US War History
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
John McIlroy wrote: Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. I agree with most of your post, but America joined WWII because Pearl Harbor was bombed. That forced them into a war with Japan. Since German was allied with Japan, German declared war on the US. So technically, I don't think they ever choose to join the war, although they should have, and in 1939 too.
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
John McIlroy wrote: Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. "Make peace not war, unless there is money in it for us." -Two-Party Monopoly but seriously, I believe Pearl Harbor kinda changed our minds. The WTC bombings are similar. The War history of the USA, must be analyzed by administration, not popular opinion, imo.:) Later, JoeSox "That sounds exactly like the thinking of a machine to me." -- Morpheus, The Matrix Reloaded joeswammi.com ↔ humanaiproject.org ↔ joeswammi.com/sinfest
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
I really believe your comparison leaves a lot of facts out. If people knew what Hitler was going to do I think the world would have done things differently including the German people. Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. "Don't be so anti-american, would you? KaЯl (to Paul Watson on Baseball Bats) 26 Nov '03 "
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I really believe your comparison leaves a lot of facts out. If people knew what Hitler was going to do I think the world would have done things differently including the German people. Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. "Don't be so anti-american, would you? KaЯl (to Paul Watson on Baseball Bats) 26 Nov '03 "
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. Because they knew that if they didn't act soon, they'd be next... Hitlers plans wasn't really a secret after having displayed his military forces by building up forces next to France, forcing Austria to join Germany, annexing Czechoslovakia. The invasion of Poland was the last drop. -- 20 eyes in my head, they're all the same![^]
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
So to summarize - America learned from history that to come late to war costs a lot - Britain, Spain, Italy etc remembers this lesson - Canada, France, Germany etc - have forgotten it or never learned it? Dave Huff In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. (Yogi Berra)
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
John McIlroy wrote: Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. There were a hell of alot of peace-niks and isolationists back then (you know, 'peace at all costs' folks). Britain had one, too (Chamberlain, I believe), but luckily they also had a ball-buster like Churchill. If I remember my history correctly, the US president of the time really wanted to get in the war, but couldn't justify it politically given the isolationist climate of the time. In fact, there are some conspiracy theorists that say he knew about Pearl Harbor in advance, and let it happen as an excuse to get in the war. Much of the aid to Britain was given in secret (i.e. most in the US weren't aware it was occurring). Why did Canada declare war so quickly? Was it because they still had strong nationalistic ties to England and/or France? Or did they have to because of the domino-like treaties? Or was it just 'this is the right thing to do?' type thinking? John McIlroy wrote: But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? Maybe, maybe not. Even in the latter days of the war, I've read that he still thought there was a chance that Britain would come around and join the Reich (I'm not sure how accurate that is). In addition, there was a not-insignificant Nazi presense in the US before the war. Certainly nothing that would gain any real political power, but worrying nonetheless. In fact, Charles Lindbergh, a national hero of the time, was openly pro-Nazi, as was JFK's father. The Nazi party did much better in the America of that time than the Marxists ever could (both were attempting to exert heavy influence on US politics). It's pretty easy to look back and judge harshly things history and time have shed new light on. But the world was different then: when your only experience with 'Europe's War' - and 'Europe' itself - was the news reel you saw at the movie theater every two or three weeks, it's easy to think isolationism makes sense. -- Russell Morris "So, broccoli, mother says you're good for me... but I'm afraid I'm no good for you!" - Stewy
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. Because they knew that if they didn't act soon, they'd be next... Hitlers plans wasn't really a secret after having displayed his military forces by building up forces next to France, forcing Austria to join Germany, annexing Czechoslovakia. The invasion of Poland was the last drop. -- 20 eyes in my head, they're all the same![^]
A lot of Brits did back Chamberlain. You know Peace In Our Time. It is not quite as clear as you make it. Hey are you defending the US action here? :-O Sounds kind of similar. Peace In Our Time[^] "Don't be so anti-american, would you? KaЯl (to Paul Watson on Baseball Bats) 26 Nov '03 "
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I really believe your comparison leaves a lot of facts out. If people knew what Hitler was going to do I think the world would have done things differently including the German people. Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. "Don't be so anti-american, would you? KaЯl (to Paul Watson on Baseball Bats) 26 Nov '03 "
