France is the 2nd largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel

That's right, France.

I found this on the defenselink site and I'm posting this for all of those people who think France doesn't do anything.

defenselink.mil
France is the second largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel in the world after the United States. During 2001, French troops and civilian police participated in UN missions in Sierra Leone, Lebanon, the Republic of Georgia, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Western Sahara, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and on the borders between Iraq and Kuwait, and Eritrea and Ethiopia. At the end of the year, 5,200 French troops were serving in Kosovo, where France assumed command of KFOR in October 2001. France also currently commands SFOR�s sensitive Multi-National Division (Southeast) sector in Bosnia, where it has about 2,200 troops. France contributed an additional 225 troops to NATO�s Task Force Fox in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In addition to the troops serving in multinational peacekeeping operations, France had over 24,000 military personnel stationed abroad in 2000, including approximately 6,100 in Africa.

France consistently spends the largest share of GDP on official development assistance of all the Group of Seven (G-7) nations.

France consistently spends the largest share of GDP on official development assistance of all the Group of Seven (G-7) nations.

i personally find that a bit misleading, as france's entire economy was smaller than california. it cud spend the majority of it, but hey, if it aint much, taint much to speak of.

the rest, though, that's interesting. ive always found it interesting how people criticize france for being such wussies, hating war, when really they celebrate it beyond belief, with one of the most fantastic military histories in, well, history. its just recently theyve gotten this 'title,' and it really is unfair, for lack of better words. i hope this can just clear up some prejudices.

im surprised, though. france has a comparably small population, to provide the second most is something to be proud of. i wud have thought they had a less due to numbers.

France GDP - $1.654 trillion (2003 est.)
population 59,765,983 (July 2002 est.)


California GDP $1.4 trillion(2004 est.)
population 35,484,453

California claims everything from 6th to 5th in economic power. I just haven't seen any California political initiatives in NATO or Afghanistan- maybe it's my T.V. station?

That didn't sound right, but interestingly enough -- you're pretty close to the truth about France/California GDP! Although it's not smaller it's pretty close to equal.

(All figures in billions of U.S. dollars based on the annual average exchange rates) GDP

Year -- France -- California
1999 - 1,444 --- 1,171
2000 - 1,305 --- 1,277
2001 - 1,310 --- 1,309
2002 - 1,558 --- ?
2003 - 1,650 --- ?

Of course, now that in 2004 the Euro is worth a lot more than the US $ I'd think the numbers would be something like 1,750--- 1,400

But it's surprising how much dough California spends and makes.

Even more amazing when you look at populations: France 60,180,000 (July 2003). California 35,484,453 (2003 Estimate). Man you Americans are gluttons!

Originally posted by CatHerder

But it's surprising how much dough California spends and makes.

Even more amazing when you look at populations: France 60,180,000 (July 2003). California 35,484,453 (2003 Estimate). Man you Americans are gluttons!

If there were a way to take out the U.S. federal dollar$ that get counted in California the figure would be more realistic.

Besides-

when's the last time Franch was run by a movie actor?
how many 'foreign' bases are located in France that get counted in the $$ mix?
etc.

The two are not comparable.