What an interesting topic.
Wasn't the usa fighting ww2 against fascism, mainly germany and japan? Was not germany making war against communism? It was only after the war that the usa made an about face and turned against it's communist allies.
Sure. But isn't that because fascism was, at the time, the most aggressive? Communism was busy waging war on itself in the Soviet Union what with the famines of the 20's, the purges of the 30's; tens of millions of people murdered by their own government, far more than Hitler killed.
Churchill was more reaslistically pragmatic than Roosevelt about Stalin, and understood there was little difference between Stalin and Hitler, except that Stalin was convenient to use.
But really there is very little difference between national socialism and communism in practical applcation. Both are so far to the extreme that they very nearly bend around the spectrum and become mirror images of the other. Since both are hideous, neither likes what it sees in that mirror and hates the image. This is why, in my poor opinion, Germany and the Soviet Union hated each other so passionately.
Most of the ordinary American people ( many of whom had German roots ) - did not want to get into a war with Germany on purely political grounds. Such luminaries as Henry Ford 2, and famous pilot Lindenburgh were openly admirers of Hitler and the comeback he made for the German Economy.
My late father in law grew up in Pennsylvania and fought in the Pacific (Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima among others). He grew up in an apoltical family, but his take on pre-1941 America was that no one wanted war period. He said the feeling was let Europe deal with Hitler, and had little to do with ideology as much as isolationism (my word not his). He said most people felt like there was an ocean separating America from Hitler and that was good enough.
But you're right, I do remember reading how some (but certainly not all) conservative/right-wing people both in American and in Britain, pre-war, admired what National Socialism did for Germany, i.e. perceived recovery from the Weimar Republic disaster. The Duke of Windsor in fact visited Nazi Germany and even gave the Heil Hitler salute.
Many other Americans ( those of strongly Liberal tendencies ) - admired Communism for it's seemingly humanistic standards
Yeah that's the stereotype now, conservative=Germany, liberal=Soviet Union, and like most stereotypes there is some truth in it.
Anyway - I found the historical comparison of the reluctance of the general American people ( and the enthusiasm of the President ) for the idea of war - in the pre WW2 era quite fascinating. ( given the political inversion i.e. democrat/republican - back in those days the elephants were the isolationists ).
Sadly 70 years ago we had not just a competent President, but a brilliant one. He is generally considered one of the top 5 Presidents this country has had.
Frankly Bush is more closely akin to some combination of John Tyler (foreign policy) and Rutherford B. Hayes (domestic corruption). Both were incompetent. One difference is the Bush administration is cunningly calculating in their attempt to create a Pax Americana, while at the same time lining their, and their friends' pockets.
I did hear last night another long discussion on the possibility of Israeli war with Iran - including presidential press conferences with the usual "we have not put anything off the table". I think this is sabre rattling just about like 1935 England while Hitler was building the Panzer Tanks and the Messershmidts. And nothing will come of it until Iran " makes the first move". The "bay of Tonkin" on this one may well be Hormuz, and the oil tankers.
I can see an Israeli war with Iran, but God I hope America does not get involved. We've already got TWO wars ongoing and neither is anywhere close to being settled. The last thing we, or the world, needs is a third war.
I disagree that the sabre rattling is similar to the 30's. America was not already engaged in war, and maxed out doing so, by the way. Germany built its economic miracle on building a war machine. They literally had to go to war or face a worse bankruptcy than the Weimar Republic. Iran does not face that.
Actually James, I see Iran as similar, albeit a more legitimate threat, to Iraq circa 2002. I truly believe that if North Korea, a true fanatical cult-nation, can be persuaded to forego nuclear weapons, than so can Iran. I think Iran, like Saddam, is puffing about like a peacock, trying to be more than they are. The one difference though is I do believe Iran is serious about acquiring nuclear weapons, whereas Saddam was not.
Chris
