03-17-2020, 10:12 PM
(03-17-2020, 09:17 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:(06-04-2016, 12:55 AM)Galen Wrote:(06-04-2016, 12:43 AM)taramarie Wrote:(06-04-2016, 12:40 AM)Galen Wrote: And this has historically happened before? Prior to ww2? What was the cause for it to happen in America back then and is it similar to what is causing it now?
Foreign policy in the United States was far less interventionist prior to the Second World War. The term isolationist, most often used as a pejorative, originates from the thirties and the anti-war protests led by the Lost. In fact America had a foreign policy close to modern Switzerland. Trade with anyone but no entangling alliances with no one which dates from George Washington.
Oh wow now that is interesting. Now that definitely needs to return. Makes me wonder if we had something similar here in my country. Should look that up.
I am inclined to agree with you. I don't remember New Zealand having a particularly aggressive foreign policy but having anything to do with the US is turning into a definite liability for them. The rest of the world seems to be catching on to this and are starting to drop the dollar as a result.
In opposition is the Domino Theory. Somebody has to stand against the autocratic expansionist powers or they will eat you. In many places this was the major lesson learned from World War II. [/quote]
Both approaches have their merits, Washington's and FDR's. Sharing the burden of a Domino Theory based foreign policy is wise too. Being too ready to escalate into a hot war is a problem. The Domino Theory leading you to defend something just as reprehensible as we did in Vietnam is a problem. Colonial Imperialism disguised as something Domino Theory inspired, such as Bush 43's Iraq war, is a problem.
Life is complicated.
[/quote]
Aggression by Hitler and Tojo was sudden and unpredictable. Aggression by Stalin was more mixed. The Baltic Republics, Finland, northeastern Romania (in 1940 boundaries), and much of Poland had been territories of the Russian Empire. After WWII he had the tanks and troops in place and found willing collaborators in expanding the Stalinist empire. The domino theory as applied to southeast Asia was simply wrong. It was all the former French Indochina, with the commies able to take over Laos, southern Vietnam, and Cambodia. Thailand never had a strong Communist insurgency.
We may learn the lessons of history only to misinterpret them. $#!+ happens.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.