# How would you rank the world's military powers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 24, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255 "2001-10-24T04:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255/41 "2001-10-28T01:19:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Grrr - what about Wales, Scotland and Ireland then? I think Ireland would have a problem being lumped in with the United Kingdom, seeing as they are a different country and all. **Northern** Ireland, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255/42 "2001-10-28T05:45:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Izzardesque \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Eternal \* > > > > 1. England > > Grrr - what about Wales, Scotland and Ireland then? 😃 \*\* I said England and I stand by it. It’s about time for a war to see who’s going to dominate the UK once and for all. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255/43 "2001-10-28T06:05:57Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. U.S. > 2. Russia > 3. China > 4. UK > 5. France > 6. India > 7. Pakistan > 8. Israel > 9. North Korea > > #10 is tough. One nation that hasn’t been mentioned is a military power many people overlook; Canada. Canada has a strong economy, a first rate military, and experience fighting overseas. At the very least, I’m sure they could kick Turkey’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255/44 "2001-10-28T18:28:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamelensis \* > This is my very first post on this board and I’m sorry that I have to introduce myself by being negative, … > > I will try to provide some information. This will make my post rather long. I apologize in advance. Don’t apologize at all – excellent post and welcome to the SDMB. You’re just the sort we like around here. (although you will need to improve your citing skills. 1979 indeed. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255/45 "2001-10-28T20:06:22Z")
Being Canadian, I’d love to be able to say that Canada is a formidable military power, but I can’t. Even during the height of the cold war, Canada’s NATO role was anti-submarine patrolling, and we were very good at it. But we never did have much in the way of large ground forces, and our air force, while modern, has become a joke. I read recently that we have almost no combat effectiveness since the Gulf war, because we still haven’t replaced the missiles and bombs we shot off! We have a small, effective military for peacekeeping missions, and having 150 or so F-18’s doesn’t hurt. But we have zero force projection capability, and we don’t even have a defensive force that could protect us from invasion. We rely on the U.S. for that. From what I understand, we DO have a very, very good anti-terrorism unit that would rank up there with the SAS and SEALS, that almost no one knows about, and I believe it has already been deployed. ---
**Author:** ![Izzardesque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a9adbd/32.png) [@Izzardesque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Izzardesque)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255/46 "2001-10-30T15:10:55Z")
> [@](#): > > I think Ireland would have a problem being lumped in with the United Kingdom, seeing as they are a different country and all. **Northern** Ireland, on the other hand… \*\* As far as the Armed Forces go, I believe that EIRE’s regiments fight in the British army – I could be wrong tho > [@](#): > > I said England and I stand by it. It’s about time for a war to see who’s going to dominate the UK once and for all. The Welsh would win. How can a regiment that has a goat mascot that outrank 75% of the regiment ever lose? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rank-the-worlds-military-powers/89255.md?page=2)