada
9) Norway, Sweden
10) Kuwait

Military:
1) USA
---
2) Russia
3) China
4) North Korea
---
5) Palestine
6) England
7) Israel
India
9) Iraq
10) France, Germany

Sphere of influence:
1) USA with their economical slaves
2) France with other Europeans
3) Iraq, DPRK, Iran and other countries USA will invade

I hope i dont see that again, I live in scotland, though obviously thats part of the UK, and its a union, its not englands army, its the united kingdom, all trident submarines (the Uk's strategic nuclear deterrent) is based in clyde scotland, and a good deal of regiments are based in scotland and wales, its not just all england.

sorry to sound picky, but ive seen alot of folk (especially from the US) refer to everything british as "English" and its a wee bit irritating!

[CasX]

China more economically powerful than the USA? In the future, probably, but not yet.

(military list)

5) Palestine
7) Israel

?

[Krasniy Yastreb]

sorry to sound picky, but ive seen alot of folk (especially from the US) refer to everything british as "English" and its a wee bit irritating!

The man has a point there. I think all our submarines now are based in Scotland (since they left Portsmouth anyway), and a good part of the RAF is up there too.

If I was a Scot, I'd find everyone referring to me as 'English' irritating too!

[Man On The Moon]

Yup, I once travelled down to the Clyde Naval yards, ( near glasgow, scotland) where all the trident submarines are stationed, and also caught a glimpse of the keel of the new Arieya (Sp?) class submarines that are to replace the trident as the nuclear deterrent. quite a few RAF bases up here too.

[Krasniy Yastreb]

Hmm, I know nothing of any new subs being built, they must be keeping it quiet. And why it's only the keel you saw is a surprise to me too, seeing as the Vanguard submarines were built at Barrow-in-Furness. Interesting stuff.

The planned large aircraft carrier to be based down here is being built by Thales in France! It's degrading! (no offence to French marine engineering, but we've got to be self sufficient in a few ways at least...)

[Man On The Moon]

as far as i know the Ariya class sub is just a single prototype, a testbed for new systems, I dont think its going into any kind of production run.

and the french? remind me about their air craft carriers again.....

[Adrien]

Hehe, i hope they'll do yours better than ours, the Charles de Gaulle!

Well, non-working engines and shorter runway are inovative, aren't they?

[Man On The Moon]

Hehe, i hope they'll do yours better than ours, the Charles de Gaulle!

Well, non-working engines and shorter runway are inovative, aren't they?

#

I prefer my toasters, my in car electronics and my Television programmes to be Innovative, not my countries Naval defences!

[Adrien]

It's safer i've got to admit it! They're planning to build another aircraft carrier, i wonder what ideas they will come up with this time..

[Man On The Moon]

just remind them, a watertight hull is not a "moneyhungry luxury." its really quite important.!

[seifer almasy]

I found this graphic over at BBCnews.com. I think it might help:

[Krasniy Yastreb]

Oooooh.....

Erm, I knew that the US spending is far greater, but...that...much???

[Adrien]

Wow, that's gigantic!

And it comes from the BBC, so it must be more or less true.