<P> Proclaiming that grandeur was the essential to the nature of France, de Gaulle initiated his "Politics of Grandeur ." He demanded complete autonomy for France in world affairs, which meant that major decisions could not be forced upon it by NATO, the European Community or anyone else . De Gaulle pursued a policy of "national independence ." He vetoed Britain's entry into the Common Market, fearing it might gain too great a voice on French affairs . While not officially abandoning NATO, he withdrew from its military integrated command, fearing that the United States had too much control over NATO . He launched an independent nuclear development program that made France the fourth nuclear power. France then adopted the dissuasion du faible au fort doctrine which meant a Soviet attack on France would only bring total destruction to both sides . </P> <P> He restored cordial Franco - German relations in order to create a European counterweight between the "Anglo - Saxon" (American and British) and Soviet spheres of influence . De Gaulle openly criticised the U.S. intervention in Vietnam . He was angry at American economic power, especially what his Finance minister called the "exorbitant privilege" of the U.S. dollar . He went to Canada and proclaimed "Vive le Québec libre", The catchphrase for an independent Quebec . </P> <P> In May 1968, he appeared likely to lose power amidst widespread protests by students and workers, but survived the crisis with backing from the army . His party, denouncing radicalism, won the 1968 election with an increased majority in the Assembly . Nonetheless, de Gaulle resigned in 1969 after losing a referendum in which he proposed more decentralization . His War Memoirs became a classic of modern French literature and many French political parties and figures claim the gaullist heritage . </P> <P> After the fall of the USSR and the end of the Cold War potential menaces to mainland France appeared considerably reduced . France began reducing its nuclear capacities and conscription was abolished in 2001 . In 1990 France, led by François Mitterrand, joined the short successful Gulf War against Iraq; the French participation to this war was called the Opération Daguet . </P>

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