[_Jim]

The Civil war is not comparable to WWI, WWII, Vietnam War, the wars in the Mid East.

Why not?

How are:

1) a hugely signifdicant number of horried human deaths (what was the level of medical competancy in 1865?) and
2) a completely ravaged countryside (in the south) and
3) the fact that brother fought brother in a lot of cases

- completely different than WWI or WWII?

Are you referring to the simple refinement in the techniques of mechanization for killing the enemy's soldiers?

You will find, that, except for aircraft "The Civil War" poineered or introduced a lot of what was seen in those other conflicts ...

[Inkie]

The success of the USA throws it up in their face that a capitalist country that acts on principle works better than their stupid socialist, realpolitik alternative. They can't stand the constant reminder of their failure. Not only that, but they can't face the incontrovertible evidence that they are putting ideology before common sense. They prefer to continue lying to themselves in hopes that, somehow, it will all magically change and prove them right. Socialism never has worked and never will. They had the hubris to think that their version would be different. It wasn't. It isn't. Europeans, wake up and smell the brie and get with the program.