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: I really believe your comparison leaves a lot of facts out. If people knew what Hitler was going to do I think the world would have done things differently including the German people. What facts are these? It was not necessary to know what Hitler was going to do (though plenty of people did). It was only necessary to know what he was doing. 1. Annexed Austria in 1938 and forced Czechoslavakia to cede some of its territory. 2. Conquered Poland and the remainder of Czeckoslavakia in 1939. 3. Conquered Norway, Denmark, France, Holland, Belgium and commenced the Battle of Britain in 1940. I guess it was pretty hard to figure out if Hitler was a good guy at this point. Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. This is laughable. Britain (and France) were trying to negotiate a way around the threat of German aggression from 1936 onward when Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland in violation of the Versailles treaty (in fact, they were worried about Hitler from the time he came to power). At the time of the 1938 Munich agreement in which Britain (and France) appeased Hitler by joining with him in forcing Czechoslavakia to cede territory to Germany, they drew a line in the sand by guaranteeing the integrity of Poland's borders. This guarantee was a direct response to German aggression, not some legacy from the past that compelled them to take action that they otherwise would not have. John Carson
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A lot of Brits did back Chamberlain. You know Peace In Our Time. It is not quite as clear as you make it. Hey are you defending the US action here? :-O Sounds kind of similar. Peace In Our Time[^] "Don't be so anti-american, would you? KaЯl (to Paul Watson on Baseball Bats) 26 Nov '03 "
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Hey are you defending the US action here? Sounds kind of similar. Hmm.. not really. The key difference is that the rest of Europe faced an inevitable invasion. Heck, Hitler didn't stop at Europe, he wanted Africa too! Someone had to do something, and the good old brits showed the way. Iraq is different. This isn't about stopping an inevitable invasion. Saddam knew it was hopeless as the attempt to invade Quwait was an utter failure. He also knew that if he'd ever launch a WMD, he'd be obliterated within 5 minutes. The Iraq case is about military and economical power. The one who controls Iraq controls the middle east. The one who control Iraq also controls a vast amount of oil. Why do you think Bush spends all this money into Iraq? Because he expects something in return. He could've liberated other rogue states for a lot less money. -- 20 eyes in my head, they're all the same![^]
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote: I really believe your comparison leaves a lot of facts out. If people knew what Hitler was going to do I think the world would have done things differently including the German people. What facts are these? It was not necessary to know what Hitler was going to do (though plenty of people did). It was only necessary to know what he was doing. 1. Annexed Austria in 1938 and forced Czechoslavakia to cede some of its territory. 2. Conquered Poland and the remainder of Czeckoslavakia in 1939. 3. Conquered Norway, Denmark, France, Holland, Belgium and commenced the Battle of Britain in 1940. I guess it was pretty hard to figure out if Hitler was a good guy at this point. Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. This is laughable. Britain (and France) were trying to negotiate a way around the threat of German aggression from 1936 onward when Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland in violation of the Versailles treaty (in fact, they were worried about Hitler from the time he came to power). At the time of the 1938 Munich agreement in which Britain (and France) appeased Hitler by joining with him in forcing Czechoslavakia to cede territory to Germany, they drew a line in the sand by guaranteeing the integrity of Poland's borders. This guarantee was a direct response to German aggression, not some legacy from the past that compelled them to take action that they otherwise would not have. John Carson
John Carson wrote: t was not necessary to know what Hitler was going to do (though plenty of people did) Heck, he even wrote a book about it long before the war begun. :-D -- 20 eyes in my head, they're all the same![^]
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
Funny how people insult the USA for jumping into the war against global terrorism too quickly but they also insult the USA for jumping into the war in Europe in the 1940's too late. Wankers each and every one of them.......
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
I think it is safe to say that the general historic consensus in the US is that our isolationsim was a big mistake and lead inevitably to Pearl Harbor and probably tp a much larger war than might otherwise have occured. The lesson wasn't lost on us at all. That is one reason for our invovlement in Vietnam - trying not to repeat history.
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Also Why did Britian declare war in 1939. Because they had a defense pack with Poland. Not because they thought Germany was evil. Because they knew that if they didn't act soon, they'd be next... Hitlers plans wasn't really a secret after having displayed his military forces by building up forces next to France, forcing Austria to join Germany, annexing Czechoslovakia. The invasion of Poland was the last drop. -- 20 eyes in my head, they're all the same![^]
Yeah that true - Britain drew a line in the sand and Hitler crossed it. Those countries were really exhausted from WWI and the Great Depression as well, so I think this is why they were trying appeasement. Borders were more fluid back then too - with the UN rules we have become used to peace in our time. Invasion of Iraq is part of an economic war and a way to secure oil for the future. The Saudi's were getting unfriendly, and the west depends on their oil. The WMD was a pretense to go to war, these just things that politician do to try to get away with like anything else.
