European Militaries

[angus]

The UK is the only European nation with an independent military capacity, I believe.

yes I think France does.  In fact, France spends a respectable 3+% of its GDP on defense.  Very rare in that part of the world.  

I don't think they want any part of our troubles in Iraq.  Actually, it is in our best interest to continue with the greatest military and economic might in the world, as it lets us call the shots.  European Empires have pretty much fallen, and ours in advanced decay.  The question is not whether China will be the next superpower, but how soon they become the next military and economic superpower.  Don't lament the white man, he had a pretty good six hundred-year run, right?  "Sadder still to watch it die, than never to have known it.  For you the blind who once could see, the bell tolls for thee."

[angus]

The Turks too. Other than that, just France (mostly in order to defend there interests in Africa, yes, without UNSC resolutions), the UK and, of course, Russia.

but only a small sliver of Turkey is in Europe.  It's largely an asian country.  And even though most russians live west of the Ural Mountains, it's forces would be better utilized in its Asian part against the growing Chinese superpower.  So we're really left with England and France being the only two respectably bellicose european powers (I reserve the term 'empire' for the pre-Dien Bien Phu glory days.)