Posted on 09/09/2008 7:07:37 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
The remnants of the Grand Army of the Republic, “more than one hundred strong,” have just ended at Des Moines what may by their last encampment. Long ago these men reached the crest of the mystic hill. They know the aspect of the other side and ever since have been marching down toward the dark river. All the resplendent figures, Grant, Sherman, have long disappeared into the distant mists. Only a handful of “youngsters” are left. Soon the last stragglers of the rear guard will have vanished. We see them trudging away in the fitful light of our own uncertain times, but they are really colored by the light of other suns, other days. It was three-quarters of a century ago, almost a geologic age in the speed with which events move today, that these veterans charged hotly into battle, fighting for freedom, for union, for ran honorable and brotherly peace. It is a faded picture now, long ago and far away, obscured by the shadows of lost illusion, forgotten in present threats and trouble.
Yet is it so faded? The colors may change but the design remains ever the same. Wars may follow wars, terror mount on terror, enslavement fawn on tyranny and falsehood, but under fresh banners until the race dies out men will struggle still for freedom, for union, for honorable and brotherly peace.
The first editorial shows the Times thinking on the Czech situation. It didn’t transfer very well so it is difficult to read. The second piece, which I transcribed, is a sappy little thing about a just-completed reunion of civil war veterans. 1938 was just about the same distance in time from Appomattox Courthouse as we are from 1938. I’m not sure why that is significant, but there it is.
And once again, we are faced with a similar choice with respect to Iran. Happily, thanks to the resolve of George W. Bush, we're in a much better position now than the Allies were in 1938. Bush took significant action, and we have a tremendous strategic advantage of the sort that the Allies had largely surrendered in the years between WWI and WWII.
It always sent a shiver up my spine... and remained in memory as a powerful lesson.
The Grand Army of the Republic was an influential organization and a powerful political lobby during the final two decades of the nineteenth century. However, since membership in the GAR was open only to those who fought in the Union army during the Civil War, the organization had a shelf life. It officially disbanded in 1949 and its last member died in 1956.
Ping.
Buchanan ("Unnecessary.." p349) quoting historian AJP Taylor (1961):
"In 1938-1939, the last peacetime year, Germany spent on armaments about 15% of her gross national product. The British proportion was almost exactly the same. German expenditure on armaments was actually cut down after Munich and remained at this lower level, so that British production of aeroplanes, for example, was way ahead of German by 1940.
"When war broke out in 1939, Germany had 1,450 modern fighter planes and 800 bombers, Great Britain and France had 950 fighters and 1,300 bombers. The Germans had 3,500 tanks; Great Britain and France had 3,850.
"In each case Allied intelligence estimated German strength at more than twice the true figure. As usual, Hitler was thought to have planned and prepared for a great war. In fact, he had not."
By way of comparisons -- during WWII, British & German war spending rose to circa 80% of their GDP, with the US at about 40%.
During Korea, US defense spending rose to 15%.
During Vietnam, around 10%.
During Reagan's military buildup, under 8%.
In today's WOT, the US spends about 4% on defense.
The EU spends 2% of their higher GDP on defense, making their total more than half of the US number. But one has to wonder, what are they actually spending all that money on?
Key point: the US and EU together account for 75% of the world's military budgets.
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