Anyone who would say something like that doesn’t belong anywhere near the government. Sub in Al Qaeda for the Nazis(Waffen SS)
Can you imagine if a dem candidate had said he’d “always been fascinated by Al Qaeda...a relatively small group that from a strictly military point of view accomplished incredible things...19 guys with no tanks, no army, no air force, no navy, and they took down the WTC and landed a direct hit on the Penatgon...from a purely historical view, that’s incredible”.
Would you take umbrage at say Pres Obama or Nancy Pelosi saying AQ did some incredible things? Saying Bin Laden is incredible? Would you say that would be a good choice?
What would the GOP reaction be? Conservative reaction? If any sitting office-holder said that about AQ they’d be forced to resign immediately. If Obama said that about AQ his approval rating would drop to the single digits within 24 hrs.
Also, the guy is just totally wrong on his history. Germany was not relatively small. In terms of area and population it was one of the biggest if not the biggest country in Europe. Way moreso than England or France or Italy, or any of the low countries. It had by far the largest and most powerful military of any European country. He’s making it seem like they were some group of underdogs who overcame steep odds. Like Hoosiers or something.
BTW, the group’s website says the following:
The website says of the German unit used as a model for the reenactments, “We salute these idealists; no matter how unsavory the Nazi government was the front-line soldiers of the Waffen-SS (in particular the foreign volunteers) gave their lives for their loved ones and a basic desire to be free.”
Idealists???????? No one who belongs to any group that refers to members of the Waffen-SS as idealists has any place in the US Govt. There’s really no way to explain that.
Again, any sitting US politican who referred to the Waffen SS as idealists would see their career ended immediately. And rightly so. Take the most popular/powerful Republican or conservative in the country and they’d be finished if they said that. Even among their own supporters.
Do you think the Waffen-SS, the official armed wing of the Nazi Party, under the command of Heinrich Himmler, were idealists?
Do you really think the members of the Waffen SS had a basic desire to be free? That that’s why they invaded Poland, the USSR, France, the Low Countries? That’s why they carried out the Malmedy Massacre? Because they had a basic desire to be free?
To me calling the SS idealists is disqualifying. You belong to a group that says that and you don’t belong in office.
Dear Jeltz25:
You raise valid points.
Several things:
1. The only thing I knew about at the get-go was the historical re-enactments and the photo. I had not delved into the website.
2. While Al-qaeda is still current and going on, I would not have a problem with a “re-enactment” for educational purposes of the Soviet-Mujahedeen war in the ‘80’s. And yes, I would root for the Mujahedeen, Taliban or no Taliban.
3. Of course you are right about Germany’s role in Europe regarding size and economy (making some allowance for problems brought on by WWI reparations). (Allowing one to make thne case that the candidate is too ignorant of history to be elected.)
4. There are historians who make distinctions among the different flavors of German soldiers. The quasi-factually based “The Great Escape” makes distinctions among the types (Gestapo being the lowest, performing summary-executions; the Luftwaffe being less unrespectable, as they had some semblance of a moral code regarding their tasks and how they performed them.) I do recognize your point, that whatever moral forms they have would not undo the basic soul of Nazism. The movie “The Godfather” does a good job of portraying the Italian Mafia in a seemingly sympathetic, almost romantic light, before tearing that image to pieces.
5. Based on the quotations you provided, I do admit that this group sounds pretty weird. I see your point that those kinds of positions put you well on the way to David-Duke-land ... and no, we don’t need anyone like that reporesenting the Republican Party or the conservative movement.
So, overall, assuming the quotations you provided are not of the Alan Grayson variety, and another Freeper would call you on it if they were, you are right. This man does not belong in office. For the record, it was the quotations, and not the mere re-enactment of war scenes that persuaded me. But you made your point patiently, respectfully and thoroughly.