My neighbours think I am crazy - but they don't know that I have a trampoline. All they see my head bobbing up and down over the fence every five seconds
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Funny how people insult the USA for jumping into the war against global terrorism too quickly but they also insult the USA for jumping into the war in Europe in the 1940's too late. Wankers each and every one of them.......
Terry O`Nolley wrote: Funny how people insult the USA for jumping into the war against global terrorism too quickly but they also insult the USA for jumping into the war in Europe in the 1940's too late. Wankers each and every one of them....... What they are pointing out is the hypocrisy of the US position in criticising others for a lack of support in the war against Iraq. When half a dozen formerly democratic European countries were living under the heel of the Nazi dictatorship, the US didn't see a reason to militarily support them. Yet the US gets upset that countries don't rush in to support the US in a discretionary war against a country that did not threaten the US. Your position on this issue is so weak as to be utterly pathetic. You are mindlessly partisan, applying a completely different standard to the US to that which you apply to every other country. John Carson
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Yeah that true - Britain drew a line in the sand and Hitler crossed it. Those countries were really exhausted from WWI and the Great Depression as well, so I think this is why they were trying appeasement. Borders were more fluid back then too - with the UN rules we have become used to peace in our time. Invasion of Iraq is part of an economic war and a way to secure oil for the future. The Saudi's were getting unfriendly, and the west depends on their oil. The WMD was a pretense to go to war, these just things that politician do to try to get away with like anything else.
My neighbours think I am crazy - but they don't know that I have a trampoline. All they see my head bobbing up and down over the fence every five seconds
JWood wrote: Invasion of Iraq is part of an economic war and a way to secure oil for the future. Thank you for acknowledging that. Who in their right mind would ever spend such a ridiculous amount of money on "liberating" a people, without getting something back in return (with interests)? Dalai Lama perhaps.. But Bush ain't no Dalai. -- 20 eyes in my head, they're all the same![^]
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It is kind of interesting to read the furious objections the US has to allies who didn't join the military "coalition of the willing." Now I supported the overthrow of Saddam and the liberation of Iraq. And I was upset that Canada didn't throw in its lot with the US & UK and join the coalition of the willing... but.... Americans seem to have amnesia. It took them two years to join the "coalition of the willing" in WWII. When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. What did it take the Americans? I think it was more like 28 months before they joined the "coalition of the willing." And then they only joined because they thought Hitler might win. Sure the Americans supported the war effort before joining it... but Canada had naval vessels in the Gulf supporting the America effort in Iraq. Plus we've contributed hundreds of million dollars to reconstruction of Iraq. Ok... I think Canada was wrong to sit on the sidelines. But would Hitler have been so bold if the US had been on side with the allies right from the start of WWII? As the jokes goes... we'd like to thank our American friends for coming to our aid in 1941... when we got in serious trouble in 1939. JM
John McIlroy wrote: When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. Technically it was September 3rd that Britain and France declared war on Germany. Canada declared war on September 10th. Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Italy when it invaded Ethiopia in 1935? No. Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Germany when it invaded Austria in 1938? No. Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Germany when annexed Czechoslovakia in On March 15, 1939? No, they effectively gave Germany permission to do so. (Link[^]) Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Japan when they invaded China in 1937? No. In fact, with the exception of the US and Britain (because of Pearl Harbor) none of the Western powers ever declared war on Japan. (With the exception of the USSR which declared war on Japan after the Atomic bomb was dropped.) So, why didn't those enlightened Europeans declare war on Japan back in 1937? I'm guessing because "its an East Asian problem" - which isn't terribly different than the US saying "Nazi Germany is a European problem". I hardly think saying "Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours" (of Poland) is much of an argument when you realize that it was years after the invasion of Ethiopia, Czechoslovakia, and Austria. In short, England and France declared war only because war was obviously inevitable for them. Additionally, they had a pact with Poland. Canada was also part of the English Commonwealth and had only gained autonomy from England in 1931, so Canada was closely tied to England. They weren't acting out of any sort of moral enlightenment. The US didn't feel directly threatened and didn't jump into the war (which is exactly what England and France did when Germany and Italy were invading Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Ethiopia.) So, in that light, none of the Allied powers were jumping into World War 2 because of any sort of moral enlightenment. They all tried to avoid the war as long as they could, but it was inevitable. Arguably, then, World War 2 might be a lesson that none of the Western powers (including Canada, the US, England or France) went to war quickly enough. September 1st, 1939 i
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I think it is safe to say that the general historic consensus in the US is that our isolationsim was a big mistake and lead inevitably to Pearl Harbor and probably tp a much larger war than might otherwise have occured. The lesson wasn't lost on us at all. That is one reason for our invovlement in Vietnam - trying not to repeat history.
