Reflections for Dec. 7th

[brokenhallelujah]

Excuses and explanations are different things here, Andy. The whole picture is vitally important any time one seeks to assign complete responsibility to any one party. It usually doesn't hold water.

I am not saying that the Germans get a moral "pass" on WWII. I am saying that it's more complicated than, "America good. German bad."

THAT sort of thinking is what created the Nazi party!

 

[Ernie2525]

Kinda like ' you're either with us, or against us" ?

 

[MauiRob]

Isn't it March 22nd?? of 2006?

 

[Fiddleback]

I don't know man. Lots of this sounds like my boss' rhetoric. He doesn't blame the Germans, and doesn't give the Americans credit for the win, or even for heroic action during the war. IMHO if you don't take responsibility for wrongdoing you don't learn from your mistakes. Once you do, and I believe the Germans have (Japan has not), you can move forward all the more wise.

Plus in that particular conflict there is a stark contrast between the good and bad sides. It was pretty black and white. The Nazis were evil and planned to enslave the entire world. The German people made a MAJOR mistake (7 million dead German soldiers, 14 million russians, etc) taking up with them, accepting their agenda, and fighting for it. The line they bought was "master race," rightful ruler, power, power, power. It was wrong. It was their fault and they've taken responsibility. Causes and pressures, and other factors are different than fault and responsibility.

What started this thread back up was someone suggesting that we didn't fight the strong well trained Germans, but mere brainwashed pawns at Hitlers becon call. That is a free pass, period. My uncle related a hardened well trained fighting machine to me. He said the Germans were fierce and motovated and willing to die for their cause. My grandad said the same of the Japanese. Don't give them a free pass. You can see with the Japanese, they are more than willing to forget.

 

[Bill Marsh]

And I believe that Sony made the picture "Tora, tora, tora." Codename "Tiger,tiger,tiger." to attack Pearl Harbor

I always wondered hiw much of that was true, that the Japanese tried to declare war beforehand and we treated it as a joke. Or was that Sony speaking?

 

[SamuraiDave]

I have to tell yall, I havent read anything but the first 3 posts of this thread and I have to chime in.

There will be another greatest generation. It may be the last as the US. knows it. I can't comprehend how we can win.

China has been increasing their military spending by 40% every year over the past 25 years. They have a standing army of 2 million, just the army, and not including reserves. They are updating their navy, their air force, and developing new weaponry to compete with ours. They are the growing economic and technologic lead in the world due to population, and if you study how their market works, it is exactly how they are building their weapons. That is to combat against the west.

Every administration has heard this from every intelligence agency we have had over the past 25 years. Nothing has been done. The american people don't care and would rather turn a profit now and a war later.

On that note I am going to bed. I think I will read the other 3 pages of posts tomorrow.

 

[Thomas Linton]

As for their oil, and us taking it, I don't get your argument against it. We're going to be blamed for taking it regardless, like we are now in Iraq. We can't afford another war like the Iraq one. Should we just lay back and allow a city to be destroyed, or should we take the oil to pay ourselves off for saving the world from economic fallout of such an attack? Maybe we should stop paying UN dues, toss their asses out, and sell the building to pay for the safety of America.

These issues are debatable.

If I'm going to be blamed for shooting you I shoud shoot you? While I follow (and agree with) some of what you say, this I don't get.

And rhe only folks claiming we invaded Irag for the oil are a small minority whose opinions I do not find interesting of based in facts. Is oil what makes the Middle East an area of special concern? Sure. Did we invade Iraq to steal it's oil? Hardly.

If we can'r afford another war, we should not "hope" (your word) for one.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I have to tell yall, I havent read anything but the first 3 posts of this thread and I have to chime in.

There will be another greatest generation. It may be the last as the US. knows it. I can't comprehend how we can win.

China has been increasing their military spending by 40% every year over the past 25 years. They have a standing army of 2 million, just the army, and not including reserves. They are updating their navy, their air force, and developing new weaponry to compete with ours. They are the growing economic and technologic lead in the world due to population, and if you study how their market works, it is exactly how they are building their weapons. That is to combat against the west.

Every administration has heard this from every intelligence agency we have had over the past 25 years. Nothing has been done. The american people don't care and would rather turn a profit now and a war later.

On that note I am going to bed. I think I will read the other 3 pages of posts tomorrow.

Just some observations.

You underestimated the power of compounding. $1 compounded at 40% annually for 25 years is $4499.87. That would turn a modest $1,000,000,000 military budget into $4,499,873,214,000 after 25 years -- $4.5 Trillion (and $6.3 Trillion next year). The Chinese don't spend that much 'cause they don't have it. They have not been increasing their military spending at anything near 40% annually. Ergo, "every adminstration" has not been hearing such intelligence.

No economically significant nation has a technological lead on any other. Technology flows like water.

India, I believe, is now the most populous nation on earth, and it's aim is to be the No. 1 high tech nation on earth. China does not have a replacement birth rate at present.

Also, looking at the record of the last two generations, justification put aside, one might ask which nation is more likely to go to war. Our bombs have fallen on Lebanon, Serbia, Sedan, Grenada, Panama, Lybia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In how many nations have Chinese troops gone to war? That would be none.

(Ed: If you mention Tibet, I will have to mention the northern 60% of Mexico - Mexico north of the Rio Bravo and Colorado.)

 

[jurassicnarc44]

We don't need to hear how disgusting the government can act; we know that.

We do need to hear how wonderful our sons and daughters are in protecting freedom. Thank you, 45/70


munk

Amen. We the People.........