The Project Zeus orbital weapon depicted in the movie is based on a real concept and it is theoretically possible. United States Air Forces's Project Thor, nicknamed Rods from God, it is based on the principle of Kinetic Bombardment: tungsten rods are dropped from a satellite in orbit and, depending on its size, could destroy from deep bunkers to whole cities.
During the desert battle scene, you can clearly see a snatch-cable attached to one of the Joe's just before an explosion's concussion blasts him backwards.
In the French president's suitcase are two buttons respectively labeled "avorter" and "bras". "Avorter" is French for abort, but that word is usually only used in relation to pregnancies. The correct word in that context is "annuler". "Bras" is French for arm, the body part. The correct word is "armer".
During the Zeus 1A launch, the control room shows a targeting reticule on Britain, centered over the west-midlands. The target for the Zeus weapon is London, yet the center of the target reticule is between 50-80 miles outside of London.
Zartan: [as President]
On my orders, the covert special forces unit, codenamed Cobra, terminated with extreme prejudice Joe command, facilities, personnel. The GI Joes... are no more.
How is Storm Shadow alive in this when he clearly died in the first film?
A
Presumably he was only badly wounded and survived the freezing arctic waters by going into a self-induced Ninja trance/coma (referred to in the comics as 'The Sleeping Phoenix').
Q
So all the characters from G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra are dead?
A
The entire question is left deliberately vague. We are told that both the GI Joes in the field and at their base have been wiped out with the exception of Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Lady Jaye and Flint. However we never see it and it is perfectly possible that any of the characters may have survived in the same way that the main characters in this film did or simply left GI Joe in between this film and its' predecessor. The only character we know to be dead for sure is Duke whom we know is killed in the desert attack.
Q
What happened to Destro in the movie? Wasn't he along with Storm Shadow and Cobra Commander in the tubes? And why did Cobra Commander not rescue him?
A
Destro was left ambiguously in the tube while Stormshadow and Cobra Commander escaped. Since the explosion caused by the warden took out the cooling system, we are left to surmise that he either died in the explosion, or in the resulting 200+ degree temperature. Alternatively though he may have survived so is either still a prisoner or was freed from his tube by the explosion and escaped. Cobra doesn't release him, simply stating "You're out of the band.". It's likely that Christopher Eccleston wasn't available to reprise his role or possibly the writers felt that there wouldn't have been much of a use for him in this particular film and so thought it best to leave him out, but not arbitrarily kill him off.