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I fail to understand why you're so heated about this. Bush made a comment about a single decision ... one which, in hindsight, probably should have gone the other way. And given that he, himself, is a wartime president, I think his perspective on the matter is probably a lot better informed about how such decisions get made, than either you or I will ever be.

All that aside, I'm sure you would freely question the pre-war strategies and decisions of all of the Allies, with regard to both Japan and Germany; and I'm sure you would freely question the post-war strategies and decisions of several presidents, with respect to Red China and the USSR.

What is it, specifically, about this one comment that has got you so upset?

Bush made a comment about a single decision ... one which, in hindsight, probably should have gone the other way. And given that he, himself, is a wartime president, I think his perspective on the matter is probably a lot better informed about how such decisions get made, than either you or I will ever be.

The person who best understands the situation faced by commanders in another era is not the present Commander-in-Chief but military historians.

Bush's suggestion is on the level of wondering why Robert E. Lee did not drop the Confederate 101st Airborne Division behind Little Round Top.

There have been many posts on this thread which have explained why diverting the 1940's era Eighth Air Force to such targets would have been ineffective in the goal of stopping the extermination of the Jews and that sacrificing those bomber crews with missions at the extreme of their operational range would have prolonged the war by giving much needed relief to the German war industry and German military targets.

"What is it, specifically, about this one comment that has got you so upset?"

1. Because it was dead wrong and casts aspersion on the intelligence, integrity and character of our WWII leaders.

2. Because it was based on PC sentiments rather than on the hard military realities of WWII.

3. Because it is just one in a long series of ill thought statements, ("the minute men are vigilantes", "I looked into Putin's soul", "Islam is a great religion - religion of peace", shamnesty/"I'll see you at the signing", etc, etc. etc. etc.