See Post #16.The biggest non-secret in Europe is that France's President Chiraq is completely corrupt.
The De Gaulle wasn't meant to be an aircraft carrier so much as it was designed to be a convenient way for corrupt French politicians to give away mega-Franc (this was pre-Euro) contracts to their fellow corrupt buddies in exchange for outright bribes, mistresses, and campaign contributions.
So the De Gaulle doesn't meet any nuclear safety standards. C'est la vie. So its props failed on its maiden sea trial. So its deck rusted. So it's become a maintenance whore.
What did anyone expect?! Chiraq and his buddies got to sleep with some beautiful women, girls, and boys all at French taxpayer expense, while corrupt contractors got away with substandard materials and workmanship (and design) in exchange for providing such favors to such powerful men.
And the French press, in bed with Chiraq in a very different way, continues to screw their fellow Frenchmen to this very day by refusing to expose Chiraq's corruption.
Likewise, the American news media (always anxious to curry favor with "sophisticated" Europe), refuses to even perform a cursory investigation of this in-your-face-corruption.
Gosh, an American reporter might gasp, exposing the French might make France's political posturing less alluring to the American public.
Can't have that, now can we?!