[Windflier]

Pat Buchanans thesis was that our interfering in WW I was undue interference, and was the direct cause of WW II. That point is inarguable.

On the contrary, the point is very arguable.

Germany's neighbors punished and humiliated that country with the harsh conditions set forth in the Treaty of Versailles. THAT, is what set Europe on the path to WWII, not America's participation in the First World War.

Hitler didn't declare war on the United States until after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He'd already been making war against his European neighbors for years, at that point.

Funny how the Blame America Firsters always twist history to make America the bad guy.

[runninglips]

America is not the "bad guy". America in the past has pursued policies that lead directly into the path of Unintended Consequences. If America had stayed out of the first world war, and that includes shipping weapons to one side, and not another, what would the result have been? The obvious answer is, a longer conflict. This longer conflict, would have ended in a NEGOTIATED TREATY, like all wars in the past have been. The US, buy entering the war on one side, destroying the capabilities and will to fight on the other side, put France, Britain and their allies in the position of IMPOSING A TREATY. That is a big difference, the winners did not have to give an inch, because of the actions of America. We went home by and large, and the result is known to us all.

A little known factoid from history, America was carrying on a undeclared military action against the Japanese, before Pearl Harbor. We outfitted, and supplied planes, pilots and other personnel, to the Chinese. Our men actually bombed sovereign Japanese territory, flying planes with Chinese insignias, but make no mistake, they were American servicemen. The Flying Tigers, were war criminals, but since we won the war, and wrote the history, they are heroes. Chew on that a bit.