[Verginius Rufus]

I haven't seen the book yet, but FDR was holding some weak cards at Yalta: the Red army was already occupying much of Eastern Europe by February 1945, and FDR was eager to get Stalin to join in the war against Japan. FDR made some efforts to gain free elections and better borders for Poland because of the importance of the Polish vote in critical states. In retrospect many of the agreements made at Yalta were disastrous (e.g., the division of Korea), but could have seemed at the time like the best that could be obtained...and some of the negative consequences for Eastern Europe flowed from decisions made before Yalta.

[DPB101]

In retrospect many of the agreements made at Yalta were disastrous (e.g., the division of Korea), but could have seemed at the time like the best that could be obtained..

That was the excuse John Gunther and other apologists for FDR used just a few years after Yalta. The truth is FDR surrounded himself with Soviet sympathizers and spies while ignoring the advice of those opposed Stalin.

[HISSKGB]

How could Roosevelt have held weak cards at Yalta?

He made the decision to arm Russia without any compensation while at the same time exacting payments from England for the same thing.

What were these so-called weak cards? Was Russia so strong that FDR was forced to cave in and donate so many Christian nations to his beloved Uncle Joe's loving care?