Look at the bombing of London which was more or less continual and over 50,000 civilians died. The Russians lost millions of people and you hear barely a whimper out of them. The U.S. should thank its lucky stars that it lives two oceans away from any really hostile nations.
My neighbours think I am crazy - but they don't know that I have a trampoline. All they see my head bobbing up and down over the fence every five seconds
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John McIlroy wrote: When did Britain declare war on Germany in WWII? I think it was September 1, 1939, when the Germans started raining down the bombs on Warsaw. Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours. Technically it was September 3rd that Britain and France declared war on Germany. Canada declared war on September 10th. Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Italy when it invaded Ethiopia in 1935? No. Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Germany when it invaded Austria in 1938? No. Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Germany when annexed Czechoslovakia in On March 15, 1939? No, they effectively gave Germany permission to do so. (Link[^]) Did England, France, or Canada declare war on Japan when they invaded China in 1937? No. In fact, with the exception of the US and Britain (because of Pearl Harbor) none of the Western powers ever declared war on Japan. (With the exception of the USSR which declared war on Japan after the Atomic bomb was dropped.) So, why didn't those enlightened Europeans declare war on Japan back in 1937? I'm guessing because "its an East Asian problem" - which isn't terribly different than the US saying "Nazi Germany is a European problem". I hardly think saying "Canada declared war on Germany within 28 hours" (of Poland) is much of an argument when you realize that it was years after the invasion of Ethiopia, Czechoslovakia, and Austria. In short, England and France declared war only because war was obviously inevitable for them. Additionally, they had a pact with Poland. Canada was also part of the English Commonwealth and had only gained autonomy from England in 1931, so Canada was closely tied to England. They weren't acting out of any sort of moral enlightenment. The US didn't feel directly threatened and didn't jump into the war (which is exactly what England and France did when Germany and Italy were invading Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Ethiopia.) So, in that light, none of the Allied powers were jumping into World War 2 because of any sort of moral enlightenment. They all tried to avoid the war as long as they could, but it was inevitable. Arguably, then, World War 2 might be a lesson that none of the Western powers (including Canada, the US, England or France) went to war quickly enough. September 1st, 1939 i
You are of course right that Europe was reluctant to confront Germany (and Italy and Japan). This is hardly controversial. Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement is one of the most commented upon aspects of the history of WWII. None of this changes the fact that the US saw no reason to commit troops when European countries were invaded and placed under the Nazi dictatorship. Accordingly, its outrage that some European countries have been reluctant to support it over Iraq (a merely hypothetical threat, as distinct from an occupying army in the case of WWII) shows an astounding lack of perspective. John Carson
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Terry O`Nolley wrote: Funny how people insult the USA for jumping into the war against global terrorism too quickly but they also insult the USA for jumping into the war in Europe in the 1940's too late. Wankers each and every one of them....... What they are pointing out is the hypocrisy of the US position in criticising others for a lack of support in the war against Iraq. When half a dozen formerly democratic European countries were living under the heel of the Nazi dictatorship, the US didn't see a reason to militarily support them. Yet the US gets upset that countries don't rush in to support the US in a discretionary war against a country that did not threaten the US. Your position on this issue is so weak as to be utterly pathetic. You are mindlessly partisan, applying a completely different standard to the US to that which you apply to every other country. John Carson
John Carson wrote: US position in criticising others for a lack of support in the war against Iraq How is not handing out sugar-coated contracts to those nations who huddled in paralyzed inaction criticism? John Carson wrote: Your position on this issue is so weak as to be utterly pathetic Good word choice! I guess my personal opinions are "weak". I guess I should have used stronger language...... John Carson wrote: You are mindlessly partisan It is true that I am an American.