Return to the 1930s

The Washington Times ^ | Feb.18, 2003 | Paul Greenberg

[conservativecorner]

History keeps coming back, sometimes like a bad dinner. In case you missed the '30s, you could experience it again last week watching the Security Council at the United Nations, which begins to bear an uncanny resemblance to the late League of Nations.

[goldstategop]

If the U.N follows the League Of Nations into the history books this would be the best thing ever to come out of our subsequent campaign to have Iraq disarmed.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Good post! I have an old 78 rpm recording of Warren Harding giving a speech on the Senate floor warning against the League of Nations entanglements and in defense of maintaining American sovereignty. Like this article, his cautions were well founded, historically sound and tragically true.

[Clive]

See also:

Peace For Our Time

(Neville Chamberlain, September 30 and October 3, 1938)

[11th_VA]

The last time France pulled out of NATO, about the same time it was trying to push into Quebec back in the wild '60s, the great de Gaulle informed Washington that American bases would no longer be needed on French soil.

So that's why my 4th grade teacher hated de Gaulle. She said it in class, but no one knew why ...

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

I believe the problem is not the French government but the peoples of Europe. The French and the German government simply reflect the views of their peoples - they understand that Iraq is not the greatest threat to our world today if a threat at all. They are FAR behind entities such as communist North Korea, communist China or volatile and nuclear-ready Pakistan. As for many of 'the willing' who support us, most of the people in Britain and Spain are against the war, only their heads of gov't support them. This is true for Turkey as well who would be our friends if we gave them $20 billion. Israel would be our friend for $8 billion on top of the $2 billion+ they already get. Jordan would keep quiet for some change. So would Egypt.

The problem with the Russians and the Chinese is that Powell forgot to ask them how much they wanted. Or maybe they wanted more than we could afford. After all, the communist Chinese already got all the trade privileges they could dream of, our jobs, our technology AND the Panama Canal.

It's very glorious, indeed. Makes one proud.

[meenie]

This article harkens back to the '30s on the political issues involved. The biggest political issue that made the conditions favorable for WW II was the economic problems of a world depression. Economic problems are governing the political issues again for the same problem. This is not a good omen going forward. History is repeating itself.

[Uncle Miltie]

Your point seems to be that virtually all of these countries can be counted on to sell their souls and sovereignity for a bit of lucre.

Perhaps we should take them up on their offer, and become their suzerain. Alls I wanna know is, can we get 'em cheaper by the dozen?

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

But, do you really want them? What for?

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it was "decision time" for Turkey to accept a nearly $26 billion economic aid package in exchange for help in a possible war with Iraq.

Latest news:

•	Bush Says War Protesters Won't Deter Him AP - 6 minutes ago

•	American U-2 Plane Makes 1st Iraq Flight AP - 1 hour, 12 minutes ago

•	U.S., Britain Will Seek Iraq Resolution AP - 2 hours, 34 minutes ago

Special Coverage

"It ... will be settled one way or another rather soon," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) said. "We continue to work with Turkey as a friend. But it is decision time. We will find out what the ultimate outcome is."

President Bush (news - web sites) met with Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and others at the White House on Friday, pressing for a quick agreement that would allow American forces to use Turkish bases as a springboard for an invasion of Iraq from the north.

In exchange for Turkish help, the United States is offering Ankara an aid package that includes about $6 billion in grants and up to $20 billion in loan guarantees. But so far, Turkey has balked at the offer.

Ankara has been seeking twice that amount to cushion Turkish economy from the economic shock of a possible war.

[Uncle Miltie]

"But, do you really want them? What for?"

When your neighbor decides to sell her children into slavery, and you are willing to buy them, then the only remaining decision is price.

Foreign governments willing to sell their policies to a willing U.S. buyer leave only one question to be decided: the price.

The desire of both parties has been established. Efficacy and morality are for history and G-d to sort out.

[houstonian]

...war is always the sign of failure.

This is sentiment, not the eternal verity our pacifists would like to believe.