I've been reading a bunch of books this week.
Two of them are bloggable, and I'll get them in good time (paying work comes first).
They are Occidentalism, by Ian Baruma and Franklin and Winston, by Jon Meacham.
Franklin and Winston offers good lessons even for those who - unlike me - don't see parallels between the threat presented by Islamist totalitarianism and Nazi totalitarianism.
It talks at length about the delicate politics Roosevelt went through from 1940 to 1941 as he maneuvered to help Churchill and the British while staying barely on the side of the anti-war mainstream of American politics. This mainstream was, as it is now, both based in the wider voting population and in the administrative and media classes.
One interesting quote reminds us that the media are largely the same as they were back then:
"Mr. Prime Minster, isn't Singapore the key to the whole situation out there?" "The key to the whole situation is the resolute manner in which the British and American Democracies are going to throw themselves into the conflict."And to those who wonder when we'll be done in Iraq, I'll propose the same answer."Mr. Minister, could you tell us what you think of conditions within Germany - the morale?"
"Well, I have always been feeling that one of these days we might get a windfall coming from that quarter, but I don't think we ought to count on it. Just go on keeping on as bad as they are, or as good as they are. And then one of these days, as we did in the last war, we may wake up and find ourselves short of Huns.""Mr. Minister, can you tell us when you think we may lick these boys?"
For the first time, Churchill looked puzzled. To that point, The Washington Post reported, he had been "flinging back answers that almost caught the questions in mid-air." But he did not understand what 'lick' meant. Early went over and translated it for him.
"If we manage it well," Churchill answered with a smile, "it will only take half as long as if we manage it badly."
They are Occidentalism, by Ian Baruma...
That's Buruma, and his uncredited-by-you co-author is Avishai Margalit.
I firmly agree that we face the same concept of totalitarianism. Their hatred of Israel and Jews demonstrated clearly on their national television shows reflect this. It is only multiplied by their hatred of all the other infidels...the classification we seem to fall under. I would also pose that as you read you will see the same depth and concepts of those facing off totalitarianism between President Bush and President Reagan. Everyone wants to focus on the periphery rather than the disease.
Of course France, as it has always done, continues along it's own blind and self serving path. We have been lucky to retain the alliance of England, Australia, Poland and other new Eastern European democracies that know what totalitarianism looked like and aren't so willing to let others be condemned to it...unlike ....France. Reagan once said, "Only those already born support Abortion."..... France under Chirac, all ready enjoying her freedom is quite willing to abort the freedoms of others and relegate them to life under this barbarism while not missing the opportunity to sell their arms in VIOLATION of UN sanctions; even if it means that these weapons will be used against her 'allies'. (small letters is my emphasis)
Chirac is only persuing the dream of a new "pre'sence francaise" under the colors of the EU. We can clearly see the one goal being pursued through their illicit sales of weapons to the dictator Saddam, their telling the new EU hopefuls to speak when spoken to..and of course speak as France wishes, now their goal of making a deal with the Iranians...the same governments that sold weapons against UN sanctions are now the arbiters of the "World's" best interest.... I don't think so.
French liberte' is best described by the Napoleonic Marshal Lefevre "We have come to bring you Liberte' and Equalite', but don't lose your heads over it. For the first one of you who steps out of line will be shot." The Eastern Europeans used to have the same deal with the Soviets didn't they?